River of No Return

Rating:
Summary: A Wonderful Adventure Movie
Review: 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.

Rating:
Summary: Great Movie
Review: One of Marilyn's best movies. I can't wait until it comes out in the "Marilyn Monroe- The Diamond Collection 2". Marilyn always looks beautiful, and her movies are never dissapointing. I love this movie, and recommend it to people even if they aren't Marilyn fans.

Rating:
Summary: If you like Marilyn, you will love this...
Review: River of No Return was a really good movie.. Marilyn plays a soft, yet smarter role than some of her other movies.

Rating:
Summary: Lesser Known Monroe Film Worth A Look
Review: Robert Mitchum plays a practical, no-nonsense farmer recently reunited with his young son, Tommy Rettig. They rescue a young couple (Marilyn Monroe and Rory Calhoun) going on a raft down a river by their homestead, and that's where the trouble begins. Calhoun is out to make a gold claim, and he'll do anything, including stealing Mitchum's horse and gun, leaving Mitchum, Rettig, and even Monroe behind to face the Indians without any defence. So they must take to the raft to survive, and that's where the adventure begins. I liked this film a lot. Mitchum is his usual laconinc self, but it works really well with this character. Monroe gets to act in this film, and she does so very well, playing a saloon singer that wants to defend her man, despite what he has done to all of them. Young Rettig is good too, not cloying and irritating like so many child actors can be. The scenery is beautiful, the title song very effective, and although the direction of Otto Preminger isn't very fluid and sometimes the movie lumbers from one scene to another, the performances and relationships among the characters make up for it. Viewers will enjoy the trip down the River of No Return.

Rating:
Summary: memorable background music
Review: shipment no. 9486279983 via dhl express has arrived safe and complete 9/6/99. thank you so much for your excellent customer service. wsk.

Rating:
Summary: Revenge and Redemption on a Raging River.
Review: The movie: This is an entertaining movie. Although there are some minor flaws and improbabilities in the script, the film is an exciting blend of action and drama, as Marilyn tries to convince a vengeance-driven Mitchum to spare her boyfriend's life. Marilyn has 4 or 5 songs in the movie, and shows some real talent. This does not detract from the realism of the story, either, because her character plays songs for a living. The ending leaves something to be desired, however, because it never answers a question that the film has set up about Mitchum's character. Still, the movie is fun to watch, and the two leads keep things interesting.

The DVD: This is the perfect DVD to use with a home theater. It has surround sound (the best I've encountered), and a whopping 2.55:1 widescreen transfer. (In case you didn't know, that means that the widescreen picture is 2.55 times wider than it is high.) The film has panoramic shots of some genuinely breathtaking locations. Perhaps the DVD's biggest fault is the way that the restoration inexplicably CUTS OUT whenever there is a fade-out or fade-in! You'll be watching a scene, and then suddenly, without warning, the restoration will blink out, leaving you with a washed-out-looking unrestored image. Then the picture will fade out, and you will see a fade-in on a new unrestored scene. About 1 or 2 seconds after this fade-in, the screen will blink, and the picture will look pretty good again. This is awkward, and interrupts the flow of the movie. I can't believe that the manufacturer is unable to fix those brief segments.

Overall, this is a fun piece of 1950s Americana. "River of No Return" is far better than 90 percent of the new movies being made today, and I recommend it.

Rating:
Summary: Good Match
Review: This film is superb as far as most Marylin films go. Mitchum does a great job in it as well, probably one of my favorite films featuring Robert Mitchum. Right next to Cape Fear. Monroe and Mitchum has a definitive chemistry on screen that I believe is none like in any other of her films. Mitchum provides that satiric rugged form that is essential to Mrs. Monroe's part in this film. Rory Calhoun needs not be left out. Calhoun is an integral mediary between to two stars who's character is just enough to keep you guessing. Mitchums and Calhouns relationship is far from mistakable in this film. It is by far one of my favorite Marylin films.

Rating:
Summary: very good role for Marilyn
Review: This is a story about a man & his boy who find a woman who has been abanded by her lover. In order to get everyone safely out of Indian Counrty, the man, boy and the girl must travel down a river to the town.Robert Mitchum plays the good guy and Marilyn Monroe plays the woman.

Rating:
Summary: Entertainment.... but not a quality film.
Review: This is the ONLY Marilyn Monroe film i have seen so far... (which many might find blasphemous!)... but i found it entertaining. I watched it on TV at 3 AM while in a hospital and couldn't sleep.
The plot is rather silly... (there hardly is one)... but the scenery is intense. Marilyn, a man, and a boy travel down a dangerous river on a raft - the man in search of Marilyn's boyfriend who stole his horse and rifle, and Marilyn in search of her true love (or so she thought).
There are a few musical numbers, and some cute costumes.... the beautiful Marilyn and the Canadian landscapes make this movie lovely eye candy... but the plot and dialogue is so lame... don't expect much more!

Rating:
Summary: Cuddle Up With the Gorgeous MARILYN.. and a Dazzling DVD
Review: 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