Wild River (1960)

A TVA bureaucrat comes to the river to do what none of his predecessors have been able to do - evict a stubborn octogenarian from her island before the rising waters engulf her.

Director:

Elia Kazan

Writers:

Paul Osborn (screenplay), William Bradford Huie (based on novels by)

Stars:

Montgomery Clift, Lee Remick, Jo Van Fleet

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Montgomery Clift	...	Chuck Glover
Lee Remick	...	Carol Garth Baldwin
Jo Van Fleet	...	Ella Garth
Albert Salmi	...	Hank Bailey
Jay C. Flippen	...	Hamilton Garth (as J.C. Flippen)
James Westerfield	...	Cal Garth
Barbara Loden	...	Betty Jackson
Frank Overton	...	Walter Clark
Malcolm Atterbury	...	Sy Moore

Storyline

A young field administrator for the TVA comes to rural Tennessee to oversee the building of a dam on the Tennessee River. He encounters opposition from the local people, in particular a farmer who objects to his employment (with pay) of local black laborers. Much of the plot revolves around the eviction of an elderly woman from her home on an island in the River, and the young man's love affair with that woman's widowed granddaughter.

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Plot Keywords:

national film registry | southern gothic | river | tennessee | island | 

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Taglines:

The Wild Language...The Wild Hungers...The Wild Furies!

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Genres:

Drama | History | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

May 1960 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Woman and the Wild River

Filming Locations:

Cleveland, Tennessee, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Twentieth Century Fox

Technical Specs

Runtime:

110 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System) 4-Track Stereo

Color:

Black and White (archive footage) Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Robert Earl Jones, father of James Earl Jones, had an uncredited role. You'll first recognize the voice when he refuses to sell his dog to Ella.

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Goofs

At the beginning of the film Chuck comes to town on a Greyhound bus. The bus is a late 40's early 50's model bus. Much larger then the buses used in 1934.

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Quotes

Chuck Glover: [to Carol] Marry me?
[Carol says nothing]
Chuck Glover: I know I'll probably regret it, and I'm sure you'll regret it... but... get your hat, and a coat, wash up. Alright?
[Carol nods yes]

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Connections

Featured in Elia Kazan: A Director's Journey (1995)

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Soundtracks

He Walks with Me
(uncredited)
Traditional
Sung a cappella by Lee Remick
Played also in the score

User Reviews

The movie is great

I had to say this movie was so stunning for me. The beginning black and white newsreel of a man who lost his three children in a flood is actually a real clip and it is my grandfather, so I was so amazed to see this. He passed away in 1972. My father lost his brothers and sisters in the flood which was in the 1930s Trumansburg, NY. I believe is was the flood of 1935. How amazing to see an actual news reel of my grandfather!!! I had a hard time finding the movie until I come across it on ebay. My father once had it, but he ended up losing it as the movie was not marked it was a blank VHS and it was unfortunately thrown away. I am holding onto the movie that I got until his birthday. It will make a unforgivable gift.