Product Details

• Actors: Robert Mitchum, Marilyn Monroe, Rory Calhoun, Tommy Rettig, Murvyn Vye
• Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC
• Language: English (Dolby Digital 4.0), French (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo)
• Subtitles: English, Spanish
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 2.55:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: 20th Century Fox
• DVD Release Date: May 14, 2002
• Run Time: 91 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000062XG7
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #91,982 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
• For more information about "River of No Return" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The dew of new stardom was still visible on Marilyn Monroe when she ventured up to Canada to shoot this sturdily entertaining CinemaScope Western. Although director Otto Preminger later claimed little interest in the picture, he couldn't help but bring his even-handed visual style to the widescreen process. The location shooting (in Alberta) is eye filling, and that river really does look alarming. Best of all, Marilyn, fresh and vital, had a costar to match her magnetism but not humor her sometimes-scattered approach to acting: Robert Mitchum, as a homesteader with a dark past. He's weighty enough to stand next to MM's bright flame without giving any ground; they should have worked together again. Since Marilyn plays a saloon singer, she gets to sling some tunes in her inimitable style, with as much glamour as the gold rush-era trappings will allow, giving "I'm Going to File My Claim" various meanings. --Robert Horton

Product Description

Set against the majestic beauty of the great Northwest, Matt Calder (Robert Mitchum) is a rugged widower with a questionable past who decides it's time to start a new life with his young son, Mark (Tommy Rettig). But their peaceful existence is sabotaged when Matt is robbed and pistol-whipped by cold-blooded gambler Harry Weston (Rory Calhoun). Unexpectedly, Weston's fiancée, Kay (Marilyn Monroe) postpones her wedding so she can nurse Matt back to heath. In his pursuit to exact revenge at any cost, Matt takes Kay and Mark on a treacherous ride down a roaring river, where they're at the mercy of wild animals and a lawless frontier.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

43 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cuddle Up With the Gorgeous MARILYN.. and a Dazzling DVD, February 3, 2003

By 

L. Shirley "Laurie's Boomer Views" (Huntington Beach,CA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: River of No Return (DVD)

This review refers to "The Diamond Collection" DVD(20th cent fox) of "The River of No Return".......

Think maternal instincts can't be sexy? Snuggle up to this romantic adventure, and let Marilyn Monroe sing you a lullaby in "The River of No Return" and decide for yourself! Also starring Robert Mitchum and Rory Calhoun as the men in her life, it's the perfect rainy afternoon flick.

After the death of his wife, Matt Calder(Mitchum) is starting life anew with his young son Mark(Tommy Rettig). He has a little cabin in the beautiful mountains of the Northwest and is going to teach Mark to become a man. But there's trouble amiss.... Harry Weston(Calhoun),a merciless gambler, beats and robs Calder of his gun and his horse, leaving him injured and defenseless against an impending Indian attack. Weston's fiancee(Monroe), the gorgeous saloon singer with a heart, stays on to nurse Calder back to health and look after the boy. But..there's no time to hang around, the Indians are getting closer and the three take off on a raft down river to escape the Indians and to find Weston.

The adventure begins as they fight off the Indians,and the elements, try to keep from starving, learn each other's secrets and find love.The dazzling cinematography capturing the river, the mountains, and the wooded areas is second only to Marilyn's beauty.You'll be taken in by the story and the scenery in this wonderful film directed by Otto Preminger. Monroe, Mitchum and Calhoun will cast their spells on you.

You'll be amazed by the restoration and outstanding transfer to the DVD 20th Cent Fox has made of this nearly 50 year old film. The Anamorphic Widescreen(2.55:1) picture takes in every bit of the beauty of the Northwest wilderness. The technicolor is bright and doesn't look in the least washed out.The audio in 4.0 Dolby Surround is wonderful, you'll think Marilyn and her guitar are right there in the room singing to you! The DVD "extras" include a comparison of the restoration with the original and a still galley with lots of photos. It may be viewed in French(Stereo) and has subtitles in English and Spanish. It's a great edition to any Classic Film collection.

Fall in love again.......Laurie

more of marilyn:Marilyn Monroe: Diamond Collection

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marilyns greatest dramatic love story now on WideScreen DVD!, August 19, 2002

By 

forrie (Nashua, NH United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: River of No Return (DVD)

From 1952 - 1954 MM (Marilyn Monroe) acted in three serious dramatic movies; 1952 - "Don't Bother to Knock - she played a crazy madwoman babysitter, 1953 - "Niagara" - a husband murdering adulterous (her greatest dramatic role ever) and 1954 - "River Of No Return" - a saloon singer who finds true love in the Pacific NorthWest (her Greatest dramatic love story)!!

In 1954 MM was voted Photoplay magazines favorite female actress (Todays equivalent is "Peoples Magazines). MM was reaching her prime and everyone loved Marilyn. Unfortunately many critics and fans would not accept Marilyn's dramatic talents and only loved her in comedies.

Well ladies and Gentlemen now MM's three greatest dramatic roles are now available in the Diamond Collection II.

The "River Of No Return" was one of the first CinemaScope, Technicolor, with stereophonic sound. Now this has been digitally transferred to DVD with Anamorphic WideScreen (enhanced for 16x9 tvs), masterfull digital color and digital sound. The picture 7 sound quality of this DVD is outstanding.

This movies has it all; a dynamic adventure story, Outstanding Actors Marilyn Monroe - magical and beautiful. Robert Mitchum - the perfect match for Marilyn (their film chemistry is real). Tommy Rettig (later to play Jeff on the tv show "Lassie) as Mitchums son. Rory Calhoun as the perfect bad guy gambler louse boyfriend of Marilyn. Director Otto Preminger performs his visual magic of this very picturesque out door adventure.

Summary: Beaten & robbed Mitchum, his son & bad guy saloon girlfriend (Marilyn)are left behind to die in Indian country by bad guy (Calhoun). Their only escape is down the "River Of No Return" on a raft. This perilous journey has hero (Mitchum), son (Rettig) & herione (Monroe) fighting Indians, Trappers, mountain lions and the rapid rich river. Mitchum's only focus is to get Calhoun.

Marilyn acts beautifully with fresh believable performance as the frontier saloon girl. Mitchum is the perfect leading man (Marilyns best romantic leading man). It is truly to bad people haven't - until now on DVD - been able to see MM as a very talented dramatic actress. Now for the first time we can on this digital DVD.

Extras include: Trailer, Restoration comparisons & film gallery.

Sit back and enjoy MM's acting versatility, beauty and cinema magic. This is Marilyns greatest love story. Enjoy.

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Wonderful Adventure Movie, July 25, 2004

By 

classicmoviefan (Rancho Mirage, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: River of No Return (DVD)

Okay, Marilyn Monroe does not look like the authentic 1880s saloon girl..... but who cares, she is marvelous in this western. Robert Mitchum is also superb in this gorgeous restoration on DVD.

It should be noted that to Marilyns credit, she DID most of her own stunts, and she was also seriously injured during the shoot in the Canadian Rockies. Most actresses would never do their own stunts in a movie like this. Running the rapids on a flat wooden raft... but she did, and she looked like she knew what she was doing as well! Of course, we see her in 3 Travilla gowns that are breathtakingly all Marilyn.

I love this movie... it has scenery, music, Robert and Marilyn, a bad guy, and pre-Lassie Tommy Retig, who is great in his role as well. This is grand entertainment and a quality restoration.