Screenplay: Frank Fenton, based on a story by Louis Lantz The star was cast as a dance-hall singer who befriends the hero (Robert Mitchum) and his son (Tommy Rettig) and sets off with them on a perilous journey in pursuit of the gambler (Rory Calhoun) who has stolen their horse and gun. Tracing an arc from its origins in the Stanley Basin and nearby headwaters, it follows a well worn crack revealing some of the oldest minerals visible anywhere on earth on its north then west then south before turning west again path towards its confluence with the Snake River and ultimately the Pacific Ocean. Powered by WordPress.com VIP. The river proved a daunting obstacle for early explorers and pioneers. That evening, Kay is surprised by how tenderly Calder cares for her and Mark, and the next morning, he succeeds in killing an elk. The raft then enters the worst of the rapids, and after a torturous ride, the group finally reaches Council City. "Our picture is inarticulate," he complained. Weston steals the rifle and horse anyway, and assures Calder that he will return them soon, then knocks him out when Calder attempts to stop him. "River of No Return" was a 1954 Western Directed by Otto Preminger, starring Robert Mitchum, Marilyn Monroe, Rory Calhoun and Tommy Rettig who I remember best as Jeff in the CBS's Lassie television series, from 1954 to 1957.I enjoyed this movie more than I thought I would. Image of the Day They encounter trouble in a patch of rapids, but fortunately are near Calder's farm, and he and Mark pull them to safety. C-91m. A shot from two passing men kills the cat, and the men, Sam Benson and Dave Colby, reveal that they are riding to Council City in pursuit of Weston, who won their gold claim. The discovery added to a growing body of evidence that the first people to reach North America may have arrived by boat rather than over a land bridge connecting to Siberia. Enraged on finding that Lytess was also trying to influence child actor Tommy Rettig, Preminger barred Lytess from the set. Calder apologizes for his earlier behavior, but again refuses to listen when Kay defends Weston. We will update this section as . As forces of nature deposited a variety of sediments across the state which later metamorphosed into the gneiss, schist and quartzite visible inside its gorge, the river began its ravenous gravity fed journey towards the sea. At the end of the film, a written acknowledgment reads: "The Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation thanks the Canadian Government for its cooperation in the production of this motion picture." Infuriated by his actions, Kay decides to stay behind and watches as Weston rides off. You can check out the official promo trailer for River of No Return season 1 below: 2023 Cinemaholic Inc. All rights reserved. Inhabited by a variety of peoples dating back to at least 8,000-11,000 years ago, descendants of the ancient Cordilleran culture which wandered south through the Rocky Mountains eventually began to scratch out a living amid its unique climate. It flows for a length of 425 miles and transforms into a 7,000 feet rapid between its headwaters. They can access the rest of the country only via flights or by passing the Salmon River through jet boats, in order to bring in supplies and necessary items. According to Preminger, Lytess urged Monroe to drop her characteristic "soft, slurred voice" and "enunciate every syllable distinctly. As far as the next season goes, we don't have an official announcement yet. Still, even under these harsh conditions, the inhabitants of The Frank dont shy away from tackling everyday challenges. 1954, World premiere in Denver, CO: 29 Apr 1954; New York opening: 30 Apr 1954; Los Angeles opening: 5 May 1954, Alberta, Canada; Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada; Banff National Parks, Alberta, Canada; Bow River, Alberta, Canada; Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada; Maligne River, Alberta, Canada; Snake Indian River, Alberta, Canada, 8,064ft Mark insists on bidding farewell to Kay, the saloon singer who has been caring for him while he was waiting, and Kay upbraids Calder for neglecting his son. Notice how it lacks the straight, sheer walls of the Grand Canyon. If renewed, 'River of No Return' season 2 can release sometime in October 2020. River of No Return (2008) Goofs on IMDb: Mistakes, Errors in geography, Spoilers and more. The Salmon River of Idaho cuts a swath of country wild and rugged, inhabited over the eons by wandering nomads and wayward hermits. Even the harrowing flight journey through steep canyons on a bush plane is equally dangerous. "I didn't want to spend my entire life in Canada." Shaped by faulting and uplifting of the central Idaho batholith the downward cutting eventually shepherded its raucous currents to form the channel it follows