This Western has two good things going for it; dialogue by Daniel Mainwaring who wrote fiction under the name of Geoffrey Homes. For those who recall ' Out of the Past, ' or alternatively titled ' Build My Gallows High, ' he was responsible for the novel it was based on, and the dialogue in the film. Some say it is the greatest Film Noir and they could be right. Turned screenwriter he wrote the dialogue for this film and it is first rate; complex, snappy and full of energy. Out of the actors in the film Cameron Mitchell as a tormented man, threatened by death and afraid of it gives a first rate performance. The story itself is the usual one of stolen gold, and tracking down the killer of a man who was protecting it. No spoilers but Rory Calhoun gets to be the man to do that, and his performance is as slick and over polished as ever. However much he tries to portray a ' good man ' the fake smile shows up the opposite and spoils the illusion. Corinne Calvet plays a saloon girl in love with Mitchell. And she does her best to make you believe in her. As a Western it is good, but as usual the town is too clean for the period and the clothes too clean. Personally I like this decade of Western mythology, and the colour is excellent, and a shootout on a boat adrift and heading for the river's rapids is first rate. There is even a carriage on the boat which gives the scene a surreal touch. I give it a 7 for Cameron Mitchell and the dialogue.
Review of Powder River
