River of No Return

River of No Return (in Argentina, Almas perdidas; in Spain, River of No Return; in Venezuela, Rebel Souls), is a 1954 American western film > directed by Otto Preminger, starring Robert Mitchum and Marilyn Monroe.

Plot

A beautiful woman trying to escape the influence of an evil poker player, tries to join a widowed farmer traveling with his son, who has come to town at the call of an acquaintance who later turns out to be dead when they arrive. But they will be forced to flee in a raft avoiding rapids, pursued by the Indians.

Cast

Production

Preproduction

The film is particularly notable for its fast pace, which was influenced by editing by Louis R. Loeffler, with many quick cuts between scenes. Mitchum and Monroe acted without doubles for much of the stunt on the shoot, which led to Marilyn dislocating her ankle. The film was shot in Banff and Jasper National Parks in Alberta, Canada.

Preminger and Monroe had to work on this film against their will, due to contractual obligations. Both expressed their frustration with the script, which they considered shallow. However, the film, which was remarkably successful, is a popular classic western.