The River (1951)

In 1974, the Academy presented an Honorary Award to Jean Renoir. The citation on the Oscar® read: “To Jean Renoir – a genius who, with grace, responsibility and enviable devotion through silent film, sound film, feature, documentary and television, has won the world’s admiration.”

Throughout his career, Jean Renoir explored the theme of water as a life force and source of beauty, beginning with his first film in 1925 (La Fille de l'Eau). The River, shot on location in India in 1951, is the ultimate articulation of that fascination. His first film in color (adapted from the Rumer Godden novel and shot by his nephew Claude Renoir), this gorgeous, poetic and emotional depiction of English children growing up in Bengal demands to be seen on the big screen.

The print to be screened is from the new restoration completed by the Academy Film Archive in association with the British Film Institute, Janus Films and The Film Foundation. The restoration was funded with support from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.

Cast: Nora Swinburne, Esmond Knight, Arthur Shields, Thomas E. Breen, Suprova Mukerjee, Patricia Walters, Radha, Adrienne Corri, Richard Foster, Penelope Wilkinson, Jane Harris, Jennifer Harris, Cecelia Wood, Ram Singh, Nimai Barik, Trilak Jetley.

Director Jean Renoir; Producer Kenneth McEldowney; Screenplay Rumer Godden, Jean Renoir; Based on the novel by Rumer Godden; Director of Photography Claude Renoir; Film Editor George Gale; Production Design Eugene Lourie; Art Director Bansi Chandragupta; Music M.A. Partha Sarathy; Sound Engineers Charles Knott, Charles Poulton; Narration by June Hillman. Released through United Artists; Color by Technicolor; 35mm; 99 mins; 1951.