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Action western

River’s End (1940): Cast & Plot

River’s End (1940) movie poster

River’s End is a 1940 action western directed by Ray Enright, starring Dennis Morgan as John Keith / Sgt. Derry Conniston, George Tobias and James Stephenson. It runs 1 hour 9 minutes.

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River’s End (1940) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 9m (69 min)
Director
Ray Enright
Genres
Action , Drama , Western
Original language
English
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is River’s End About?

The premise of River’s End without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.

After escaping custody, a man assumes the identity of a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer in a daring effort to clear his name of a murder charge. The film follows the intense pursuit across the frontier, culminating in a suspenseful showdown. Dennis Morgan showcases his range by portraying both the fugitive and his look‑alike counterpart.

River’s End Themes & Keywords

· 36 tags
  • canadian
  • escape
  • law and order
  • lawman
  • mounted police
  • violence
  • death
  • cigarette smoking
  • held at gunpoint
  • bartender
  • saloon
  • dual role
+24 more
  • frenchman
  • canada
  • remake
  • b western
  • b movie
  • canadian northwest
  • rescue
  • northwest mounted police
  • murder
  • miner
  • snow
  • impersonation
  • wrongful arrest
  • confession
  • brother sister relationship
  • chase
  • fight
  • dog sled
  • marriage
  • trial
  • alberta canada
  • frame up
  • elopement
  • based on novel
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Cast & crew

River’s End Cast & Characters

Dennis Morgan leads the cast as John Keith / Sgt. Derry Conniston, with George Tobias as Andy Dijon and James Stephenson as McDowell. Directed by Ray Enright; 12 actors are credited in all.

Also Starring in River’s End

· 8 more
From the director

More from Ray Enright

More films directed by Ray Enright: The Man From Cairo, Kansas Raiders, Montana and South of St. Louis.

Full filmography
Plot

River’s End Plot Summary

What happens in River’s End from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.

Spoilers ahead

John Keith Dennis Morgan is wrongly convicted of murdering Roger Cass in the frontier town of River’s End, Alberta, during the early 1900s. After being sentenced to hang, Keith makes a daring escape from custody, and his French-Canadian friend, Andy Dijon George Tobias, is ready with a canoe and supplies as Keith heads north into the harsh wilderness alone.

Sergeant Derry Conniston Dennis Morgan, newly arrived from the Fort McMurray detachment, is ordered by Inspector McDowell James Stephenson of the Royal Northwest Mounted Police to track and arrest Keith. For fourteen months, Conniston relentlessly follows Keith across a sweeping landscape that stretches from Saskatchewan and Manitoba to the vast Northwest Territories, driven by a sense of duty and the hope of vindicating the innocent man.

Full summary

The whole story of River’s End, scene by scene

Read the full summary
Quiz

How Well Do You Know River’s End?

10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.

Question 1 of 10

  1. Question 1: not answered
  2. Question 2: not answered
  3. Question 3: not answered
  4. Question 4: not answered
  5. Question 5: not answered
  6. Question 6: not answered
  7. Question 7: not answered
  8. Question 8: not answered
  9. Question 9: not answered
  10. Question 10: not answered

Which actor plays both John Keith and Sergeant Derry Conniston?

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FAQ

River’s End FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date

Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of River’s End, each answered in a sentence.

How long is River’s End?

River’s End runs 1 hour 9 minutes (69 minutes).

When was River’s End released?

River’s End was released on August 10, 1940.

Who directed River’s End?

River’s End was directed by Ray Enright.

More films by Ray Enright

Who is in the cast of River’s End?

River’s End stars Dennis Morgan as John Keith / Sgt. Derry Conniston, George Tobias as Andy Dijon and James Stephenson as McDowell, among 12 credited actors.

Does River’s End have a post-credit scene?

No. River’s End has no extra scene during or after the credits.

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