THE RIVER'S EDGE is a solid 1950s Hollywood adventure film, not one of the best I've seen but with enough rugged scenery and quality performing to make it an enjoyable experience. It reminded me a little of the Robert Ryan film INFERNO and while not as good as that, it still packs a punch with some surprisingly vicious violence for the era. The film makes full benefit of the Mexican locations with the rugged scenery proving a real hit throughout and becoming a character in itself.Ray Milland is a delight as the villain of the piece, all scheming and bravado. A little like his role in DIAL M FOR MURDER and very nearly as good. Anthony Quinn is a likable hero, perhaps not the first actor you'd think of to play the dirt rancher and tracker, but a nice fit by the end of it. Debra Paget has the most complex role as the femme fatale of the piece and although her character isn't remotely likable, she's thoroughly convincing in the part. For a film with just three characters on screen for most of the running time, THE RIVER'S EDGE offers endless twists and turns, plenty of suspense, and a good if inevitable ending.

Not a western but a well shot and performed drama set in the West. The story is rather ordinary but benefits from the role reversal of Ray Milland, usually the hero and Anthony Quinn, often the heavy but in opposite roles here. Even at the relatively brief running time the script could have been tightened a bit but overall a good film. One caveat-it would take a great deal to make a woman as stunning as Debra Paget was in her prime look bad but the filmmakers almost achieve that feat. Saddled with unflattering makeup and frightening Lucille Ball red hair that never moves no matter what travail she is enduring her beauty is almost completely obscured.

When a married woman's old lover comes back into her life things began to go to hell for her and hubby. The old flame had a suitcase full of wrongfully gained capital that he wanted the pair to help him smuggle south of the border, therefore an uneasy alliance was formed and a dangerous trek through the badlands was undertaken. I felt that Milland's character's actions at the end were way out of character: and just how is it that Quinn's character managed to bite those slugs out of the cases? Ever try that? The teeth will go first every time. Fairly entertaining but way too much sluggish dialogue.

Those who think of Ray Milland as a skilled light comedian or an amiable drunk will be surprised by his work in this late Allan Dwan entry. He's mean as can be in this one, and the best thing in the movie, making Anthony Quinn look weak by comparison; not an easy thing to do, but Ray pulls it off with style. Debra Paget is an asset as well in this trim, modest film.