In Silver River Errol Flynn has a go at a kind of role that Tyrone Power took out a patent on at 20th Century Fox, the hero/heel. I'm surprised that Jack Warner didn't give him more roles like Michael McComb in his career.
Flynn appears with Ann Sheridan for the fourth and last time in a joint venture. His character Michael McComb was cashiered out of the Union Army in the Civil War for an error in judgment. The experience has left him a rather cynical fellow and in the days after the war, he's determined to let no one get the better of him.
He's one ruthless character and pretty soon becomes the big kingpin of Silver City. And in the romance department he's determined to get what he wants.
The David and Bathsheba story is an easy comparison to make with what happens to Flynn and Sheridan. Flynn essentially extorts his way into partnership with her husband Bruce Bennett and later with all the other mine owners. He does it by controlling the money supply with his gambling palace. And of course he eyes Sheridan the way King David eyed Bathsheba.
But despite what Thomas Mitchell says, Bennett is no Uriah the Hittite. Flynn doesn't, in fact he's not in a position to order him into harm's way. Bennett goes out quite willingly looking for new silver deposits and the Shoshone Indians make short work of him. Still it does make for gossip.
Flynn and Sheridan work well together, as well as they did in Edge of Darkness. Tom D'Andrea has a nice role as Flynn's sidekick from the Civil War days and Barton MacLane as always makes a nasty villain.
Silver River was the sixth of eight westerns Flynn made and the last film he made with director Raoul Walsh. Definitely a must for western fans and Flynn fans.
Flynn appears with Ann Sheridan for the fourth and last time in a joint venture. His character Michael McComb was cashiered out of the Union Army in the Civil War for an error in judgment. The experience has left him a rather cynical fellow and in the days after the war, he's determined to let no one get the better of him.
He's one ruthless character and pretty soon becomes the big kingpin of Silver City. And in the romance department he's determined to get what he wants.
The David and Bathsheba story is an easy comparison to make with what happens to Flynn and Sheridan. Flynn essentially extorts his way into partnership with her husband Bruce Bennett and later with all the other mine owners. He does it by controlling the money supply with his gambling palace. And of course he eyes Sheridan the way King David eyed Bathsheba.
But despite what Thomas Mitchell says, Bennett is no Uriah the Hittite. Flynn doesn't, in fact he's not in a position to order him into harm's way. Bennett goes out quite willingly looking for new silver deposits and the Shoshone Indians make short work of him. Still it does make for gossip.
Flynn and Sheridan work well together, as well as they did in Edge of Darkness. Tom D'Andrea has a nice role as Flynn's sidekick from the Civil War days and Barton MacLane as always makes a nasty villain.
Silver River was the sixth of eight westerns Flynn made and the last film he made with director Raoul Walsh. Definitely a must for western fans and Flynn fans.