The River's Edge (1957)

A murderous thief on the run with stolen loot forces a poor rancher to guide him across the desert into Mexico. Accompanying them is the rancher's wife, who happens to be the killer's former girlfriend.

Director:

Allan Dwan

Writers:

Harold Jacob Smith (screenplay), James Leicester (screenplay)

Stars:

Ray Milland, Anthony Quinn, Debra Paget

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Ray Milland	...	Nardo Denning
Anthony Quinn	...	Ben Cameron
Debra Paget	...	Margaret Fowler
Harry Carey Jr.	...	Chet
Chubby Johnson	...	Whiskers
Byron Foulger	...	Floyd Barry (as Byron K. Foulger)
Tom McKee	...	U.S. Border Patrol Captain
Frank Gerstle	...	Harry Castleton

Storyline

A murderous thief on the run with stolen loot forces a poor rancher to guide him across the desert into Mexico. Accompanying them is the rancher's wife, who happens to be the killer's former girlfriend.

---

Plot Keywords:

woman in a bath | confidence artist | gasoline station | gasoline station attendant | horseback riding | 

---

Taglines:

It was kill ... or be killed ... all the way down to The River's Edge.

---

Genres:

Adventure | Crime | Drama | Thriller

---

Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

The dress worn by Debra Paget in the Hotel San Blas appears to be the same dress (or a direct copy of it) worn by Leslie Caron in the 'Something's Gotta Give' number from Daddy Long Legs (1955).

---

Goofs

When Nardo Denning turns the Thunderbird around and tries to run down Meg, the fender skirt on the passenger side flies off. A later shot of the car as it pursues her shows the skirt still in place.

---

Quotes

Ben Cameron: You know, if you were on a desert island with that guy and there was nothing but rocks, pretty soon he would have all the rocks moved to his side of the beach.

---

Soundtracks

You'll Never Know
(uncredited)
Music by Harry Warren
Lyrics by Mack Gordon
Played on the jukebox and heard often throughout the picture

User Reviews

The Desert's Edge

Excepting Debra Paget's gams, this foray into film is utterly legless. Mistitled and--in Ray Milland's case--miscast, the simple-minded, sometimes illogical story schlepps along so listlessly that viewers might well wish for a protagonist's demise just to end the misery! The derelict direction employs gratuitous scenes of Paget enveloped in tamely titillating beach towels, a bubble bath, and a cleavageless slip. She carries it all off as best she can and is actually credible as an ex-con in a marriage of convenience. Anthony Quinn, whose role was probably intended as a dumb-ox rancher, exudes such sexuality and smarts that the city gal/country guy dichotomy seems not so dubious. Middle-aged Milland, however, as a hot property Paget cannot resist, pulls the rug out from the whole plot. He moves through the movie like a somnambulist--and can scarcely be scolded for doing so!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

1957 (UK)

Also Known As:

Conquest

Filming Locations:

Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico

Company Credits

Production Co:

Benedict Bogeaus Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

87 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.55:1