BORDER RIVER

US, 1954, 80 minutes, Colour.
Joel Mc Crea, Yvonne de Carlo, Pedro Amandariz.
Directed by George Sherman.

Border River is one of the Many westerns turned out by Universal Studios during the 50s. Though often B-budget and released as supporting features. However, they were well made in their style, straightforward - and still have quite an appeal (often more so than some of the stylised films of the period which are now dated). Stars were often Joel Mc Crea, Audie Murphy, Rory Calhoun. This is a Joel Mc Crea feature and he is paired with Yvonne de Carlo who was often featured in films like this. The setting is the end of the Civil War, the Zona Libre on the Mexican border and intrigue for using gold to buy arms for the confederates at the end of the war.

It is competent entertainment in the Universal style.

1. Entertaining western? Civil war? The American/Mexican border?

2. Colour photography, locations and atmosphere? Musical Score? The stars?

3. The title, the Zona Libre, the border river? Mexico and the United States?

4. Joel Mc Crae as Clete, the strong taciturn hero, his presence in the Zona Libre, the information about him and his place in the confederate army? The gold? The pursuit, the arrival, making friends in the town, attraction towards Carmelita? Contact with the general, with Vargas? With the German arms merchant? Plans, the gold, his contacts from the confederates? The Pinkerton detective and his trying to unmask him? Complications, riding to the gold, hiding the gold, Vargas's pursuit and his death? The burial? Tactics, final confrontation, the getting of the gold? Carmelita going with him? The typical western hero?

5. Carmelita, her place in the town, relationship with the general? Attraction towards Clete? Trying to be independent, giving warnings? The pursuit of the gold? The General and clash with her? The confrontation, the rescue, a future with Clete?

6. The general, Mexican government, The United States and the Civil War? The Zona Libre and his authority? Spies? Arms deals, gold and money? Permitting the Americans to come? The lawlessness of the town? Vargas as his subordinate? Greedy, the gold, Vargas's death? The general and the betrayals? death of the German? The confrontation with Clete?

7. The confederates, contacts with Clete, the bringing of the gold and concealing it? Motivation for the ending of the war? The contrast with the Pinkerton detective and his employment by the North? His being bettered by Clete?

8. A blend of politics, the lawlessness of the border towns, exotic romance, the civil war?