Irving Warner
Saw "Many Rivers to Cross" when it came out originally, then just recently -- in a boxed set of westerns from "Costco". I was 13 when I first saw it--and didn't remember much about it. Now, I know why, there's nothing memorable about it. This was an effort to equal the popularity and success of "The Quiet Man", a "comedy" with a roughly parallel tone and marriage-spoof/conflict. It even brings back Victor McGlaughlin in an almost identical role as "Man". The bad mistake with "Rivers...Cross", is that just because a Western has a comedic tone, it doesn't mean it should insult the genre right down to the spokes and horse's hooves. Some respect should be shown,if only a minimum, regards sets, script continuity, costumes and the times when the film is supposed to occur. Plus, if the budget requires a mostly studio effort, then some vigor should be made in the studios scenes to make them appear roughly genuine. If this were a weak "B" second feature from a minor studio maybe the poor quality could be excused; however, the cast was first rate, and this was allegedly an "A" movie. So, as an "A" movie, it completely failed for me. Lastly, it wasn't funny at all.
easy_eight
I agree with the other poster who wonders where all these positive comments came from. This is the worst movie I have ever seen. The female lead is so obnoxious and annoying that I am surprised the male lead doesn't just either kill himself or kill the entire family. Neither Rod Taylor nor Eleanor Parker seem to be able to act and are terrible in their respective "comedic" roles. The dialog and plot is ridiculous and the characters are ill-conceived and not believable. And the soundtrack is one big orchestral cliché. This movie was painful to watch and predictable. The theme is dated and I believe is an insult to women. I would love to talk with the people who liked this movie and find out more about them. If this movie were released today, it would last one weekend, if released at all. Interesting enough, many of the actors and actresses in this movie have done fine work in other movies and in the Theater. The fault falls upon the shoulders of the director and the producers. This is a movie that should never have been made. I had stop watching this movie because it was so bad.
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 @ txmoor50@yahoo.com------thanks. 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.
jbacks3-1
The wierdest thing about MANY RIVERS TO CROSS is that is contains 2/7ths of the cast of GILLIGAN'S ISLAND... although if you go to the can you'll miss Russell Johnson's input as one of the sons. Alan Hale Jr. has a particularly strange outburst where he compares himself to a range of angry animals before attempting to beat the snot out of a too-old Robert Taylor in a jealous rage. This is an odd mix of comedy and drama with the normal MGM cast of caucasian Indians. Worth seeing on a rainy day... 6.5/10
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