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.
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.