River of No Return (1954)
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- Approved
- 1h 31min
- Action, Adventure
- 21 May 1954 (Canada)
- Movie
The titular river unites a farmer recently released from prison, his young son, and an ambitious saloon singer. In order to survive, each must be purged of anger, and each must learn to understand and care for the others.
Directors:
Writers:
Photos and Videos
Cast verified as complete
| Robert Mitchum | ... |
Matt Calder
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| Marilyn Monroe | ... |
Kay Weston
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| Rory Calhoun | ... |
Harry Weston
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| Tommy Rettig | ... |
Mark Calder
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| Murvyn Vye | ... |
Dave Colby
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| Douglas Spencer | ... |
Sam Benson
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Fred Aldrich | ... |
Prospector (uncredited)
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Claire Andre | ... |
Surrey Driver (uncredited)
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| Hal Baylor | ... |
Young Punk (uncredited)
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| Don Beddoe | ... |
Ben (uncredited)
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| Phil Bloom | ... |
Prospector (uncredited)
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Buck Bucko | ... |
Council City Barfly (uncredited)
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| Roy Bucko | ... |
Prospector (uncredited)
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| Larry Chance | ... |
Young Punk (uncredited)
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| John Cliff | ... |
Leering Man (uncredited)
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| Edmund Cobb | ... |
Barber (uncredited)
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Cecil Combs | ... |
Prospector (uncredited)
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| John Doucette | ... |
Man in Saloon (uncredited)
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| Tex Driscoll | ... |
Prospector (uncredited)
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| Geneva Gray | ... |
Dance Hall Girl (uncredited)
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| Al Haskell | ... |
Wagon Driver (uncredited)
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| Chuck Hicks | ... |
Prospector (uncredited)
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Ed Hinton | ... |
Gambler (uncredited)
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| George Huggins | ... |
Prospector (uncredited)
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| Michael Jeffers | ... |
Prospector (uncredited)
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| Dick Johnstone | ... |
Prospector (uncredited)
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| Mitchell Kowall | ... |
Prospector (uncredited)
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Richard LaMarr | ... |
Prospector (uncredited)
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Anthony Lawrence | ... |
Young Punk (uncredited)
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| Jarma Lewis | ... |
Saloon Dancer (uncredited)
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Jack Low | ... |
Prospector (uncredited)
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| Hank Mann | ... |
Council City Townsman (uncredited)
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| Jack Mather | ... |
Card Table Dealer (uncredited)
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Ann McCrea | ... |
Dance Hall Girl (uncredited)
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| Harry Monty | ... |
Young Man (uncredited)
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Fay Morley | ... |
Dancer (uncredited)
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| Charles Morton | ... |
Prospector (uncredited)
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| Paul Newlan | ... |
Prospector (uncredited)
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| Barbara Nichols | ... |
Blonde Dancer (uncredited)
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Anton Northpole | ... |
Prospector (uncredited)
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George Patay | ... |
Council City Barfly (uncredited)
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| Jack Perrin | ... |
Prospector (uncredited)
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Charles Perry | ... |
Prospector (uncredited)
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| Joe Phillips | ... |
Prospector (uncredited)
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Ford Raymond | ... |
Prospector (uncredited)
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John Rice | ... |
Prospector (uncredited)
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Robert Robinson | ... |
Prospector (uncredited)
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| John Roy | ... |
Prospector (uncredited)
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Danny Sands | ... |
Prospector (uncredited)