today. Rivers of Power: How a Natural Force Raised Kingdoms, Destroyed Civilizations, and Shapes Our World. Life. On August 23, 1805, Lewis and Clarks dream of finding a water route across North America ended in failure when a scouting party led by the Shoshone guide Swooping Eagle and William Clark turned back after observing a tumultuous scene with the river roiling, foaming, and beating against the innumerable rocks which crowded its channel.. "We have got to stop guessing about these relationships. On one occasion, Marilyn Monroe had to be saved from drowning when her boots filled with water, and on another occasion, she and Robert Mitchum had to be rescued when their raft became stuck on a rock and was on the verge of overturning. Their only motto is to be able to lead life on their own terms. Producer: Stanley Rubin Although a December 31, 1953 entry in Hollywood Reporter's "Rambling Reporter" column indicated that four separate endings for the film had been shot and that the studio was undecided about which one to use, this information has not been verified by another source. Because once you go down, it is almost impossible to come back up. That night, the threesome camps by the river, and Kay tries to explain that Weston, who has had a hard life, is trying to improve himself, even though he went about it the wrong way. Land Calder allows Kay to speak with Weston alone while he and Mark wait in the general store, and although she is disturbed that Weston had not returned for her, she pleads with him to be honest with Calder. It focuses on a bunch of carefree, daredevil homesteaders, aged from 20 and beyond, who are here to test limits and are determined to continue living here, on their own terms. Opening scene of Robert Mitchum cutting down tree with an axe, you can plainly see where the tree had been cut on both sides with a chainsaw, and the axe finished off the last few wood strands of center to complete the fall of the tree. Calder bests his opponent and, taking one of the rifles, boards the raft again with Mark and Kay, who admits that she is not married to Weston. by Chris Fujiwara. While Kay and Calder then unload the raft, she tries to tell Calder that they could have been friends under different circumstances, and Calder, misunderstanding her intent, forcibly pins her down and kisses her. The river proved a daunting obstacle for early explorers and pioneers. According to Hollywood Reporter news items, filming was suspended twice because of injuries suffered by Marilyn Monroe, and several modern sources have commented on the physical hardships endured by Monroe, Robert Mitchum and Tommy Rettig during production. He uses the wide screen to emphasize the distance between people in the composition as a meaningful element and to stress the horizontality of the river (which plays a co-starring role in the film) and the solitude of the human protagonists in space. The film ran over schedule and budget due to mishaps caused when director Otto Preminger insisted that actors perform their own stunts for the scenes of the raft struggling down the rapids. When she realizes that Calder intends to pursue Weston to Council City rather than wait for him to return, she tries to cut the raft free, but Calder stops her and calls her a tramp for her devotion to a man who would leave a child to die. Antony Blinken Blinken Blinken Nike Ching . Although Calder has a low opinion of dance hall girls, he thanks Kay and leaves, and on the ride to their homestead, tells Mark that they are going to have a good life of hunting, fishing and farming. Land Though considering the success of shows like Alaska Bush People Discovery would definitely be tempted to bring back the show for another installment. Kay bravely helps to steer through one bad patch, but the exertion and cold make her faint. Preminger made no attempt to conceal his displeasure at having his authority undermined. When they step off the raft after going through the major rapids, they had no blankets but then they are seen camping in the woods with 3 or 4 blankets which are dry and clean. Massive sweep boats served as the early supply line into the canyon, but once they reached their destination, currents proved to powerful to return them back to their point of origin thus forcing the hearty men and women to disassemble them and use them for lumber. Yet the visual grace and the warm, slightly melancholy tone of River of No Return prove that Preminger's ability to control a film through direction depends neither on his prior control over the script, nor on his also functioning as producer. On August 19, Monroe suffered a leg injury during the shooting of a raft scene. Kay retorts that at least Weston never shot a man in the back, and the couple then realizes that a stunned Mark has overheard their argument. Only