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Pretty Good

A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

The story-telling is good with flashbacks.The film is both funny and heartbreaking. You smile in a scene and get a soulcrushing revelation in the next.

The movie's not perfect, but it sticks the landing of its message. It was engaging - thrilling at times - and I personally thought it was a great time.

You won't waste your time watching Robert Mitchum in any movie as he has proved himself to be an actor to take note of. In this movie, he gives a stable performance as a rugged pioneer type adventurer and good father who is trying to make a go farming in the wilderness. If things aren't hard enough, Indians harass, strangers become unpredictable and the work does not become easier. The rafting scenes remain fake but the real life shots of the river remain beautiful. Monroe detracts from the picture as being too much when she should be just a little however that is the part they wanted her to play. Unfortunately they like selling her as a sex object first and an actor second which comes through in some scenes almost like they were afraid the picture wouldn't do well and needed some additional assurance. The fact is it did do well and in no small part to Preminger's directing while filled with criticism still delivered a watchable entertaining film. Behind the scenes there was much ego and unprofessional conduct which reminds us all that wherever we go and whatever we do the people add or detract from the experiences. This film could have used more specific emphasis on the area and when it took place as that is always interesting history. Instead, they made it more for the actors than the viewers is how it came across. Good movie to snack by with a tasty drink and just enjoy watching a piece of movie making history with times gone by...

RIVER OF NO RETURN is a fairly standard western adventure that features the pairing of movie tough guy Robert Mitchum and the iconic actress Marilyn Monroe. It's one of those river-themed movies which, like THE RIVER WILD, features the characters rafting down a sometimes turbulent river for much of the running time.It's an acceptable enough piece of fare, one which has dated somewhat but still works as a harmless time-waster. Rory Calhoun's bad guy is never quite as villainous or as imposing as he ought to be, but there's a nice twist ending and Mitchum's bravado keeps you watching. Monroe is quite gracious although she does spoil things by singing a little too much. The back projection effects don't look very good these days but there are some fun stunt scenes to enjoy.

In theory, I should have loved "River of No Return." Otto Preminger is one of my favorite directors; I love Mitchum, and Monroe is often good; there's cowboys, violence, excitement and attractive women playing instruments. It was like biting into a shiny apple, only to find the worm equivalent of Times Square.The premise is promising: an ex-convict (Robert Mitchum) rounds up his son--who he gave away before he went away--and heads off to a small piece of land to start anew as a farmer. The area is a hotspot for gold, but Mitchum doesn't care; he just wants to live quietly. But one thing leads to another, and Mitchum, his son and a dance hall singer (Marilyn Monroe) end up on a raft, going down rapids to get revenge on a man who stole Mitchum's gun and horse.First thing's first, the film is gorgeous--shot in Cinemascope. The opening shot of the movie is a big "look I've got," as the camera pans around Mitchum, showing acres and acres of grassy, mountainous land. Likewise, Cinemascope is a naturally companion when shooting a river--where a large chunk of the film takes place. But the cinematography is so good, it makes the jumps to green screen incredibly jarring. Not to mention, the rafting sequences--the film's big set-pieces--aren't exciting in the least, as time after time, it's just a raft moving forward and two people pushing levers back and forth.There's a lot of little things I love about this movie. The relationship between the three main characters--Mitchum, his son, Monroe--is deep and full of potential. This only exemplifies the weakness of the screenplay, as these characters are given nothing to do or say after being set-up in an auspicious manner. That said, there are several story beats that rang true with me, but not enough to add up to anything special. There's even one single moment--very brief--where the film made me remember why I love movies. That's worth something.Despite the natural pleasure of watching a western starring Robert Mitchum and Marilyn Monroe, directed by the great Otto Preminger, the film is less than the sum of its parts. It almost made me sad, as there's a great movie in there somewhere.

The plot and acting in "River of No Return" are just so-so. This may be one of the few movies in which Marilyn Monroe shows some talent for acting. But, just some. The relatively high mark I give this film is mostly for two settings and one craft. The craft is the cinematography. The filming of the raft riding the rapids on the river is outstanding. And the panoramic scenes of the country are excellent. The Cinemascope cameras caught the magnificent beauty of Banff and Jasper national parks in Alberta, Canada. It's too bad some of the studio scenes weren't shot on location in the wild as well. I saw a distinct change when, after riding the waves and coming out of the river, the threesome – Matt, Kay and Mark – plunk down in a studio setting around a campfire. It struck this viewer as phony, or unreal. Maybe we didn't notice that so much way back when, but it sure is more evident to me today. In later years, the studios weaned more and more away from the studio lots for shooting most outdoor scenes on locations with the real elements. It's difficult for modern producers to find large natural settings for films today – those that don't show the signs of modernity (utility poles and lines, highways, buildings, clear cuts, etc.). So, we can appreciate and cherish films such as this that give us pictures of what the wilds looked like in the "ideal" past.