Powerful

Please don't spend money on this.

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

It’s not bad or unwatchable but despite the amplitude of the spectacle, the end result is underwhelming.

The few times this movie emerges from the tube, the listings rate it with 1 or 2 stars, but when I saw it in 1961 (in NC, aged 9 or 10) I remembered liking the movie and being confused only by not hearing Johnny Cash sing the theme song. David Janssen, the lead, earned his fame as an impressively intense, underspoken, and charismatic TV actor. The overall look of Ring of Fire resembles TV of the time when it filmed outside the studios. Except for the concluding spectacle of the fire, low production values prevail. Yet within said limits the direction is adept, well-paced, building anxiety and suspense while at the same time creating some reasonably complex characterizations and relations. The intimate scale of most of the scenes along with amateur actors and extras plus real outdoor sets and grainy footage combine for a compelling reality effect. Not a great movie, but redeeming evidence that serious professionals can make a rewarding film from unpromising parts.

Seems most reviewers have a strong connection to southwestern Wash. State or northern Ore. as reasons they like the film. I live in Seattle, but have little to say about the geography. But I am amazed how 'naughty' this film is for 1961! And the double entendres coming out of Chickee-Pooh's lips are so funny, e.g. something like "'That daddy's a (something-something) beatin' off dead beat!" and other nasty-talk from her (one about 'balling'). She should have her mouth washed out with Gleem, or even Mr. Clean!I think the U.S. Forest Service must have negotiated into the script a "Only YOU Prevent Forest Fires!" but couldn't get Smokey the Bear into the script to finger-point, since it would seem a bit unbelievable to have Yogi or any other bear talking in a drama. So instead David J. gets a line off about a still-lit fag not being squashed out, and later a still-lit cigarette a future problem.All-in-all, it's a sleeper and I'm going to bed.

I've seen this at least 10 times not because it's an awesome movie but because it was filmed in the small town I grew up in. Every July it played in the small movie theater in Vernonia for at least one weekend, sometimes for the whole month. I have a lot of fun memories around it including the hoopla around the filming. Vernonia is not just a small town it's rural with only ~1500 people so it was a huge deal. As a 3rd grader it was a big deal when one of the folks from the production company showed up at my grandmother's to ask if they could film on her property. David Jansen flew in and out of Vernonia on a helicopter, landing on Bridge Street (the main street)so that he could sign autographs. I haven't seen the complete movie since 1972 and would like to see it again but can't find it.

While the film was set in Oregon, the burning bridge was filmed in Grays Harbor, Wash.I have been to the site of the bridge and have been down to the bottom of the canyon where the bridge collapsed. The engine is still upside down in the river and the passenger cars are cut in two and laying on the side of the river canyon floor.At low water the wheels are all that are able to be seen of the steam engine.I had to use ropes to get down to the bottom.The area has grown up now and one would never know what lies at the bottom of the canyon unless they had seen the movie.