“Love is a trav’ler on the River of No Return” – Lyrics by Ken Darby
During her Hollywood success in the 1950s, Marilyn Monroe got to do many movies. Some of them rehashes of her ditzy blonde character from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Which is sad as this actress had much more talent than this. Nevertheless, among her many projects, she did River of No Return. A film by Otto Preminger. Not my favourite director as his history of nastiness is notorious in the business. From actresses like Isabelle Huppert, Kim Cattrall, and Nichelle Nichols, who denounced his horrible manners. For instance, his asking Robert Mitchum to slap over and over Jeanne Simmons so hard it angered the actor who thrashed back at the director with well-deserved slaps. Which makes it amazing that he got to work with Preminger again. Probably because of some studio contracts. Nevertheless, Mitchum and Monroe, who have always been life long friends, got to perform together in this romantic western.
The story of Matt Calder, a farmer who just returned from Prison to reunite with his son Mark. Encountering in the process the barroom singer Kay and her no-good boyfriend Harry. Latter man who steals Matt’s horse; all the while a troop of native americans decide to assault their farm. Forcing the farmer, his son, and Kay to flee down the River of No Return on a raft. Both to escape and to rescue the Horse. Amidst days of tension, obstacles, and moments where their trust for one another may shatter. Especially between Matt and Kay who start developing feelings for one another.
So it is through this context that this western occurs. A western filmed not in Middle America. But down the Pacific Northwestern Rockies. In Canada as the credits thank the Canadian government for helping them make this story according to the director’s wishes.
Among the directing techniques Preminger pulled, I liked how he employed long takes following his actors through many scenes. Though I know usually westerns have frenetic editing, I felt this kind of filming added an operatic nature to the story. Which makes sense as Kay speaks of her wish to live in the big city and to see those theatrical productions.
About the music, what an amazing range of tunes from Cyril J. Mockridge and Leigh Harline. Melancholic, epic, and romantic, they capture everything that make the Western genre one of my favourite cinema storytelling universes. Praises also for the titular song of this film. Composed by Lionel Newman, with Lyrics by Ken Darby, it speaks much of the feelings Kay has for the trip she has gone through. A great tune to listen to if you want to plunge back into that story and its characters whom I just didn’t want to leave. Which is another proof of the success of a film. For if the viewer has a sadness when finishing a story and has difficulty leaving its characters, then this is one of the irrefutable evidences that the film is a success.
And regarding those characters, all were superbly written. For each of them, the writers Frank Fenton and Loui Lantz describe their personalities and humanity, including their qualities and flaws. All under superb scenes of action but also dialogues where the characters confront each other. Characters everyone in the cast performed so well. From Marilyn to Robert to Rory. Three characters among a main cast of six actors in a story which could definitely be performed either as an opera or as a theatre production.
In sum, River of No Return is an action piece for Marilyn Monroe that I wish studios would have offered her more. A classic that fans of the actress and western should take a watch.
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