For all the hype it got I was expecting a lot more!

Don't listen to the negative reviews

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

I enjoyed watching this film and would recommend other to give it a try , (as I am) but this movie, although enjoyable to watch due to the better than average acting fails to add anything new to its storyline that is all too familiar to these types of movies.

I was really disappointed, i was expecting more from this film.The beautiful scenery is the only thing positive i can say about this movie.I didn't enjoy the film due to its racist content!It wasn't enough that Americans destroyed their land and murdered their race they make Indians appear hostile,villains and without manners.That's why it was hard for me to sympathize any of the protagonist(Matt,Kay etc.). Marilyn is pretty as always and sings lovely but that alone cant make the film better.It has bad special effects(especially on the river). About the story not much is going on, there is not much action.In general i would only suggest it because Marilyn Monroe and Robert Mitchum are the protagonists and you're a fan.I really enjoyed though the scene in the beginning where Padre (the priest) says:"i came here as a missioner to the Indians but the white men need me more"

WOW, no wonder Marilyn Monroe is a timeless Icon, what beauty, what class what charm and what a soulful voice, she could of been just a great singer, she did it all.... And I don't know to what extent her guitar playing was but if sure looks to me like she was playing the guitar, could of been open tuning.... Norma Jeane, timeless vibrations you gave us Dear, Thru ages-never another talent will be your peer....... You left us lovely Goddess way to soon, see you act and dance, feel your soul croon... Yes it came thru on the silver screen, millions of devoted fans on your divine feminine team. Too soon you left us, our tears testify, Jolton Joe Knew and loved my oh my... Yes our 1st lady of sexual flame, burned out to fast, it was them who were to blame............ We all love you Marilyn

The plot and acting in "River of No Return" are just so-so. This may be one of the few movies in which Marilyn Monroe shows some talent for acting. But, just some. The relatively high mark I give this film is mostly for two settings and one craft. The craft is the cinematography. The filming of the raft riding the rapids on the river is outstanding. And the panoramic scenes of the country are excellent. The Cinemascope cameras caught the magnificent beauty of Banff and Jasper national parks in Alberta, Canada. It's too bad some of the studio scenes weren't shot on location in the wild as well. I saw a distinct change when, after riding the waves and coming out of the river, the threesome – Matt, Kay and Mark – plunk down in a studio setting around a campfire. It struck this viewer as phony, or unreal. Maybe we didn't notice that so much way back when, but it sure is more evident to me today. In later years, the studios weaned more and more away from the studio lots for shooting most outdoor scenes on locations with the real elements. It's difficult for modern producers to find large natural settings for films today – those that don't show the signs of modernity (utility poles and lines, highways, buildings, clear cuts, etc.). So, we can appreciate and cherish films such as this that give us pictures of what the wilds looked like in the "ideal" past.

Marilyn Monroe was one-of-a-kind. She was to women what, say, Elvis was to men. She's the quintessential example of feminine beauty and charm. Unlike many too-thin women today, Marilyn had the necessary curves that drive men wild. Speaking of which, she looks great in this movie throughout, whether in semi-tight jeans or saloon-dancer apparel. Robert Mitchum, of course, was no slouch either when it comes to being a model of masculine strength. And neither was Rory Calhoun, who played the great white hunter, Jonathan Kincaid, in that memorable episode of Gilligan's Island.These three, especially Marilyn, are what make "River of No Return" (1954) worthwhile, along with the stunning location photography, shot in Banff and Jasper National Parks, Canada.The plot revolves around the two stars and their attempt to travel a river on a big wooden raft so they can meet up with the gambler (Calhoun) who stole the Mitchum character's horse and rifle. His young son tags along for the ride.Unfortunately there are some roll-your-eyes moments typical of old Westerns that might tempt modern viewers to tune out, like the Natives' utterly stupid attacks on the raft, but they're just there as a story device to create suspense anyway.The script is generally weak since the story's not all that compelling, except for a chance meeting with hunters in the forest and the closing scenes at the town on the river, but -- like I said -- Marilyn and the scenery make up for it.The film runs a short-but-sweet 91 minutes.GRADE: B-