Take a Ride on The River of No Return

 

The peaceful and sometimes wild Salmon River, aka The River of No Return, is captured in its glory in the 1954 movie of the same name (although the movie was actually shot in Canada). Almost more incredible than the colorful cinemascope photography is the sight of Marilyn Monroe steering a raft down the wild rapids. With the help of Robert Mitchum and his young son, Marilyn manages to fight off old boyfriends, grizzly bears, gold diggers, all while keeping her precious high heels safe.

Also notable is the musical score. Marilyn sings a number of catchy tunes including one in which she tells us, “I want the title to something vital that I can throw my fences around.” In this movie more so than in other Marilyn movies it is apparent that despite her reputation for being the hot blond, Marilyn actually had a surprising amount of acting and singing talent.

The River of No Return is available on DVD but is unfortunately missing one of the greatest stunt flubs in history. No longer can you see Marilyn extend a very manly, hairy arm to rescue Robert Mitchum from the rising rapids. Despite the loss of an unintentional laugh, this classic family adventure entertains from the Idaho City like boom town all the way down river to a typically western show down. A must for anyone wanting to complete a Marilyn Monroe or Robert Mitchum collection.