SimonJack "Many Rivers to Cross" is just plain old-fashioned movie entertainment. Robert Taylor and Eleanor Parker play beautifully off one another, with a great comedy supporting cast. It includes Victor McLaglen, Sig Ruman, Rhys Williams, Alan Hale Jr., and James Arness. The pioneer plot seems a fresh setting for a comedy – now, if not also when this film came out in 1955. The script is very well written and directed. I think the actors were enjoying themselves in the making of this film. The often wooden and low-energy Robert Taylor seems to have relaxed some in his role as Bushrod Gentry. Eleanor Power is perfect as Mary Stuart Cherne. Although some of the outdoor scenes clearly are on a set, that doesn't detract too much because of the action. And, there's plenty of that. This film moves nicely from one skirmish or squabble to another humorous sequence. It isn't a loud laughter film, but one that brings many smiles and chuckles.An opening prologue dedicates the movie to the pioneer women of yore who stood by their men and helped settle the frontier (then Kentucky). It says, without them, most of we viewers wouldn't be here today watching this movie. So, one knows to expect the humor that follows. And, it delivers it in some clever and witty lines, and in rollicking scenes. At the opening, Mary Stuart is returning to her home from hunting game. She has an injured Bushrod in tow. Cadmus Cherne (Victor McLaglen) says, "Oh, she goes out for game for the larder, and brings back another mouth to feed."The movie has one of the funniest fist fights ever put on film. Bushrod and Luke Radford (Alan Hale Jr.) must lay out a dozen other men in their fight. There's an interesting sequence that shows a "nail shoot." Contestants vie by shooting at nails in trees, to pound them all the way in. Another very funny sequence occurs toward the end. Bushrod and Mary Stuart have a skirmish with Indians in a cave. Three of the Indians are done in, and only one is left outside the cave. But, he has a rifle. Bushrod says, "He ain't gonna leave the mouth of the cave unless we can draw him in here somehow. I'll tell you what – If he thought I was dead, he might come in here looking for you. Probably wants you alive to take home with him. Serve him right too." Mary Stuart says, "I might not look so bad in a tepee." The rest of that scene is hilarious.This is a fun, entertaining movie that the whole family should enjoy.

edwagreen Absolutely stupid, inane farce with Robert Taylor and Eleanor Parker falling apart in their attempt to do comedy. 1955 was a banner year for Miss Parker. She received a well-deserved Oscar nomination for playing polio-stricken opera star Marjorie Lawrence in the wonderful musical biography of "Interrupted Melody." How Parker, who often was criticized for a tendency to over-act, permitted herself to be drawn into this project is beyond me. Ditto for Taylor. Just 2 years before, he was a smash in the Oscar nominated "Ivanhoe." As a backwards man trapper, Tayor displayed the appropriated facial pain of being subjected to the script.Both take chances of saving each other by Indians during the 1700s in Kentucky. It's the usual fanfare of supposed dislike leading to love.This film would have been far better had there been a dramatic element to it. The ending scene is the cave was just too ridiculous to discuss.As for the supposed-catchy tune, The Berry Tree-It's almost like saying The Berry Tree, Woe is Me. Catching a wife. After hearing this song and viewing this stinker, it's time for a divorce.

gateman16 This is an excellent movie. It may be too slow paced for those of you who are only looking for whiz-bang, but for others with a little more spirit it is a classic. I thoroughly enjoyed watching this movie several times. It captures a long lost frontier spirit and accurately portrays it on the screen. The music is good, but not overwhelming. It matches the pace of the story very well. Robert Taylor is the freelance fur trapper who is passing through. On his way he is rescued by Eleanor Parker and her sidekick Sandak. Following this, the battle of the sexes begins. It is frontier wits versus feminine charm, and guile.I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

txmoor50 I saw this movie many years ago, and fully enjoyed it. Does anyone know the words to the song, "The higher up the berry tree"???? If so, please e-mail me @ [email protected]. I really would love to get this info, as my mother is just wild about this song. I am really having a hard time finding anyone who can help me on this subject. I was probably about ten years old when I first saw this movie, and heard this song. I can still remember humming it to this day, but for the life of me I can't remember the words. Great movie though. My oldest brother can usually help me on any of the "movie classics", but even he wasn't able to come through to help on this one.