Drums Across the River [VHS]

This movie was first released in 1958, in full screen 1.33.1, in technicolor and runs 78 minutes. The picture and sound quality is very good. The movie starts with Gary Brennon(AUDIE MURPHY) in Crown City, where there is no work and in 1880, the only gold left was across the river and that belonged to the Indians. Gary and his father Sam Brennon (WALTER BRENNAN) run a freight outfit. Gary gets Frank Walker and his gang to cross that river, but Sam warns Gary not to do this as the Gold belongs to the Indians. When they cross the river, the Indians attack and Nathan Marlow is taken by them. Gary tries to exchange Marlow for Thaos(JAY SILVERHEELS) who is chief's son, but Frank and his men start shooting and some braves are killed and Sam hurt. Gary takes injured Thaos to his father 'Chief Orray', who is dying. Chief Orray has tried to keep peace and had met the American President in Washington. Chief Orray dies and his son is now Chief. He tells Garry to leave and to stay out of Indian lands. Sam Brennon is kidnaped and Gary is told that his father will be safe if he helps the Walker gang to steal the mine's gold. They force Garry to carry that gold in his wagon.
How will it end? Will Gary be allowed to help his father Sam? What will happen to the mine's gold? Will Frank Walker succeed with this kidnapping and get the gold? What will happen to Morgans(Hugh O'Brien)? Will the Indians help Gary?
This is an interesting story by JOHN BUTLER, well photographed by HAROLD LIPSTEIN and directed with energy by NATHAN JURAN.
AUDIE LEON MURPHY was born on 20.6.1924 in Kingston, Texas, to a very poor Irish family. He was 6th of 12 children. His father abandoned the family in 1930, so he had to drop out of school to support the family. His mother died when he was 15. His dream to join the military was dashed when he was turned down twice for being short(5'5") and underweight(50 Kg). When later accepted into the army, he became most decorated American soldier of World War II. He received MEDAL OF HONOR and 38 additional medals and citations. After the War, he suffered from depression and nightmares. In September 1945, JAMES CAGNEY invited him to Hollywood. His book in 1949, of his autobiography "TO HELL AND BACK" became a national best seller, which in 1955 was made into a film. He made 44 films, 33 of them westerns, in 25 years. He was also a successful country music song writer. He was married twice and had 2 children with 'PAMELA ARCHER', Terry(1952) and James(1954). Audie Murphy was killed on 28.5.1971, aged 46, when his private plane crashed into Bush Mountains, Virginia.
Some of his westerns are:-
(1) Whispering Smith 1959
(2) Apache Rifles 1964
(3) The Dual of Silver Creek 1952
(4) No Name on The Bullet 1959
(5) Gunfight at Comanche Creek 1964
(6) Ride Clear of Diablo 1954
(7) Night Passage 1957
(8) Gunsmoke 1953
(9) Six Black Horses 1962
(10)Walk The Proud Land 1956
(11)Unforgiven 1960
(12)Gunpoint 1966
(13)Posse From Hell 1960
Being a western fan, I enjoyed watching this movie.
Watch and ENJOY.

Drums Across the River is directed by Nathan Juran and written by John K. Butler and Lawrence Roman. It stars Audie Murphy, Walter Brennan, Lyle Bettger, Lisa Gaye, Hugh O'Brian, Mara Corday and Jay Silverheels. Music is by Joseph Gershenson and Technicolor cinematography by Harold Lipstein.

"This is Crown City, born and build on gold mining, but by 1880 about the only gold left was across a near by river in the San Juan Mountains, Ute Indian land. People get desperate when their means of livelihood's cut off, and I was no exception. I'm Gary Brannon, my Dad and me ran a freight outfit."

There's a reoccurring saying that often crops up when viewing most of Audie Murphy's Westerns, that of them being unassuming afternoon entertainment. Pour yourself a jug of beer or a glass of wine and enjoy the handsome Murphy going about his Oater business with energy and a straight forward willingness to entertain.

Drums Across the River is a goodie in that context, it also boasts some lovely photography by Lipstein out of California locations that include Barton Flats (San Bernardino Mountains), Burro Flats and Red Rock Canyon. The Technicolor is gorgeous (TV print I saw was very good), with the blues and greens very striking, and the story is interesting as Murphy plays a bigoted young man who finds himself trying to avert a war with the Ute's whilst being framed for robbery himself. Bettger (Union Station) is a more than capable villain, as is the black clad O'Brian (The Lawless Breed), Corday and Gaye are underwritten but a treat for the eyes, and Brennan is the class act that he mostly always is.

Juran (Gunsmoke) directs without fuss or filler, proving to have a keen eye for action construction as the film is flecked with a number of hand to hand fights, shoot-outs and horse play, and prolific Western scorer Gershenson offers up another in a long line of undervalued genre compliant flavours. The stunt work is also of a high standard, with one particular leap of death truly worthy of high praise, and the story rounds out to put a smile on your face as the last sip of beverage trickles down the throat. Few surprises narratively speaking, and the odd B Western budget error shows its face, but this is a colourful Audie Oater and it's all about enjoying without having to think too hard about it. 7/10

Universal International Pictures presents "DRUMS ACROSS THE RIVER" (1954) (78 min/Color) -- Starring Audie Murphy, Walter Brennan, Lyle Bettger, Lisa Gaye, Hugh O'Brian & Jay Silverheels

Directed by Nathan Juran

Gary Brannon (Audie Murphy) is a peaceful homesteader living a quiet existence with his father Sam (Walter Brennan). No-account Frank Walker (Lyle Bettger), hoping to open up the Ute Indian territory for gold-mining purposes, tries to foment a war between the Utes and the local whites. To make sure things are kept interesting, Bettger steals a gold shipment and pins the blame on Murphy. Now a fugitive from justice, Brannon joins Walker's gang, much to his father's dismay. Actually, it's all part of a plan to expose Walker's perfidy and prevent Ute hostilities, but no one is aware of it.

During the filming of this in 1954, Jay Silverheels was still in the middle of his co-starring role as Tonto in the Lone Ranger Television Series. Silverheels brings in a good performance as the Indian Chief Taos, and looks particularly impressive in full war bonnet.

BIOS:
1. Nathan Juran [aka: Naftuli Hertz Juran] (Director)
Date of Birth: 1 September 1907 - Gurahumora, Bukovina, Austria-Hungary (now Gura Humorului, Romania)
Date of Death: 23 October 2002 - Palos Verdes Estates, California

2. Audie Murphy [aka: Audie Leon Murphy]
Date of Birth: 20 June 1924 - Kingston, Texas
Date of Death: 28 May 1971 - near Roanoke, Virginia

3. Walter Brennan
Date of Birth: 25 July 1894 - Swampscott, Massachusetts
Date of Death: 21 September 1974 - Oxnard, California

4. Lyle Bettger
Date of Birth: 13 February 1915 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Date of Death: 24 September 2003 - Atascadero, San Luis Obispo County, California

5. Hugh O'Brian [aka: Hugh Charles Krampe]
Date of Birth: 19 April 1923 - Rochester, New York
Date of Death: Still Living

6. Jay Silverheels [aka: Harold J. Smith]
Date of Birth: 26 May 1912 - Six Nations Reservation, Brantford, Ontario, Canada
Date of Death: 5 March 1980 - Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 4 Stars
Performance: 4 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 4 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 78 min on DVD/VHS ~ Universal International Pictures (UI) ~ (June 10, 1997)