Charles Bickford was a larger than life character whose outspokenness eventually ended in a showdown with Louis B. Mayer (Bickford called him a "posturing little ignoramus"). The fight was over a film called "The Sea Bat" - Bickford thought it was garbage. Mayer saw to it that he never worked on any of the A movies he was promised (how great he would have been in "Cimarron", also "The Big House" and "The Maltese Falcon"). "River's End" came directly after, an intriguing Canadian Mountie adventure directed by that "man's" director Michael Curtiz. To have Bickford play both the murderer Keith and the Mountie Conniston who brings him in, was a terrific idea and gave this early talkie real novelty.
No, they were not long lost twins with one brother gone to the bad or that the Mountie was leading a secret life. Conniston was determined to get his man and the unfortunate thing was that they were both mirror images of each other. Keith is arrested from his hideout (a ship that had become lodged in the ice) within 5 minutes of the movie's start but while bringing him in circumstances are reversed. Conniston becomes sick and Keith then becomes the one they both turn to (J. Farrell MacDonald is Connie's offsider). Connie, in his delirium, mentions Mimi, the Inspector's daughter, but when he dies, O'Toole, who is impressed with the help Keith has given them turns his allegiance to the convict. By the time they get to the outpost Keith is well versed in all of Connie's mannerisms and sayings. He seems to have everyone fooled except O'Toole's kid, Mickey (Junior Coghlan in a charming performance) - you see, Connie chewed gum and Keith never touches the stuff.
The twist, half way through, is that Keith has now been cleared of the murder he was originally caught for and he is more anxious than ever to escape across the border. But that is before he meets the beautiful Mimi and what an eyeful Evalyn Knapp is, she was so pretty and not any worse of an actress than many others who succeeded at that time. Should he stay and try to win her or leave her to his rival, a "dizzy dude" named Martin. From what he is learning about Connie he finds he is not the man he appeared and has a few unsavoury secrets that are soon exposed. He confesses all to Mickey and together they await the arrival of O'Toole who can verify his story but O'Toole dies on his way to the outpost ......
Evalyn Knapp, who had been in a series of shorts, hoped that the dramatic "Sinner's Holiday" would give her career the boost it needed. Unfortunately the supporting cast was headed by James Cagney and Joan Blondell, so it was "Goodbye Evalyn" before she had a chance to say hello!! After that it was on to programmers like "Air Hostess" with James Murray.
No, they were not long lost twins with one brother gone to the bad or that the Mountie was leading a secret life. Conniston was determined to get his man and the unfortunate thing was that they were both mirror images of each other. Keith is arrested from his hideout (a ship that had become lodged in the ice) within 5 minutes of the movie's start but while bringing him in circumstances are reversed. Conniston becomes sick and Keith then becomes the one they both turn to (J. Farrell MacDonald is Connie's offsider). Connie, in his delirium, mentions Mimi, the Inspector's daughter, but when he dies, O'Toole, who is impressed with the help Keith has given them turns his allegiance to the convict. By the time they get to the outpost Keith is well versed in all of Connie's mannerisms and sayings. He seems to have everyone fooled except O'Toole's kid, Mickey (Junior Coghlan in a charming performance) - you see, Connie chewed gum and Keith never touches the stuff.
The twist, half way through, is that Keith has now been cleared of the murder he was originally caught for and he is more anxious than ever to escape across the border. But that is before he meets the beautiful Mimi and what an eyeful Evalyn Knapp is, she was so pretty and not any worse of an actress than many others who succeeded at that time. Should he stay and try to win her or leave her to his rival, a "dizzy dude" named Martin. From what he is learning about Connie he finds he is not the man he appeared and has a few unsavoury secrets that are soon exposed. He confesses all to Mickey and together they await the arrival of O'Toole who can verify his story but O'Toole dies on his way to the outpost ......
Evalyn Knapp, who had been in a series of shorts, hoped that the dramatic "Sinner's Holiday" would give her career the boost it needed. Unfortunately the supporting cast was headed by James Cagney and Joan Blondell, so it was "Goodbye Evalyn" before she had a chance to say hello!! After that it was on to programmers like "Air Hostess" with James Murray.