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| Ralph Sanford | ... |
Bartender (uncredited)
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Lucile Sewall | ... |
Settler (uncredited)
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Harry Seymour | ... |
Pianist (uncredited)
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| Arthur Shields | ... |
Minister at Tent City (uncredited)
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Cap Somers | ... |
Council City Barfly (uncredited)
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| George Sowards | ... |
Council City Barfly (uncredited)
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| Charles Sullivan | ... |
Prospector (uncredited)
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| Jack Tornek | ... |
Prospector (uncredited)
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John Veitch | ... |
Young Punk (uncredited)
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Fred Walton | ... |
Prospector (uncredited)
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Bob Whitney | ... |
Council City Barfly (uncredited)
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| Harry Wilson | ... |
Prospector (uncredited)
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| Will Wright | ... |
Trader (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Otto Preminger | ||
| Jean Negulesco | ... | (uncredited) |
Written by
| Frank Fenton | ... | (screen play by) |
| Louis Lantz | ... | (story by) |
Produced by
| Stanley Rubin | ... | producer (produced by) |
Music by
| Cyril J. Mockridge | ||
| Leigh Harline | ... | (uncredited) |
Cinematography by
| Joseph LaShelle | ... | director of photography (as Joseph La Shelle) |
Editing by
| Louis R. Loeffler | ... | (as Louis Loeffler) |
Editorial Department
| Orven Schanzer | ... | first assistant editor (uncredited) |
Art Direction by
| Addison Hehr | ||
| Lyle R. Wheeler | ... | (as Lyle Wheeler) |
Set Decoration by
| Chester Bayhi | ... | (set decorations) |
| Walter M. Scott | ... | (set decorations) |
Costume Design by
| Travilla | ... | (costumes designed by) |
Makeup Department
| Ben Nye | ... | makeup artist |
| Allan Snyder | ... | makeup artist: Miss Monroe (uncredited) |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Paul Helmick | ... | assistant director |
| Donald C. Klune | ... | second assistant director (uncredited) |
Art Department
| Will Williams | ... | movie poster artist (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Bernard Freericks | ... | sound |
| Roger Heman Sr. | ... | sound (as Roger Heman) |
Visual Effects by
| Ray Kellogg | ... | special photographic effects |
Stunts
| Harry Froboess | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Dan Heather | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Bob Herron | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Bob Hoy | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Harry Monty | ... | stunt double: Tommy Rettig (uncredited) |
| Bob Morgan | ... | stunts (uncredited) |
| Helen Thurston | ... | stunt double: Marilyn Monroe (uncredited) |
| Tim Wallace | ... | stunt double: Robert Mitchum (uncredited) |
| Fred Zendar | ... | stunt coordinator (uncredited) |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Charles Le Maire | ... | wardrobe director |
| Sam Benson | ... | wardrobe supervisor (uncredited) |
| Joan Joseff | ... | costume jeweller (uncredited) |
Music Department
| Ken Darby | ... | lyrics: songs / vocal director |
| Lionel Newman | ... | musical director / songs: music |
| Edward B. Powell | ... | orchestrator |
| Alan Robinson | ... | musician: french horn, uncredited |
| James Arkatov | ... | musician: cello (uncredited) |
| Sol Babitz | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Frank Beach | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Perry Botkin Sr. | ... | musician: guitar (uncredited) |
| John Clyman | ... | musician: trumpet (uncredited) |
| Don Cristlieb | ... | musician: bassoon (uncredited) |
| David Crocov | ... | musician: viola (uncredited) |
| Joseph Eger | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| George Fields | ... | musician: harmonica (uncredited) |
| Fred Fox | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Dominic Frontiere | ... | musician: accordion (uncredited) |
| Benny Gill | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Ignace Hilsberg | ... | musician: piano (uncredited) |
| Abe Luboff | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Abe Most | ... | musician: clarinet (uncredited) |
| Vito Mumolo | ... | musician: guitar (uncredited) |
| Luther Roundtree | ... | musician: guitar (uncredited) |
| Meyer Rubin | ... | musician: bass (uncredited) |
| Harry Schmidt | ... | musician: french horn (uncredited) |
| Paul Shure | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Felix Slatkin | ... | musician: violin (uncredited) |
| Urban Thielmann | ... | musician: piano (uncredited) |
Additional Crew
| Jack Cole | ... | choreographer |
| Leonard Doss | ... | technicolor color consultant |
| Pat Anthony | ... | animal trainer: cougar (uncredited) |
