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Poster for The River

The River

Seen it?

1951 | 99 min | Drama, Romance

Sunday Safe Betearly rating

Why it’s a Sunday Safe Bet

Critics loved it (92% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had soft box office. A safe bet when you want something reliable.

Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.

Is it for you?

Who'll love it
Made for romantics. If you loved Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans or The Bridges of Madison County, start here. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
The mood
Warm and romantic.
The pace
Takes its time with its characters, at 1 hr 39 min.
What might put you off
  • Made in 1951: an older pace and style.
  • Audiences were cooler on it than critics.

Director Jean Renoir’s entrancing first color feature—shot entirely on location in India—is a visual tour de force. Based on the novel by Rumer Godden, the film eloquently contrasts the growing pains of three young women with the immutability of the Bengal river around which their daily lives unfold. Enriched by Renoir’s subtle understanding and appreciation for India and its people, The River gracefully explores the fragile connections between transitory emotions and everlasting creation.

How it earned its rating

  • CriticsVery strong

    92% on Rotten Tomatoes

  • AudiencesSolid

    7.2 out of 10

  • AwardsNot counted

    No major awards or nominations

  • Box office & staying powerBelow par

    $16 million worldwide; still draws a steady audience long after release

  • Buzz & cultural impactSolid

    About 42K people sought it out in the past year

Trailer

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Cast & crew

Directed by Jean Renoir

  • Nora SwinburneThe Mother
  • Esmond KnightThe Father
  • Arthur ShieldsMr. John
  • Suprova MukerjeeNan
  • Thomas E. BreenCapt. John
  • Patricia WaltersHarriet
  • Radha BurnierMelanie
  • Adrienne CorriValerie
  • June TrippNarrator (voice)
  • Nimai BarikKanu (uncredited)