River of No Return (1954): Cast, Box Office & Plot
River of No Return is a 1954 adventure western directed by Otto Preminger, starring Robert Mitchum as Matt Calder, Marilyn Monroe and Tommy Rettig. It runs 1 hour 31 minutes and earned $8,757 worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 31m (91 min)
- Director
- Otto Preminger
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- 20th Century Fox
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is River of No Return About?
The premise of River of No Return without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Set against the wild backdrop of the Northwest gold‑rush era, a wandering farmer and his young son aid a kind‑hearted saloon singer in locating her estranged husband. Their reckless river trek through rugged terrain tests loyalty and courage as they confront the dangers of the untamed frontier.
River of No Return Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- gambler
- song
- singer
- dubbed singing
- damsel in distress
- deception
- saloon girl
- tent city
- greed
- prospector
- claim filing
- horse thief
+38 more Show fewer
- gunfire
- boom town
- mining town
- treachery
- shooting lesson
- courage
- father son reunion
- violence
- bravery
- good bad girl
- betrayal
- retribution
- whitewater rafting
- gold rush
- theft
- forced kiss
- general store
- grifter
- scene before opening credits
- dead mother
- attempted murder
- father as single parent
- farm
- house on fire
- horse drawn plow
- horseback riding
- river rafting
- mining claim
- saloon singer
- marriage proposal
- classical western
- river adventure
- fiance fiancee relationship
- american indian
- former convict
- american indian attack
- poker the card game
- killing in self defense
River of No Return Cast & Characters
Robert Mitchum leads the cast as Matt Calder, with Marilyn Monroe as Kay Weston and Tommy Rettig as Mark Calder. Directed by Otto Preminger; 62 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Otto Preminger
-
Robert Mitchum as Matt Calder -
Marilyn Monroe as Kay Weston - Tommy Rettig as Mark Calder
- Rory Calhoun as Harry Weston
Also Starring in River of No Return
· 58 more- Arthur Shields Minister at Tent City (uncredited)
- Hank Mann Council City Townsman (uncredited)
- Cap Somers Council City Barfly (uncredited)
- Charles Sullivan Prospector (uncredited)
- Harry Wilson Prospector (uncredited)
- Will Wright Trader (uncredited)
- Don Beddoe Ben (uncredited)
- Edmund Cobb Barber (uncredited)
- Fred Aldrich Prospector (uncredited)
- John Doucette Man in Saloon (uncredited)
- Jack Tornek Prospector (uncredited)
- Jack Perrin Prospector (uncredited)
- Ralph Sanford Bartender (uncredited)
- Al Haskell Wagon Driver (uncredited)
- Harry Seymour Pianist (uncredited)
- Michael Jeffers Prospector (uncredited)
Show all 62 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Douglas Spencer Sam Benson
- Roy Bucko Prospector (uncredited)
- Paul Newlan Prospector (uncredited)
- Charles Morton Prospector (uncredited)
- George Sowards Council City Barfly (uncredited)
- John Roy Prospector (uncredited)
- Chuck Hicks Prospector (uncredited)
- Charles Perry Prospector (uncredited)
- Jack Low Prospector (uncredited)
- Fred Walton Prospector (uncredited)
- Buck Bucko Council City Barfly (uncredited)
- John Rice Prospector (uncredited)
- Tex Driscoll Prospector (uncredited)
- Richard LaMarr Prospector (uncredited)
- John Cliff Leering Man (uncredited)
- Barbara Nichols Blonde Dancer (uncredited)
- Jack Mather Card Table Dealer (uncredited)
- Robert Robinson Prospector (uncredited)
- George Huggins Prospector (uncredited)
- Dick Johnstone Prospector (uncredited)
- Hal Baylor Young Punk (uncredited)
- Phil Bloom Prospector (uncredited)
- Murvyn Vye Dave Colby
- Anton Northpole Prospector (uncredited)
- Ed Hinton Gambler (uncredited)
- Joe Phillips
- Lucile Sewall Settler (uncredited)
- Larry Chance Young Punk (uncredited)
- Bob Whitney Council City Barfly (uncredited)
- Danny Sands Prospector (uncredited)
- Ford Raymond Prospector (uncredited)
- Mitchell Kowall Prospector (uncredited)
- Jarma Lewis Saloon Dancer (uncredited)
- Ann McCrea Dance Hall Girl (uncredited)
- Harry Monty Young Man (uncredited)
- Cecil Combs Prospector (uncredited)
- John Veitch Young Punk (uncredited)
- Fay Morley Dancer (uncredited)
- Anthony Lawrence Young Punk (uncredited)
- Geneva Gray Dance Hall Girl (uncredited)
- Claire Andre Surrey Driver (uncredited)
- George Patay Council City Barfly (uncredited)
More from Otto Preminger
More films directed by Otto Preminger, best-rated first: Anatomy of a Murder, Bunny Lake Is Missing, The Man with the Golden Arm and Carmen Jones.
River of No Return Plot Summary
What happens in River of No Return from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Set in the Northwestern United States in 1875, the film follows taciturn widower Matt Calder, who has recently been released from prison for killing a man while defending another. He arrives in a boomtown tent city to find his nine-year-old son Mark Calder, who was left with dance hall singer Kay Weston after the man he hired to deliver him abandoned the boy. Matt promises Mark a life of hunting, fishing, and farming on their homestead, a simple dream built on rough frontier honesty and a desire to protect what remains of his family.
Full summary
The whole story of River of No Return, scene by scene
River of No Return Box Office
River of No Return grossed $8,757 worldwide.
Worldwide gross
$8.8K
- International
- $8.8K
River of No Return Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 2 trailers.
- Trailer Marilyn Monroe - River Of No Return Trailer
How Well Do You Know River of No Return?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
What is the name of Matt Calder's nine‑year‑old son?
River of No Return Also Known As
26 alternative titles, including “Fluss ohne Wiederkehr” and “Río sin retorno”.
- Also known as
-
- Fluss ohne Wiederkehr
- Río sin retorno
- Floden utan återvändo
- Fluß ohne Wiederkehr
- La magnifica preda
- Rivière sans retour
- Rio Sem Regresso
- Река не течет вспять
- Dönüşü Olmayan Nehir
- Rzeka bez powrotu
- Ποτάμι χωρίς επιστροφή
- נהר האבדון
+14 more Show fewer
- O Rio das Almas Perdidas
- Râul neîntoarcerii
- A folyó, ahonnan nincs visszatérés
- 帰らざる河
- 大江东去
- Реката на незавръщането
- 돌아오지 않는 강
- Река без повратка
- Skæbnefloden
- Řeka bez návratu
- สายน้ำสายเลือด
- Almas perdidas
- رودخانهٔ بدون بازگشت
- Riu sense retorn
Seen River of No Return?
Movies Like River of No Return
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Bend of the River, The River’s Edge and The River Wild.
River of No Return FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of River of No Return, each answered in a sentence.
How long is River of No Return?
River of No Return runs 1 hour 31 minutes (91 minutes).
When was River of No Return released?
River of No Return was released on April 29, 1954.
Who directed River of No Return?
River of No Return was directed by Otto Preminger.
More films by Otto Preminger Who is in the cast of River of No Return?
River of No Return stars Robert Mitchum as Matt Calder, Marilyn Monroe as Kay Weston and Tommy Rettig as Mark Calder, among 62 credited actors.
How much did River of No Return make at the box office?
River of No Return grossed $8,757 worldwide.
Does River of No Return have a post-credit scene?
No. River of No Return has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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