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The River

  • 19511951
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 39m
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
6.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Radha in The River (1951)
Trailer for Jean Renoir's classic film
Play trailer2:35
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Drama
  • Romance
The growing pains of three young women contrast with the immutability of the holy Bengal River, around which their daily lives unfold.The growing pains of three young women contrast with the immutability of the holy Bengal River, around which their daily lives unfold.The growing pains of three young women contrast with the immutability of the holy Bengal River, around which their daily lives unfold.
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
6.2K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Jean Renoir
  • Writers
    • Rumer Godden(novel)
    • Jean Renoir(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Patricia Walters
    • Nora Swinburne
    • Esmond Knight
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jean Renoir
  • Writers
    • Rumer Godden(novel)
    • Jean Renoir(screenplay)
  • Stars
    • Patricia Walters
    • Nora Swinburne
    • Esmond Knight
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 45User reviews
    • 62Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 2 BAFTA Awards
      • 3 wins & 4 nominations total

    Videos1

    The River (1951)
    Trailer 2:35
    The River (1951)

    Photos103

    Thomas E. Breen, Adrienne Corri, Patricia Walters, and Radha in The River (1951)
    Adrienne Corri in The River (1951)
    Radha in The River (1951)
    Trilak Jetley in The River (1951)
    The River (1951)
    Radha in The River (1951)
    The River (1951)
    The River (1951)
    Thomas E. Breen and Arthur Shields in The River (1951)
    Radha in The River (1951)
    Arthur Shields in The River (1951)
    Thomas E. Breen in The River (1951)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Patricia Walters
    Patricia Walters
    • Harrietas Harriet
    Nora Swinburne
    Nora Swinburne
    • The Motheras The Mother
    Esmond Knight
    Esmond Knight
    • The Fatheras The Father
    Arthur Shields
    Arthur Shields
    • Mr. Johnas Mr. John
    Suprova Mukerjee
    • Nanas Nan
    Thomas E. Breen
    • Capt. Johnas Capt. John
    Radha
    Radha
    • Melanieas Melanie
    Adrienne Corri
    Adrienne Corri
    • Valerieas Valerie
    June Tripp
    June Tripp
    • Narratoras Narrator
    • (voice)
    • (as June Hillman)
    Nimai Barik
    • Kanuas Kanu
    • (uncredited)
    Richard R. Foster
    • Bogeyas Bogey
    • (uncredited)
    Jane Harris
    • Muffieas Muffie
    • (uncredited)
    Jennifer Harris
    • Mouseas Mouse
    • (uncredited)
    Trilak Jetley
    Trilak Jetley
    • Anilas Anil
    • (uncredited)
    Bhogwan Singh
    Bhogwan Singh
    • Sajjanas Sajjan
    • (uncredited)
    Penelope Wilkinson
    • Elizabethas Elizabeth
    • (uncredited)
    Cecilia Wood
    • Victoriaas Victoria
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Jean Renoir
    • Writers
      • Rumer Godden(novel) (screenplay)
      • Jean Renoir(screenplay)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      This film was instrumental in launching the careers of Satyajit Ray - an assistant on the film - and Subrata Mitra, who went on to become Ray's cinematographer.
    • Goofs
      (at around 36 mins) A cigarette appears from nowhere.
    • Quotes

      Valerie: This... being together... in the garden. All of us happy, and you with us here, I didn't want it to change... and it's changed. I didn't want it to end... and it's gone. It was like something in a dream. Now you've made it real. I didn't want to be real.

    • Connections
      Featured in Loin (2001)

    User reviews45

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    Thoughtful and Beautiful...
    This is a little known film, but well worth watching if you're lucky enough to find it on Video or TV. The director Jean Renoir is the son of the French Impressionist Painter Pierre Auguste Renoir ( the cinematographer Claude Renoir is Jean's nephew ) and the family talent shines throughout this film, which is beautifully shot. Whether showing the amazing landscape of India and the river itself, the colours and intricacies of the many Indian festivals, or even a close up of Valerie's face as she gazes at Captain John, every frame displays grace, beauty and style that film rarely captures.

    The plot itself, how a troubled outsider affects three teenaged girls, is a simple tale, and all the more powerful for it. We've all had a crush, and know the river of emotions that are awakened by one. Each of the three girls, the irrepressible and dramatic Valerie, the talented but awkward Harriet, and the stoic Melanie ( who despite schooling in the West is somehow more Indian in nature than her friends who've been brought up in India ) vie for Captain John's affections in their own way.

    However, the real love of this film is India itself - it's fascinating people, beliefs, festivals, and the constant River that runs through them all. It's a slow paced film, not in a hurry to get to any kind of conclusion, and you are immersed in the country, and what it's like to live there. Like relaxing on one of the many river boats, as its floats gently downstream, the film meanders along, showing us different scenes along the way, from the local postman's route to the house gates to the son's fascination with Cobras, with the story always moving on, though always interwoven with more day to day life. This brings a familiar reality to the film, it doesn't just skip moments that might not immediately concern the main characters - like life, other events happen, and they have their place in this film too.

    Actually getting to watch this film will be hard, it's not well known ( and not even considered one of Renoir's best ), but if you ever come home one night, flick on the TV, and see this starting, then get comfortable, and enjoy a lovingly made film about a country and the people, both native and foreigners, who live there.
    helpful•65
    7
    • jasonb84
    • Jan 28, 2003

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 10, 1951 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • France
      • United Kingdom
      • India
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • English
      • Bengali
    • Also known as
      • Der Strom
    • Filming locations
      • Ganges River, India
    • Production company
      • Oriental International Films
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross worldwide
      • $53,357
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 39 minutes
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

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