The River (1951)

Director:

Jean Renoir

Writers:

Rumer Godden (novel)
Rumer Godden (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

12 December 1951 (France)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Beauty...Mystery...Delightful Humor...

Plot:

Three teenage girls are living in Bengal (India) near a big river : Harriet is the oldest child of a big family of English settlers...

Plot Keywords:

Nursemaid | Pregnancy | Friendship | Biracial | Suicide Attempt

Awards:

Nominated for 2 BAFTA Film Awards. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Nora Swinburne	...	The Mother
Esmond Knight	...	The Father
Arthur Shields	...	Mr. John
Suprova Mukerjee	...	Nan
Thomas E. Breen	...	Capt. John
Patricia Walters	...	Harriet
Radha	...	Melanie
Adrienne Corri	...	Valerie
June Hillman	...	Narration (voice)

Also Known As:

Fleuve, Le (France)

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

France | India | USA

Language:

English | Bengali

Colour:

Colour (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved | UK:U | Finland:S | Sweden:Btl

Filming Locations:

West Bengal, India

Company:

Oriental International Films

Trivia:

When Kenneth McEldowney, a successful florist and real estate agent in Los Angeles, complained to his wife, an MGM publicist, about one of her studio's films, she dared him to do better. So he sold their home and floral shops, and from 1947 to 1951 worked to produce this film. It opened in New York to a record 34-week run at reserved-seat prices and was on several ten-best movie lists in 1951. McEldowney then returned to real estate and never made another movie.

Quotes:

Valerie: This... being together... in the garden. All of us happy, and you with us here, I didn't want it to change... and it's changed. I didn't want it to end... and it's gone. It was like something in a dream. Now you've made it real. I didn't want to be real.

Movie Connections:

References The River (1938)

Post-Independence?

I believe that both Karina and Gabridl are slightly off when they say that the film is supposed to depict post-independence India. I don't believe this is true and, therefore, Renoir cannot be taken to task for not covering India's independence struggles. Although the film was made post-independence (1951), it does not cover the period of independence itself (late 1930s to actual independence in 1947). Remember, that the film is a "memory film" and is based on the autobiography of Rumer Godden, who was born in 1907. The adult narrator is a grown-up Harriet. A grown-up Harriet in 1951 would be speaking of an earlier time--probably sometime in the 1920s--that was a more peaceful time for the English colonial inhabitants. The clothing and hairstyles can't be used to indicate when the film takes place. Harriet's blue sack of a dress would have been worn by any 13 year-old girl from the 1920 through the 1940s. And Valerie's rather unkempt and flowing hair could be anytime, too.

As for Melanie having an Indian accent. I don't believe that it was ever said that Melanie was educated in England. I believe that the film says she was educated in a convent, and there were certainly convent schools in India in the 1920s. I find it interesting that when it is said that Melanie will probably marry Anil, an understanding that they have had since childhood, she is still wearing her convent uniform. When she develops a crush on Captain John, she starts to wear saris, maybe hoping to attract him through the exotic.

All in all, a beautiful, lyrical film that should not be missed.