La Rivière d'argent

"Silver River" is an under-appreciated, near classic western, that cries out for two things, color and greater chemistry between Flynn and Sheridan. Flynn liked VERY young women; he was probably intimidated by the mature, stronger, types, and Sheridan was one of the strongest. The hostile fireworks between them are quite convincing, the romance, less so. Since Flynn's feelings for Sheridan are central to the plot and thematic elements of this movie, this could have been disastrous. However, the complex, biographical-like plotting, solid performances by supporting actors and well choreographed overall action make up for this. The behavior of Flynn's character is quite understandable. When he is unselfish, he invariably suffers, having his career destroyed, not once, but twice. Thomas Mitchell's reformed drunk turned senatorial candidate would seem far fetched, until we are reminded that President Grant (a key character in the story) was a reformed alcoholic. Mitchell does the right things for the wrong reasons, Flynn the wrong things for the right reasons. This is certainly my favorite Errol Flynn western. I just wish Warner Brothers had given Flynn his usual "A" treatment and opted for color. I give "Silver River" an "8".

Erroll Flynn epitomizes the American dream in his movie.he is the perfect go-getter,uneducated but very smart,who pushes everyone out of his way .Hints at David and Bethsabea are thoroughly relevant and gave the whole movie a timeless side.Stanley is a scientist,an engineer ,but what can he do?Wife Georgia is more reluctant but for her too,it's just a matter of time.

The story is parabolic:the rise and fall of a young Turk ,during the "silver rush" .The most important scene is the banquet ,in Mike's desirable property which chic people are quick to leave when a "drunk"

PLato has finished his long diatribe against his pal.Those posh people would never accept a nouveau riche in their aristocratic circle anyway.That scene is the central one,cause it contains both McComb's apex and his downfall.

This is another great movie by a director who made dozens of gems.

Directed by Raoul Walsh, who undoubtedly was one of the maestros of the western genre, Silver River hardly can be called one of director's best works. It was the last Walsh's film made with Errol Flynn, and the only one they made together that hadn't achieved success at the Box Office.

The story of Silver River is based on a novel by Stephen Longstteet, but it's also an apparent `western' retelling of Bible's story of King David. The film begins at the time of battle of Gettysburg during American Civil War with a quite remarkable chase sequence where the wagon of Captain of the Union Army Michael McComb (Errol Flynn) is chased by Confederate soldiers who are after the 1 million $ of Union money destined to be paid to the soldiers. In order to avoid that the Confederates take the money, McComb decides to simply burn it. As a consequence of this act, he's expelled from the army.

An unscrupulous adventurer, McComb moves to the silver mine town in the west, where he quickly becomes rich and powerful mines' owner along with his partner Stanley Moore (Bruce Bennett) controlling all the town's industry and banks. Nothing can stop his greed and ambition and he further rises to power and an enormous wealth, promptly sending his business partner to death, marrying his beautiful wife Georgia (Ann Sheridan) and becoming the only master of the town and one of the most influential and rich men in the state. But his triumph doesn't last for a long time for his achievements tend to be impermanent as everything in this world, so by the twist of fate he finds himself again on the bottom of the well losing everything.

Quite an average western with nothing particularly good or particularly bad about it, thou in my opinion worth watching, but don't expect to be much entertained by it or you might be very disappointed. 7/10

This Raoul Walsh's movie looks like a Republic western, most of them urban western taking place in Frisco in music halls, lobbies, or aboard a river boat more than a classic western shot in Death Valley. It is not what you could expect it to be, especially with Errol Flynn. It could have been written by an optimist Norman Mailer or Scott Fitzgerald, because this movie is not sad, not gloomy, saving a predictable ending for Hollywood standard. Good stuff for gem lovers. Not my Raoul Walsh's stuff for sure. And far too long for my taste.

This movie is a bit of a downer. The plot is hardly upbeat. It is a pessimistic story. Pessimistic stories can be engrossing-look at "The Treasure of Sierra Madre" for example-but, here, not all that much interesting happens. The performers do their usual shtick.. Sheridan, Bennett, and Mitchell are exactly the people you expect them to be, based on countless other movies. No great disadvantage, but no real advantage either.

Flynn is the main problem, but the problem is not with his looks. He appears older but still fit and handsome. He reads his lines and does his character well enough; his character is bitter and angry and cynical. But something very important is missing. The character is in no way likable. He is without humor, and, except for anger, without any juice, without any elan, without any positive emotion. We don't sympathize with him. We don't care if he repents.

Flynn looks unattractive because he plays an unattractive character. The movie has only a modicum of entertainment value primarily for this same reason.