Every day, AlloCiné recommends a film to (re)watch on TV. Tonight: two Hollywood legends in your living room.
In 1875, Matt Calder, a former widowed convict, came to pick up his nine-year-old son Mark from a gold prospecting camp. It was Kay, a saloon singer, who took the child under her wing. Forced to flee the Indians, the man, the young woman and the son find themselves descending a somewhat turbulent river on a fragile raft.
This is the pitch of the feature film River of No Return, a classic western released in theaters in 1954. Directed by Otto Preminger, this contemplative work features a superb duo composed of Robert Mitchum and a sparkling Marilyn Monroe.
It was Marilyn Monroe who demanded to have Robert Mitchum as a partner even though he was under contract with RKO. The American actress also had her drama teacher Natasha and choreographer Jack Cole, with whom she had worked on Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, present with her. Finally, the Hollywood star negotiated to be able to discuss the script with the filmmaker Otto Preminger, who signed River of No Return with the only western of his illustrious career.
It should be noted that the filming schedule for River of No Return as well as the film’s budget could not be respected due to the demands of Otto Preminger, who had asked the actors to perform their own stunts.
Among other mishaps, Marilyn Monroe was saved from drowning after she slipped and her water-filled boots dragged her to the bottom. The actress escaped death another time with Robert Mitchum when their raft, blocked by a rock, almost overturned.
Tonight on Arte at 9 p.m.