Historic Hood River
Bend of the River
3-31-2014
Notes
We’ve got some fun pictures this week. In 1951 Universal Pictures filmed the 1952 release “Bend of the River” in our area. This was a big budget western starring Jimmy Stewart and Rock Hudson. It also featured Harry Morgan (of MASH fame), Francis Bavier (Aunt Bea from the Andy Griffith Show), and Julie Adams (of Creature from the Black Lagoon, of course). Have fun trying to figure out where the crews were working.
charlott
They worked all over, up around Timbertline, down on the Columbia River near Cape Horn where those sheer cliffs go up . It featured a steam boat on the river/ White River is where they had there wagons all in a circle and the Indians attacked them. My Dad took me up there and we saw some of it being filmed. Quite a treat. Hood River was all abuzz when it came out and I remember standing in a very long line to get in to see it. Only two movies I ever recall being in a long line. Bend In the River and Lucy’s Long Long Trailer. Always one of my favorite childhood movies.
Buzz
Good movie. Beautiful scenery. But never compare to Tom Mix and Roy Rogers and Gene Autry movies. LOL
l.e.
I didn’t see the movie until late ’60’s on TV.
I didn’t know about the movie. Just happened to be watching a Jimmy Stewart western when familiar scenery began to appear.
I’m curious if you could film in some of the same areas now or is the scenery blocked by trees?
One thing about fires, they open the area up.
Bill Seaton
Charlott has it right, the Hood River community was really excited about having a MAJOR motion picture filmed in our area. However, I was a little disappointed that I never heard of the movie cast actually coming to visit our town.
Judy
There was also an episode of the TV series "Movin On" filmed in downtown Hood River. The actors rented a space in the County Courthouse to change, etc.
I remember Frank Gorshin.
charlott
I forgot. They also filmed at Bridal Vale falls. Beautiful scene of the falls. I assume they did that at the same time they were filming in the river. I don’t know, but I bet they were set up on the beach at Rooster Rock.
Mark
I always remember this film for the jet contrails over Mt. Hood!… oops.
l.e.
Yep….I wondered if anyone else remembered or noticed those Mark.
Norma Jubitz Simpson
Charlotte, there was not a Rooster Rock Park until I-84 was completed later in the 1950’s. I-84 is the only access to the park.
Rev.
Timberline Lodge displays a number of pictures from movies filmed on Mt. Hood including some of Bend in the River. I’ve seen the movie on the TCM channel a number of times because I like the scenes on the river and the old steam boat. However jet contrails would not have been seen over the mountain until about 1957 and the filming was done in 1951. Did piston engined airliners create contrails in 1951…I don’t know but I doubt it.
Barbara Parsons
I thought I saw contrails in that movie, too. I must have been deluded.
Mac
All of the above are interesting comments. In the scene where they are far up on Mt Hood with snow drifts all around, and Jimmy Stewart as a captive, look to the right background of blue sky, you’ll clearly see the old Timberline Ski life cable!! I worked up there for years and am very familiar with the exact terrain where they filed these