River's End (1930)

Sgt. Conniston and his alcoholic guide O'Toole are on the trail of an escaped murderer named Keith. When they catch up with him in the farthest reaches of Northern Canada, Keith turns out ... See full summary »

Director:

Michael Curtiz

Writers:

James Oliver Curwood (based on the story by), Charles Kenyon (screen play & dialogue by)

Stars:

Charles Bickford, Evalyn Knapp, J. Farrell MacDonald

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Charles Bickford	...	Keith / Conniston
Evalyn Knapp	...	Miriam
J. Farrell MacDonald	...	O'Toole
Zasu Pitts	...	Louise
Walter McGrail	...	Martin
David Torrence	...	McDowell
Frank Coghlan Jr.	...	Mickey (as Junior Coghlan)
Tom Santschi	...	Shotwell

Storyline

Sgt. Conniston and his alcoholic guide O'Toole are on the trail of an escaped murderer named Keith. When they catch up with him in the farthest reaches of Northern Canada, Keith turns out to be a dead ringer for Conniston. On the way back, the sled overturns, Keith grabs the gun and leaves them to die in the snow. After second thoughts he comes back and brings them to safety at an RCMP emergency cabin. Conniston dies of a frozen lung. O'Toole becomes convinced of Keith's innocence and refuses to take him in. Instead he helps Keith disguise himself as Conniston to escape. Before he can do so, he is spotted by Mounties looking for Conniston and brought back to Conniston's fort. During the time Conniston was gone, it was discovered that Keith was innocent of the charges. Still Keith can't reveal his true identity for fear the Mounties will think he killed Conniston. Keith plans to keep up the charade only long enough to escape but Miriam, who Conniston had unsuccessfully pursued, is ...

---

Plot Keywords:

canada | guide | murder | gunfire | fistfight | 

---

Genres:

Drama | Romance | Western

---

Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1 November 1930 (USA)

Also Known As:

Død eller Levende

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros, Vitaphone Corporation, The

Technical Specs

Runtime:

75 min 74 min (Turner library print)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Version of The River's End (1920)

---

Soundtracks

"Taps"
(uncredited)
Written by Daniel Butterfield
Played by a buglar at headquarters

User Reviews

Disappointing early mountie adventure.

Michael Curtiz directs Charles Bickford in a story of rugged adventure in the Frozen North piney woods - sounds great.

Well, for the first ten minutes, with mountie Bickford getting his man, unshaven fugitive Bickford, and the dialogue in Eskimo (I kid you not) this one does intrigue, even if Ben Carré's painted on canvas cabin walls aren't going to fool anyone. The effects work with the doubled-up character is really ingenious and the confrontation has a harshness that we're not used to.

Unfortunately, as with so many early sound films, all the good stuff is in the opening and then the movie gets on with what people have paid good money to watch - actors talking.

The leads aren't at all bad but the dumb plot lets them down.I wonder who thought it was worth another go round in 1940?