1948's Silver River is one of Errol's best westerns, and is a largely unappreciated member of the genre from that era. I still think Rocky Mountain was his best western, but Silver River gives Rocky Mountain a run for its money.
Why is Silver River a good film? To start, it has more depth in its storyline than most studio westerns of the era, with Errol cast, against type, as an anti-hero of sorts in a retelling of the biblical tale of King David. Second, it has Ann Sheridan in it. That alone makes it worth watching. Third, Flynn's comic relief/second banana in Silver River is Tom D'Andrea, a superior actor and comic to Flynn's previous Alan Hale and Guinn "Big Boy" Williams pairing, resulting in finer, and funnier dialogue without the more cartoonish sight gags of Flynn's earlier westerns. This was also Flynn's last movie with Raoul Walsh (though he assisted Ray Enright on Montana, in 1950), and Walsh could make even the worst script look good on the screen.
It also had some good script writing, with more dry humor than you'd normally expect in a 40's studio western:
Errol: (teasing Ann Sheridan for wearing trousers) You look pretty smart in those pants.
Ann Sheridan: I'd look pretty silly without them.
Ann Sheridan: (After accidentally hitting Tom D-Andrea on the head) Are you hurt?
Tom D-Andrea: No. Just bent a little.
All in all, I was surprised at just how good this movie was. I had expected another Montana, and I got a really good story, with a deep plotline, quite good acting, and - yes - Ann Sheridan, instead. Definitely time well spent.
Also, this entire film is, like The Roots of Heaven, posted on YouTube. That I didn't have to guy the DVD was an added kick.
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