western to ever be directed by Otto Preminger. The news item also announced that the film would be shot on the Salmon River in Idaho. Shown at Film Forum in New York City June 10 & 11, 1989. After making it down the rapids, where previously we have seen Ms Monroe's clothes clinging soaking wet, the very first shot on still water she is all clean and dry and ironed. Copyright 2023 Salmon River Outfitters Association. Land. However, these brave homesteaders continue to navigate the ordinary domestic challenges, that include issues related to home, family, and livelihood. Bringing in a unique amalgamation of traditional ways of living and contemporary reality, River of No Return is an amazing watch. Though many critics would come to regard Preminger as one of the great CinemaScope stylists, he claimed to be indifferent to the shape of the screen. Every time anybody steps out of the water, shortly after their clothes are immediately dry and pressed and clean. When Calder regains consciousness, he sees that nearby Indians have witnessed the incident and are preparing to attack, so he quickly loads Mark and Kay onto the raft and sets off down the river. According to studio publicity, the picture was filmed in the province of Alberta, Canada, in the Jasper and Banff National Parks, and on the Maligne, Bow and Snake Indian Rivers. Afterward Mitchum got out of the car, threw the bottle across the ground near there, and commented "Best breakfast I ever had!". As far as the next season goes, we dont have an official announcement yet. Along the way, they develop the deepest bonds with those who share the same lifestyle and hence, can relate to one another. The Nez Perc considered the Salmon River country sacred as it provided in abundance the sustenance needed to survive thanks to its abundant salmon and steelhead fishery. The Salmon River in Idaho, one of the longest free-flowing rivers in the United States, rushes through a geologic wonderland of wooded ridges, eroded bluffs, and stone towers and crags. These remote lands are home to a few fearless homesteaders whose only mode of access is through bush planes or jet boats. When the Indians attack the raft they are riding along the bank on the left side of the raft. The river begins on the north slope of Norton Peak as a trickle, but soon swells into a roaring torrent as it absorbs runoff from multiple ranges. Flight Center. The stars of River of No Return are the inhabitants of Frank Church Wilderness. Additionally, they need to return back to their routines the next spring in order to get ready for the upcoming, unforgiving and freezing colder months yet again. It is sung by the deep-voiced Tex Williams.All the river photos are my own. Whats more? The Salmon River, also known as the River of No Return, is located in Idaho. Shown at Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) as part of program "Twentieth Century Fox and the Golden Age of CinemaScope" July 3 - August 15, 1998. Lewis and Clark came across the Salmon River and went on to describe it as foaming and roaring through rocks in every direction, so as to render the passage of anything impossible. This was in 1805 and it would be nearly fifty years later before gold was discovered that the drainage would be thoroughly explored and catalogued. New artifacts suggest first people arrived in North America earlier than previously thought. By using this site, you agree to our updated, Young Mark (Tommy Rettig) is doing odd jobs at a Northwestern gold camp circa 1875 when his father Matt (Robert Mitchum) at last finds him, then gets introduced to showgirl Kay (Marilyn Monroe), early in Otto Preminger's, Recently re-united on their frontier farm (shot on location in Alberta), Calder (Robert Mitchum) and son Mark (Tommy Rettig) are checking out the natives when acquaintances Harry (Rory Calhoun) and Kay (Marilyn Monroe) ride up on a raft, in Otto Preminger's, Unhappy traveling partners Kay (Marilyn Monroe) and Calder (Robert Mitchum), along with his son Mark (Tommy Rettig), forced to run the generally not-navigable river, trouble and bonding ensuing, in Otto Preminger's, A frontier farmer takes off with his son and a saloon singer after the man who stole his rifle and his horse in. Discovery Channels fascinating nature documentary, River of No Return narrates the livelihood of the sparsely populated watersheds that grace its rugged banks. The River of No Return. The geology within its canyon walls dates back at least 1.4 billion years to the Precambrian and Paleozoic epochs. Human Presence. Also fea. Monroe appealed to Zanuck, who overruled the director and permitted Lytess to return. Protecting 2,366,757acres, it is the largest contiguous wilderness area in the Lower 48 United States. Over Rubin's objections, Zanuck assigned Otto Preminger to direct the film. Every time