The River
“Beauty... Mystery... Delightful Humor...”
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.
Where to watch
HBO Max
Stream
Criterion Channel
Stream
Amazon Video
Rent · Buy
Apple TV Store
Rent · Buy
Fandango At Home
Rent · Buy
Your rating
Your review
Cast
17 people
Nora Swinburne
The Mother
Known for
Quo Vadis
Helen of Troy
Esmond Knight
The Father
Known for
The Element of Crime
Black Narcissus
Arthur Shields
Mr. John
Known for
The Quiet Man
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
Suprova Mukerjee
Nan
Also in
Ratnadeep
Swami
Thomas E. Breen
Capt. John
Known for
Battleground
Patricia Walters
Harriet
No other roles listed
Radha Burnier
Melanie
No other roles listed
Adrienne Corri
Valerie
Known for
A Clockwork Orange
Vampire Circus
June Tripp
Narrator (voice)
Known for
The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog
Nimai Barik
Kanu (uncredited)
Richard R. Foster
Bogey (uncredited)
Jane Harris
Muffie (uncredited)
Jean Renoir Director · Rumer Godden Screenplay M.A. Partha Sarathy Composer
Worldwide gross $1M · United States release September 10, 1951 · Produced in France, India, United States
Box office
Worldwide gross
$1,000,000
Production
Oriental International Films
Production
United Artists Pictures
Studio
France · India · United States
Produced in
Languages
Original language
English
Spoken on screen
Bangla · English
Release dates
United States · September 10, 1951
Theatrical
France
December 19, 1951 · Theatrical
Germany
November 21, 1952 · Theatrical
Sweden
March 31, 1952 · Theatrical
United Kingdom
April 24, 1952 · Theatrical
More from Jean Renoir
Other films they directed, best known first.
Some details come from TheTVDB.