A farming family battles severe storms, while taking a valiant stand against a bank foreclosure and a powerful land grabber.A farming family battles severe storms, while taking a valiant stand against a bank foreclosure and a powerful land grabber.A farming family battles severe storms, while taking a valiant stand against a bank foreclosure and a powerful land grabber.
- Nominated for 4 Oscars
- 2 wins & 6 nominations total
Frank Hoyt Taylor
- Zemke
- (as Frank Taylor)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaMark Rydell has said of this film: "The River (1984) is a tribute to a vanishing America - - the America of the independent farm family. The Garvey family represents the lifestyle that made America work: continuity of generations, the passing on of traditions, and of knowledge and skills, from fathers to sons, from mothers to daughters - a way of life in which every member of the family is unique and necessary for the survival of all."
- GoofsThroughout the movie, the weather seems to go from hot to very cold. In the beginning scenes you see the Garveys out trying to shore up the levee on there land and you can see their breath. In another seen, Lewis is walking behind his fathers tractor (planting seeds and the tractor over heats scene) in what looks like a hot summer afternoon. Same with the scenes wear Tom goes to the steel mill for work and it's very cold out while back at the farm, Mrs Garvey is sweating on the tractor while spraying the corn.
- Alternate versionsThe BBFC cut the original UK cinema release by 10 seconds. Later home video releases were upgraded to 15 and passed with the cuts restored.
- SoundtracksThe Fireman
Written by Mack Vickery and Wayne Kemp
Performed by George Strait
Courtesy of MCA Recordings, Inc.
Featured review
Mel Gibson and Sissy Spacek, are a young Farming family who battles not just the river of the title but also other matters such as the bank threatening to repossess their farm, and Scott Glenn plays a scrupulous land developer who plans to buy the farm to make way for a dam. together the family battles through the hard times in a desperate battle to hold on to their farm. Directed by Mark Rydell who directed such other fine American films 'The Reivers' 'The Rose' 'Harry & Walter go to New York' 'On Golden Pond' 'The River' is still a relevant if not hard to watch film in these downtrodden times. It also represents Mel Gibson at a time he was making quality fare. As usual Vilmos Zsigmond contributes terrific photography.
- How long is The River?Powered by Alexa
Details
Box office
- Budget
- $18,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $11,489,982
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $30,027
- Dec 25, 1984
- Gross worldwide
- $11,489,982
- Runtime2 hours 4 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 1.85 : 1
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