There was a time when, like most of America, I'd watch any western movie. Things have changed for America, and widely-watched westerns are a rarity. And, the western that will hold my attention is a rarity, as well. While this film is not one of the great westerns, it's interesting enough to hold my attention.The beginning is interesting...a rebel raid on a Union payroll just outside of Gettysburg on a fateful day. Rather than surrender the payroll, Errol Flynn burns it, and as a result is drummed out of the army. Incidentally, there is one little problem here -- the landscape looks absolutely nothing like Gettysburg. Ah well.Errol Flynn (with sidekick Tom D'Andrea) then strikes out for Nevada, but his attitude has soured against life and he becomes somewhat ruthless. He takes over some gambling equipment and heads west, taking away a wagon train business from a lady (Ann Sheridan) who had already rented the wagons for her and her husband's mine...of course, in the same town as Flynn had decided to set up a saloon. Romantic spanks fly, although only on Flynn's side.Once in the wild west town, the saloon is built and Flynn gains a share of the mine owned by Sheridan and her husband. Flynn remains rather ruthless, although he does drink milk rather than whiskey. But, like many ruthless men, Flynn goes too far. He sends Sheridan's husband into Shoshone Indian country, knowing that it means almost certain death. And although he has second thoughts and attempts to rescue him, he is too late. The town begins to turn against him, led by lawyer Mitchell. Oddly enough, Sheridan is the only one who softens, and marries him. Of course, Warner Brothers can't have Errol Flynn ride off into the sunset (which he actually does here) being the bad guy. So, after lawyer-turned-politician Mitchell is shot to death, Flynn rouses the silver miners to hunt down the guilty party, and in the town center Flynn confesses that all the town's problems rest on him. Cheers. Sunset.If there's a problem with this film it's that there really is no good guy. It's difficult to like Flynn because of his ruthlessness. Ann Sheridan is too hard a woman to like. Thomas Mitchell, as Flynn's lawyer is just as ruthless as Flynn. Bruce Bennett (as Sheridan's husband) is a weakling. And of course, Barton MacLane is always a bad guy. Perhaps only Tom D'Andrea (later Gillis on "The Life Of Riley") comes off as a likable character.But saying that the characters are not likable, is not questioning the ability of the acting. It's great acting here. Flynn, though in more of a business character than a swashbuckler, is excellent, as is Sheridan. But perhaps the highest honors should go to Thomas Mitchell, who alternately plays a drunk, a serious lawyer, a drunk again, and then a rising politician who goes against Flynn's silver interests.

In Silver River Errol Flynn has a go at a kind of role that Tyrone Power took out a patent on at 20th Century Fox, the hero/heel. I'm surprised that Jack Warner didn't give him more roles like Michael McComb in his career.Flynn appears with Ann Sheridan for the fourth and last time in a joint venture. His character Michael McComb was cashiered out of the Union Army in the Civil War for an error in judgment. The experience has left him a rather cynical fellow and in the days after the war, he's determined to let no one get the better of him.He's one ruthless character and pretty soon becomes the big kingpin of Silver City. And in the romance department he's determined to get what he wants.The David and Bathsheba story is an easy comparison to make with what happens to Flynn and Sheridan. Flynn essentially extorts his way into partnership with her husband Bruce Bennett and later with all the other mine owners. He does it by controlling the money supply with his gambling palace. And of course he eyes Sheridan the way King David eyed Bathsheba.But despite what Thomas Mitchell says, Bennett is no Uriah the Hittite. Flynn doesn't, in fact he's not in a position to order him into harm's way. Bennett goes out quite willingly looking for new silver deposits and the Shoshone Indians make short work of him. Still it does make for gossip.Flynn and Sheridan work well together, as well as they did in Edge of Darkness. Tom D'Andrea has a nice role as Flynn's sidekick from the Civil War days and Barton MacLane as always makes a nasty villain.Silver River was the sixth of eight westerns Flynn made and the last film he made with director Raoul Walsh. Definitely a must for western fans and Flynn fans.

"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".

The idea of bringing the story of King David to a western is not an easy task, and it ends up spoiling this film. Errol Flynn can only play Errol Flynn, and he is good as long as he is the selfish McComb, trying to build an empire, but when comes the time to repent, he is not convincing. You can't help comparing him with Gregory Peck who really makes you feel he is suffering in "David and Bathsheba". Thomas Mitchell is very good as the equivalent of Nathan, the prophet. As for Ann Sheridan, she is no Susan Hayward. If this would have been a standard Errol Flynn western, it had all the elements to be one of the best, specially due to Raoul Walsh, and the music by Max Steiner.