bkoganbing 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.

Bob-45 "Silver River" is an under-appreciated, near classic western, that cries out for two things, color and greater chemistry between Flynn and Sheridan. Flynn liked VERY young women; he was probably intimidated by the mature, stronger, types, and Sheridan was one of the strongest. The hostile fireworks between them are quite convincing, the romance, less so. Since Flynn's feelings for Sheridan are central to the plot and thematic elements of this movie, this could have been disastrous. However, the complex, biographical-like plotting, solid performances by supporting actors and well choreographed overall action make up for this. The behavior of Flynn's character is quite understandable. When he is unselfish, he invariably suffers, having his career destroyed, not once, but twice. Thomas Mitchell's reformed drunk turned senatorial candidate would seem far fetched, until we are reminded that President Grant (a key character in the story) was a reformed alcoholic. Mitchell does the right things for the wrong reasons, Flynn the wrong things for the right reasons. This is certainly my favorite Errol Flynn western. I just wish Warner Brothers had given Flynn his usual "A" treatment and opted for color. I give "Silver River" an "8".

alexandre michel liberman (tmwest) The idea of bringing the story of King David to a western is not an easy task, and it ends up spoiling this film. Errol Flynn can only play Errol Flynn, and he is good as long as he is the selfish McComb, trying to build an empire, but when comes the time to repent, he is not convincing. You can't help comparing him with Gregory Peck who really makes you feel he is suffering in "David and Bathsheba". Thomas Mitchell is very good as the equivalent of Nathan, the prophet. As for Ann Sheridan, she is no Susan Hayward. If this would have been a standard Errol Flynn western, it had all the elements to be one of the best, specially due to Raoul Walsh, and the music by Max Steiner.

Sleepy-17 Flynn plays an unscrupulous sleaze-bag for most of the film, and it fits him like a glove. Sheridan is plucky but not quite as beautiful as I'm used to seeing her. Flynn is out after the married Sheridan with a leer in his eye, but there's not a lot of sexual tension once he's got his hands on her. Large-scale battle and mob scenes show off the large budget. Better than usual score from Max Steiner. A nice A-production from Warner Brothers that you probably haven't seen, but not much more than that.