Many Rivers to Cross (1955): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 1955, Many Rivers to Cross is an action, comedy and western film directed by Roy Rowland, running about 95 minutes. “KENTUCKY ADVENTURE in CINEMASCOPE” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. Packaged and sold as an outdoor actioner, Many Rivers to Cross is as much a comedy as anything else. Robert Taylor stars as 18th century trapper Bushrod Gentry, who is himself entrapped into marriage by the spunky Mary Stuart Cherne (Eleanor Parker). Escaping his marital responsibilities (which were impressed upon him on threat of death), Gentry heads into the North Country, with Mary in hot pursuit. Hero and heroine spend the rest of the picture taking turns rescuing each other from hostile Indians. Some of the humor is predicated upon the wholesale slaughter of the "redskins", and as such is a bit hard to take when seen today. Supporting Taylor and Parker are Victor McLaglen as the heroine's burly father, and TV-stars-to be James Arness (Gunsmoke) and Russell Johnson and Alan Hale Jr. (Gilligan's Island).

Who’s in it. Many Rivers to Cross stars Robert Taylor as Bushrod Gentry, Eleanor Parker as Mary Stuart Cherne, Victor McLaglen as Cadmus Cherne and Jeff Richards as Fremont, among others.

How it landed. With an audience score of 6.4/10, Many Rivers to Cross has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.

Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Many Rivers to Cross page.

If you liked it. Fans of Many Rivers to Cross tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.