River's End
About River's End
In northern Canada, Mountie Sergeant Conniston (Charles Bickford) and his drunken guide O'Toole (J. Farrell MacDonald) catch escaped convict Keith, who looks exactly like the sergeant. After a sled wreck Keith leaves them in the snow, then comes back. Conniston dies of a frozen lung. O'Toole, sure Keith is innocent, coaches him to pass as the Mountie. At the post, McDowell says the real killer has confessed. Keith falls for McDowell's daughter Miriam (Evalyn Knapp), Conniston's former girl. A rival learns that Conniston was married. Keith confesses to Miriam, takes a beating from the other Mounties, and boards a ship with O'Toole's son Mickey. Miriam gets on at the last minute.
Cast & crew
More about River's End
Michael Curtiz directed. Charles Kenyon wrote the screenplay from James Oliver Curwood's 1919 novel The River's End. It is the second of three versions, after a 1920 film and before a 1940 film. Robert Kurrle photographed it. Ernö Rapée is credited with the music. Warner Bros. released it as a pre-Code talkie.
Themes
Background
A 1930 Warner Bros. pre-Code picture, the middle adaptation of Curwood's novel.
Look
Robert Kurrle photographed Bickford in both roles.
Music
Ernö Rapée is credited with the music.
Preservation
The Library of Congress holds a copy.
Notes
- Bickford plays both Keith and Conniston.
- ZaSu Pitts plays Louise, Walter McGrail plays Martin, and Frank Coghlan Jr. plays Mickey.
- Tom Santschi and George Tobias are also in the cast.
- The Library of Congress holds a copy.
Scenes
- Keith sees his own face on the Mountie who has come to arrest him.
- O'Toole drills Keith in the sergeant's manner after Conniston dies.
- Miriam steps aboard after Keith has already taken the gauntlet.
Influenced by
- The River's End (James Oliver Curwood, 1919)
Also available
- Library of Congress