| Ralph Helfer | ... | animal supervisor: Nature's Haven Wild Animal Rental Co. (uncredited) |
| Frank Inn | ... | animal trainer: cougar (uncredited) |
| Juanita Inn | ... | animal trainer: cougar (uncredited) |
| George Patey | ... | stand-in: Rory Calhoun (uncredited) |
| Tim Wallace | ... | stand-in: Robert Mitchum (uncredited) |
Production Companies
- Twentieth Century Fox (presents) (produced by)
- Polyphony Digital (presents)
Distributors
- Twentieth Century Fox (1954) (United States) (theatrical) (as Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation) (released by)
- Dear Film (1954) (Italy) (theatrical) (co-distribution)
- Hispano Foxfilms S.A.E. (1954) (Spain) (theatrical)
- Twentieth Century Fox Film Company (1954) (United Kingdom) (theatrical)
- Twentieth Century Fox (1954) (Italy) (theatrical)
- Twentieth Century Fox (1954) (Japan) (theatrical)
- Twentieth Century Fox (1954) (Belgium) (theatrical)
- Centfox (1954) (West Germany) (theatrical)
- Twentieth Century Fox (1954) (Austria) (theatrical)
- Fox Films (1954) (Finland) (theatrical)
- Fox Films (1954) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- Fox Filmes (1955) (Portugal) (theatrical)
- Les Films Jacques Leitienne (France) (theatrical) (reissue)
- Mainostelevisio (MTV3) (1972) (Finland) (tv)
- Filmes Castello Lopes (1979) (Portugal) (theatrical) (re-release)
- Yleisradio (YLE) (1980) (Finland) (tv)
- France 3 (1982) (France) (tv) (as FR3) (dubbed version)
- CBS/Fox Home Video (1987) (Australia) (video)
- TV3 (1988) (Finland) (tv)
- CBS/Fox Video (1990) (France) (VHS) (dubbed version)
- France 3 (1990) (France) (tv) (as FR3) (dubbed version)
- CBS/Fox Video (1991) (France) (video) (Laserdisc)
- CBS/Fox Video (1993) (France) (VHS) (dubbed version)
- CBS/Fox (1995) (United States) (video) (laserdisc)
- Finnkino (1996) (Finland) (VHS)
- France 2 (FR2) (1996) (France) (tv) (dubbed version)
- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2000) (Netherlands) (VHS)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2002) (United States) (DVD)
- FS Film (2002) (Finland) (DVD) (11-disc Marilyn Monroe: The Diamond Collection)
- Fox Pathé Europa (2002) (France) (DVD)
- Fox Pathé Europa (2002) (France) (VHS) (dubbed version)
- Paris Première (2003) (France) (tv)
- Télé Monté Carlo (TMC) (2004) (France) (tv)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2005) (Germany) (DVD) (Sueddeutsche Zeitung - Cinemathek)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (Canada) (DVD)
- 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (United States) (DVD)
- FS Film (2006) (Finland) (DVD) (1-disc edition)
- RTL9 (2006) (France) (tv)
- Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment (2006) (Netherlands) (DVD)
- France 3 (2007) (France) (tv)
- Fox Pathé Europa (2012) (France) (Blu-ray)
- Fox Pathé Europa (2012) (France) (DVD)
- France 3 (2012) (France) (tv)
- ARTE (2023) (France) (tv)
- Filmagentur Süd (West Germany) (theatrical) (?)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Bausch & Lomb (CinemaScope lenses by)
- Canadian Government (the Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation thanks, for its cooperation in the production of this motion picture)
- Nature's Haven Wild Animal Rental Co. (animals supplied by)
- Polyphony Digital (thanks)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Matt Calder, who lives on a remote farm with his young son Mark, helps two unexpected visitors who lose control of their raft on the nearby river. Harry Weston is a gambler by profession and he is racing to the nearest town to register a mining claim he has won in a poker game. His attractive girlfriend Kay, a former saloon hall girl, is with him. When Calder refuses to let Weston have his only rifle and horse, he simply takes them leaving his girlfriend behind. Unable to defend themselves against a likely Indian attack, Calder, his son and Kay Weston begin the treacherous journey down the river on the raft Weston left behind. Written by garykmcd |
| Plot Keywords | |
| Taglines | Reckless, Roaring, Adventure of the Great Northwest Gold Rush Days! See more » |
| Genres | |
| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
| Certification |
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Additional Details
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Box Office
| Budget | $2,195,000 (estimated) |
Did You Know?
| Trivia | Both Otto Preminger and Marilyn Monroe were forced to do the film against their will due to contractual obligations. They both expressed their frustration over the script, which they considered below par. However, the film was a box office hit upon its release and remains a popular classic western. See more » |
| Goofs | After making it down the rapids, Matt Calder's and Kay Weston's clothes are clinging and soaking wet. In the very first shot on still water, their clothes are clean, dry, and ironed. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Edited into Catalogue of Ships (2008). See more » |
| Soundtracks | River of No Return See more » |
| Quotes |
Kay Weston:
This country is crawling with Indians, and you're going fishing. Matt Calder: There are lots of ways to die. Starving to death isn't my favorite. See more » |