Customer Reviews

Drums Across the River [VHS]

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Drums Across The River is one of Audie Murphy's better westerns, thanks to a great script, great performances, and great direction.

Murphy stars as a young man who runs a freight company along with his father, played by Walter Brennan. The Colorado town they live in is drying up, and the citizens have become restless, so much so that some of the leading citizens have decided to go across the river to the neighboring San Juan mountains. But Utes Indians live in these mountains, and aren't wlecoming to anyone trying to take gold frol their land.

Murphy helps to organize an expedition to dig for gold on the Ute's territoty, which puts him at odds with his father, who is friendly with the Ute's chief. Further complicating matters is a gang led by perennial western villain Lyle Bettger, who are pushing for the gold expedition for their own reasons.

The acting is top-notch, with everyone giving a solid performance. The direction, by veteran director Nathan Juran is crisp, and the movie flows at a very rapid, exciting pace. The script by John K. Butler and Lawrence Roman reveals lots of emotions and subtexts that lie under the surface, and is more thoughtful and intelligent than many western scripts.

Drums Across The River is one of Murphy's best, and one can only hope it will be included when the inevitable conversion of Murphy's westerns to DVD takes place.

Universal International Pictures presents "DRUMS ACROSS THE RIVER" (1954) (78 min/Color) -- Starring Audie Murphy, Walter Brennan, Lyle Bettger, Lisa Gaye, Hugh O'Brian & Jay Silverheels

Directed by Nathan Juran

Gary Brannon (Audie Murphy) is a peaceful homesteader living a quiet existence with his father Sam (Walter Brennan). No-account Frank Walker (Lyle Bettger), hoping to open up the Ute Indian territory for gold-mining purposes, tries to foment a war between the Utes and the local whites. To make sure things are kept interesting, Bettger steals a gold shipment and pins the blame on Murphy. Now a fugitive from justice, Brannon joins Walker's gang, much to his father's dismay. Actually, it's all part of a plan to expose Walker's perfidy and prevent Ute hostilities, but no one is aware of it.

During the filming of this in 1954, Jay Silverheels was still in the middle of his co-starring role as Tonto in the Lone Ranger Television Series. Silverheels brings in a good performance as the Indian Chief Taos, and looks particularly impressive in full war bonnet.

BIOS:
1. Nathan Juran [aka: Naftuli Hertz Juran] (Director)
Date of Birth: 1 September 1907 - Gurahumora, Bukovina, Austria-Hungary (now Gura Humorului, Romania)
Date of Death: 23 October 2002 - Palos Verdes Estates, California

2. Audie Murphy [aka: Audie Leon Murphy]
Date of Birth: 20 June 1924 - Kingston, Texas
Date of Death: 28 May 1971 - near Roanoke, Virginia

3. Walter Brennan
Date of Birth: 25 July 1894 - Swampscott, Massachusetts
Date of Death: 21 September 1974 - Oxnard, California

4. Lyle Bettger
Date of Birth: 13 February 1915 - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Date of Death: 24 September 2003 - Atascadero, San Luis Obispo County, California

5. Hugh O'Brian [aka: Hugh Charles Krampe]
Date of Birth: 19 April 1923 - Rochester, New York
Date of Death: Still Living

6. Jay Silverheels [aka: Harold J. Smith]
Date of Birth: 26 May 1912 - Six Nations Reservation, Brantford, Ontario, Canada
Date of Death: 5 March 1980 - Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California

Mr. Jim's Ratings:
Quality of Picture & Sound: 4 Stars
Performance: 4 Stars
Story & Screenplay: 4 Stars
Overall: 4 Stars [Original Music, Cinematography & Film Editing]

Total Time: 78 min on DVD/VHS ~ Universal International Pictures (UI) ~ (June 10, 1997)