Bend of the River is a 1952 American Western film directed by Anthony Mann and starring James Stewart, Arthur Kennedy, Julie Adams, and Rock Hudson.

Based on the 1950 novel Bend of the Snake by Bill Gulick, the film is about a tough cowboy who risks his life to deliver confiscated supplies to homesteaders after gold is discovered in the region.

In 1866, remorseful former border raider Glyn McLyntock is guiding a wagon train of settlers to Oregon.

McLyntock welcomes Cole, but Jeremy Baile, the leader of the settlers, does not trust him and does not believe that a man can change from bad to good.

The rest, including McLyntock, go on to establish a settlement in the wilderness after making arrangements with a man named Tom Hendricks for the supplies they need for the winter to be sent on later ("the first week in September").

With winter fast approaching and the supplies at least six weeks late, they begin to worry when the food runs low.

McLyntock secretly hires some men to load the supplies to take back to the settlement, but Hendricks finds out, instigating a shootout.

James Stewart, best known for his down-to-earth persona, established another screen image with the 1950 Western film Winchester '73.

In his 1952 review, The New York Times critic Bosley Crowther said the film "keeps you guessing as to which of its male stars is going to turn out 'good' and which 'bad'".

Both actors are first-rate performers when it comes to slinging guns and giving a general impression of cryptic personalities.

Jay C. Flippen is good as the top farmer, Julia Adams and Lori Nelson make svelte farm girls and Rock Hudson is ornamental as a gentleman gambler who strings along.

We are sorry to note that Stepin Fetchit is back to play a clownish stereotype, but the scenery is good in Technicolor and the fightin' is frequent and bold.