River of No Return (1954)

The titular river unites a farmer recently released from prison, his young son, and an ambitious saloon singer. In order to survive, each must be purged of anger, and each must learn to understand and care for the others.

Directors:

Otto Preminger, Jean Negulesco (uncredited)

Writers:

Frank Fenton (screenplay), Louis Lantz (story)

Stars:

Robert Mitchum, Marilyn Monroe, Rory Calhoun

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Robert Mitchum	...	Matt Calder
Marilyn Monroe	...	Kay Weston
Rory Calhoun	...	Harry Weston
Tommy Rettig	...	Mark Calder
Murvyn Vye	...	Dave Colby
Douglas Spencer	...	Sam Benson

Storyline

Matt Calder, who lives on a remote farm with his young son Mark, helps two unexpected visitors who lose control of their raft on the nearby river. Harry Weston is a gambler by profession and he is racing to the nearest town to register a mining claim he has won in a poker game. His attractive wife Kay, a former saloon hall girl, is with him. When Calder refuses to let Weston have his only rifle and horse, he simply takes them leaving his wife behind. Unable to defend themselves against a likely Indian attack, Calder, his son and Kay Weston begin the treacherous journey down the river on the raft Weston left behind.

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Plot Keywords:

song | singer | singing | indian attack | dubbed singing | 

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Taglines:

Through shooting rapids of Cree ambush...through the white fanged fury of the Great Northwest...beyond God's last outpost in the granite-walled Rockies...she had to be where he was!

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Genres:

Action | Adventure | Drama | Music | Romance | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

9 August 1954 (Sweden)

Also Known As:

River of No Return

Filming Locations:

Salmon River, Idaho, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$2,195,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$8,757

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

91 min

Sound Mix:

4-Track Stereo (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.55 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Otto Preminger had no interest in the project until he read the screenplay and saw potential in the story. He also approved of Robert Mitchum and Marilyn Monroe, who already had been cast in the lead roles.

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Goofs

The chords Kay plays on the guitar do not match the chords necessary for that particular song.

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Quotes

Kay Weston: You oughta take a dip in the falls yourself. Might wash some of the starch out of you or rust.

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Alternate Versions

When originally released theatrically in the UK, the BBFC made cuts to secure a 'U' rating. All cuts were waived in 1987 when the film was granted a 'PG' certificate for home video.

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Connections

Featured in Legends of the West (1992)

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Soundtracks

One Silver Dollar
(uncredited)
Performed by Marilyn Monroe
Lyrics by Ken Darby
Music by Lionel Newman

User Reviews

Sometimes it's peaceful,sometimes wild

Life is like this river,sometimes peaceful,sometimes wild.A "river" movie,before the "road movie" genre was invented,Otto Preminger's work remains extremely beautiful:an unusually inventive cinemascope which enhances the scenery :the raft tossed by the tides of misfortune,seems like a grain of sand in these deep valleys,these ancestral forests.

A story as linear as the river,which focuses on one of Preminger's favorite subjects:redemption (see "where the sidewalk ends","forever Amber").If someone does something wrong,Kay says ,it's because he's often compelled to do so.Mark,the young boy ,will understand ,and little did he know it would not be long !

The songs (the title track and "one silver dollar" ) are sumptuous,and add magic to this odyssey of redemption.And when Kay throws her high-heeled shoes in the dust,what a nice way to pick up the pieces!