anybody steps out of the water, shortly after their clothes are immediately dry and pressed and clean. Love is a traveler on the river of no return. Before the modern era of hydro dams and pollution the Salmon provided 45% of the stealhead trout and summer and fall Chinook of the entire Columbia watershed. River of No Return season 1 premiered on October 6, 2019on Discovery Channeland ran for six episodes. Cinematography: Joseph LaShelle Calder tries to explain to his son that he had been in prison after killing a man for attacking his best friend, but despite his gentle tone, Mark cannot understand why he shot the man in the back. Instead, the water slowly carved a geologic wonderland of wooded granite ridges, eroded bluffs, and scattered stone towers and crags. Swept on forever to be lost in the stormy sea. One day, a taciturn stranger rides into a tent city, where he looks for a nine-year-old boy, whom he had sent there from Illinois. River Of No Return (1954) -- (Movie Clip) On It Or Under It, Ben Mankiewicz Intro -- River Of No Return (1954), River Of No Return (1954) -- (Movie Clip) She's A Strong Girl, River Of No Return (1954) -- (Movie Clip) Looking For My Dad, May Land Tiger Leaping Gorge is a scenic canyon on the Jinsha River, a primary tributary of the upper Yangtze River. When the mountain lion attacks Matt it sounds like an African lion. 2023 Turner Classic Movies, Inc. All Rights Reserved. However, this dangerous, yet striking, and unfettered land houses a small community, which is dependent on pilots, boat captains and on one another for their survival. Of course, there are multiple tests thrown their way, some expected and others unexpected. Water, Image of the Day Gold fever brought about an era of mining and prospecting that ultimately only managed to produce fewer pinches of gold dust than epic stories of survival and perseverance. Marilyn didn't question Natasha's judgment. When Calder tells Weston that he is crazy to brave the fierce river rapids, Weston offers to buy his rifle and horse so that he can travel overland. Sunrise | 347 views, 16 likes, 0 loves, 8 comments, 0 shares, Facebook Watch Videos from Ask Muvi TV: SUNRISE NEWS 18-04-2023 Over the decades roads did find their way to the rivers banks but an 85 mile section of wilderness remains, fittingly named the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness after the conservation minded Idaho senator and native son who served 24 years in congress as a noted progressive, environmental legislator. As in De Sica's film, the stakes are raised by the hero's responsibility for the care of his young son. When she resumed work, she was sporting crutches and a walking cast. Robert Mitchum accepted their invitation during a break and they returned to their car, where they each had a beer and talked. At last understanding what his father had done, Mark reconciles with him, and Kay sadly heads to the saloon. The chords Kay plays on the guitar do not match the chords necessary for that particular song. The first season of the show was moderately-received. The stranger, Matt Calder, introduces himself to the boy, Mark, as his father, and explains that he has returned after an extended absence so that they can be a family, even though Mark's mother died years earlier. Sometimes it's peaceful and sometimes wild and free! Now, the question arises: will there be a River of No Return season 2? The vulgar Colby offers to take Kay with them, but repulsed by him, she refuses, and when Calder orders the men to leave, Colby attacks him with a knife. (11 reels), River of No Return (1954) began as an idea of writer Louis Lantz, who proposed an Old West variation on Vittorio De Sica's The Bicycle Thief (1948), with the hero now a farmer who loses his horse (and also his gun). Kay suspects that Weston cheated his opponent, but his pleas that the gold mine represents their chance for a better life persuade her to leave, and soon they are floating in a raft down the river toward Council City. Director: Otto Preminger Released in United States Spring April 1954. Calder refuses, citing his need to protect the farm against the ever-present threat of Indian attack. We will delve into that question, but first lets quickly look into the details of the series. In 2019, archaeologists from the University of Oregon announced they had discovered bones, charcoal, and spears that radiocarbon dating indicated to be more than 16,000 years oldone of the oldest archaeological sites in the U.S. We will update this section as soon as we hear more. Opening scene of Robert Mitchum cutting down tree with an axe, you can plainly see where the tree had been cut on both sides with a chainsaw, and the axe finished off the last few wood strands of center to complete the fall of the tree. 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