SILVER RIVER

US, 1948, 114 minutes, Black and white.
Errol Flynn, Ann Sheridan, Thomas Mitchell, Bruce Bennett.
Directed by Raoul Walsh.

Silver River is an Erro1 Flynn western. It is set after the Civil War and moves through the decades as the participants in the war settle down, become involved in big business and politics. Flynn has an unsympathetic role. Ann Sheridan is a strong heroine and Thomas Mitchell has a good opportunity as a philosophising lawyer who goes into politics.

The film was directed by Raoul Walsh who had directed Flynn in many action adventures, westerns and World War Two epics. The film has a score by Max Steiner and the screenplay was co-written by Harriet Frank Jnr. (who was to write many screenplays with Irving Ravetch for Martin Ritt). The film is the material that would have been used for mini-series in later decades.

1. An interesting and entertaining western? Post-Civil? War epic? Finance and politics in the 19th. century?

2. Production values: black and white photography, stars, western locations? Max Steiner’ score?

3. The title and the focus on Silver River and Silver City? The city built up after the Civil War? Pioneers, outlaws, big business, politics?

4. The film's focus on men like Mc Comb: the Errol Flynn style - but an unsympathetic role? The Civil War and McComb's involvement? The payroll? His taking the money, burning it? Arrested, put out of the army? His reaction against his treatment and his wanting his own rules? Gambling? His using the army uniform to attack the gambling hall? His becoming a professional gambler? His holding the gun on his rival, crossing the state line? The encounter with Georgia Moore on the boat? her collecting money? His winning her money gambling? His abandoning her? His arrival in Silver City? His taking Georgia with him? The clashes with Sweeney? Sweeney being stranded? The encounter with Georgia Moore - attraction? Her husband? The encounter with John Plato Beck? The alcoholic lawyer? His prodding Mc Comb's conscience? The business deal with Stanley Moore? Georgia's suspicions? The failure of the mine, Mc Comb and his financial aid? The continued attacks by Sweeney? The setting up of the bank?? The visit by president Grant to encourage silver production? Mc Comb and his ambitions? His wanting Georgia? The parallels with David and Bathsheba pointed out by Beck with his taking Georgia and allowing Stanley's death? His trying to rescue him too late? The clash with Beck? Beck's influence on people in the town? Georgia uncertain but on side with Mc Comb, Beck and his rivalry, the businessmen, the bank, politics Mc Comb ostracised from the town, getting revenge, the closing of the mines? The alienation from Georgia? The run on the bank? Paying out? His anger that Georgia is working for Beck? Sweeney killing Beck? Mc Comb and his reconsideration of his life, his past? Georgia helping the people to support him? His use of - the troops in a military action, the attack-on Sweeney and his men? The restoration of law and order to Silver City? The emerging tough hero?

5. Georgia and her relationship with Stanley? Support of him? Her patriotism? The boat and the collection of money? The wagons? McComb? winning them and abandoning her? His decision to take her and her puzzle about him? Her work with Stanley, his running the mine, the greater power of Mc Comb? His wanting her and her reaction against him? Her husband's death? Her belief in McComb? Her disillusionment, working for Beck? Her final support of him? The changing relationship with Mc Comb?

6. John Plato Beck - Thomas Mitchell's alcoholic lawyer? His position in Silver City? His sayings? Friendship with McComb?, advice? Conscience? His reaction against Mc Comb's ruthlessness? His attack on McComb? for the death of Stanley and his taking Georgia? The David and Bathsheba parallel? Beck and his rousing up feeling against Mc Comb? Organisation of local businessmen? Beck and politics? His murder by Sweeney?

7. Sweeney and his continued rivalry with Mc Comb, the outmanoeuvring of each other? Sweeney and the hold in Silver City? Money, banks? The death of Beck? Final attack on him?

8. Stanley and his devotion to his wife? Belief in her? belief in Mc Comb? The mine? The failure of the mine? McComb's abandoning Stanley? His death?

9. The range of people in the background: the Civil War and the soldiers, the gambling saloons, the riverboats, the miners, the businessmen in the town, politicians, the outlaws?

10. Themes of the American West? The establishing of order and politics after the Civil War? A piece of Americana?