River of No Return

River of No Return is a 1954 American Western film directed by Otto Preminger. The screenplay by Frank Fenton is based on a story by Louis Lantz, who borrowed his premise from the 1948 Italian film The Bicycle Thief. Set in the Northwestern United States in 1875, the film focues on taciturn widower Matt Calder, who recently has been released from prison after serving time for killing a man while defending another one. He arrives in a tent city i... more

River of No Return is a 1954 American Western film directed by Otto Preminger. The screenplay by Frank Fenton is based on a story by Louis Lantz, who borrowed his premise from the 1948 Italian film The Bicycle Thief. Set in the Northwestern United States in 1875, the film focues on taciturn widower Matt Calder, who recently has been released from prison after serving time for killing a man while defending another one. He arrives in a tent city in search of his ten-year-old son Mark, who was left in the care of dance hall singer Kay during his absence. Matt promises Mark, a virtual stranger to him, the two will enjoy a life of hunting, fishing and farming on their homestead. Kay's fiancé, gambler Harry Weston, tells her they must go to Council City to file the deed on a gold mine he won in a poker game. They head downriver on their flimsy log raft, and when they encounter trouble in the rapids near the Calder farm, Matt and Mark rescue them. Harry offers to buy Matt's rifle and horse... less