Robert Mitchum was teamed with Marilyn Monroe for this star driven vehicle. Bob is fine, but Ms. Monroe plays to the camera with a breathy, pouting demeanor which is annoying to the point of distraction. She sings a few tunes at a saloon while the patrons swoon over her. Her fiancé is the 40's b actor Rory Calhoun. The only thing I ever saw him in was a horror-comedy from 1980, Motel Hell. He steals Mitchum's horse and rifle on his journey to claim a gold find. The two stars spend most of the movie on a river with dangerous rapids. Mitchum has a nine year-old son with him to add to the intrigue and bring out Monroe's maternal instincts. It does not work on any level. Avoid MM's horrible affectations and look instead for several of Mitchum's better work, such as Cape Fear, Night of the Hunter, and Out of The Past.

Would you believe, there are really some movie fans who don't like River of No Return? I'll admit the additional footage written by Darryl F. Zanuck and polished by Frank Fenton and then directed by Jean Negulesco, is a bit of a pain. It's both clichéd and unnecessary—especially all that tedious stuff in the cave where Zanuch and Fentron contrive to have Marilyn remove her wet clothing and wrap herself in a Mother Hubbard blanket. The movie would be much pacier and deliver a much greater impact without this interruption. On the other hand, all the Otto Preminger material is marvelous, right from the very start through to the stunning conclusion. Although Preminger himself regarded the assignment as one of his lesser directorial efforts, the thorough professionalism of his work, with its imaginative staging in fluid takes, its powerful visuals enhanced by splendid work from the players, plus the emotionally charged editing cut to the beat of Lionel Newman's haunting music score, has ensured the movie continues to rate highly with viewers over sixty years later. Marilyn Monroe contributes a wholly convincing, memorable and sympathetic performance. She is cleverly matched every inch of the way by Bob Mitchum who just seems so effortlessly in character, we are not surprised to read that Marilyn found it difficult to keep up with him. Mitch has the uncanny ability to dominate a scene even if he stands in the background, but Preminger and company have astutely compensated for this by handing Marilyn four songs. Two additional factors that keep our eyes riveted to the screen, are the boy, winningly played by Tommy Rettig, who brings the two principals together, and the "other man", played with an appropriately nasty bravado by Rory Calhoun (in a rare, unsympathetic role) who does his utmost to keep them apart.

I was really disappointed, i was expecting more from this film.The beautiful scenery is the only thing positive i can say about this movie.I didn't enjoy the film due to its racist content!It wasn't enough that Americans destroyed their land and murdered their race they make Indians appear hostile,villains and without manners.That's why it was hard for me to sympathize any of the protagonist(Matt,Kay etc.). Marilyn is pretty as always and sings lovely but that alone cant make the film better.It has bad special effects(especially on the river). About the story not much is going on, there is not much action.In general i would only suggest it because Marilyn Monroe and Robert Mitchum are the protagonists and you're a fan.I really enjoyed though the scene in the beginning where Padre (the priest) says:"i came here as a missioner to the Indians but the white men need me more"

I would like to see as many films starring the famous leading actress from Gentleman Prefer Blondes, The Seven Year Itch and Some Like It Hot as possible, and I spotted this one in another different genre, I was most intrigued, from director Otto Preminger (Laura, Carmen Jones, Anatomy of a Murder). Basically widower Matt Calder (Robert Mitchum) has recently return home and to his young son Mark Calder (Tommy Rettig) after serving time in prison for killing another man defending another. Mark has been looked after by dance hall and saloon singer Kay Weston (Marilyn Monroe), and his father promises him that as virtual strangers he will do everything possible to bond at the homestead, with hunting, fishing and farming. Kay's fiancé Harry (Rory Calhoun) plans to get to Council City and file the deed to a gold mine he won in a poker game, but they get in trouble going down the rough river on a raft, and they are rescued by the father and son duo, only to have their gun and horse stolen by Harry and let him get away. Indians are roaming the premises, so the three of them continue down the river on the raft, and stopping to rest Matt questions why Kay wants to marry a man who threatens a child, and her defence is that he is worse having killed a man, and overhearing this discussion Mark finally learns the truth about his father's past. The three of them again continue down the river, and she slowly becomes grateful towards the father figure as he looks after them with bravery and tenderness, against such challenges as a lion attack, prospectors Dave Colby (Murvyn Vye) and Sam Benson (Douglas Spencer) who want Harry's gold, and more Indians. Matt, Kay and Mark manage to get through more rapids and arrive in Council City, meeting back up with Harry, and after a struggle Kay's fiancé is shot and killed by Mark, and in the end Matt and Mark take Kay with them back to their farm. Also starring Don Beddoe as Ben - Council City Storekeeper and Paul Newlan as Prospector. Monroe is absolutely beautiful here, especially as this is the first time I saw her with long blonde hair, and her singing is good too, and Mitchum does alright mumbling and being cool all the way through, the bits between them are alright, I think the best bits are probably on the raft and against Indians and a lion, at least they make the film reasonably exciting, a not bad western. Worth watching!