The River 1951 123movies

Watch: The River 1951 123movies, Full Movie Online – Harriet, now an adult, narrates the story of her coming of age, growing up as a British national and as a daughter of a jute press manager in the Bengal region of India, they living in the big house on the banks of one of the holy rivers. At the time, she is the eldest of six siblings – five girls and one boy – with another one on the way and with her being significantly older than the rest of her siblings. As such, she spends much time with an honorary member of their family, a late teen – not quite an adult – named Valerie, also a British national and the daughter of the jute press owner. Another friend, who recently arrived home from her western schooling, is Melanie, the biracial daughter of British national Mr. John and his deceased Hindu wife. Both Mr. John and Melanie realize her difficult position, straddling both the Hindi and western cultures. Their small world is shaken up with the arrival of Captain John, Mr. John’s cousin and an American ex-military man who has one prosthetic leg, the result of his time in the war. He is a somewhat sullen man who is running away from anything that reminds him of his time before his physical disability. Regardless, he has an effect on all three of Harriet, Valerie and Melanie in different ways, which nonetheless tests their friendships. In combination with other things that happen, this may provide Harriet with a bigger view of life in her coming of age..
Plot: Director Jean Renoir’s entrancing first color feature—shot entirely on location in India—is a visual tour de force. Based on the novel by Rumer Godden, the film eloquently contrasts the growing pains of three young women with the immutability of the Bengal river around which their daily lives unfold. Enriched by Renoir’s subtle understanding and appreciation for India and its people, The River gracefully explores the fragile connections between transitory emotions and everlasting creation.
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Ratings:

	7.4/10 Votes: 6,328
	92% | RottenTomatoes
	N/A | MetaCritic
	N/A Votes: 74 Popularity: 6.238 | TMDB

Reviews:

Post-Independence?
I believe that both Karina and Gabridl are slightly off when they say that the film is supposed to depict post-independence India. I don’t believe this is true and, therefore, Renoir cannot be taken to task for not covering India’s independence struggles. Although the film was made post-independence (1951), it does not cover the period of independence itself (late 1930s to actual independence in 1947). Remember, that the film is a “memory film” and is based on the autobiography of Rumer Godden, who was born in 1907. The adult narrator is a grown-up Harriet. A grown-up Harriet in 1951 would be speaking of an earlier time–probably sometime in the 1920s–that was a more peaceful time for the English colonial inhabitants. The clothing and hairstyles can’t be used to indicate when the film takes place. Harriet’s blue sack of a dress would have been worn by any 13 year-old girl from the 1920 through the 1940s. And Valerie’s rather unkempt and flowing hair could be anytime, too.

As for Melanie having an Indian accent. I don’t believe that it was ever said that Melanie was educated in England. I believe that the film says she was educated in a convent, and there were certainly convent schools in India in the 1920s. I find it interesting that when it is said that Melanie will probably marry Anil, an understanding that they have had since childhood, she is still wearing her convent uniform. When she develops a crush on Captain John, she starts to wear saris, maybe hoping to attract him through the exotic.

All in all, a beautiful, lyrical film that should not be missed.

More angsty than Yangtze.
I saw a promo for this film on TCM, was intrigued, looked it up here, saw tons of glowing 9 and 10-star reviews and set the DVR, expecting that I’d soon be watching a masterpiece.

Well, the location is exotic, the technicolor is gorgeous, some of the cinematography is very nice (although a bit static), and the depiction of Indian holidays and customs is interesting but this is really just a very simple coming-of-age story. All the usual teen-angsty stuff is here; the infatuation of the 3 girls with the mysterious stranger, Harriet’s feeling like an ugly-duckling next to her more attractive friends, Melanie’s struggle with her mixed ethnicity, Valerie’s desire to test the power of her sexuality and her apprehensiveness of the consequences. I don’t think it’s particularly deep, despite all the river-as-life stuff and I suspect that it might not be as highly-regarded as it is if it had been directed by someone other than Jean Renoir. That said, I do like the film, I just don’t think it’s a “masterpiece”.

There seems to be some confusion as to the setting of the film. I’m no expert on India but I don’t think it’s set during or after Independence as some have suggested. The movie is based on Rumer Godden’s memoirs and she was born in 1907, stayed in India during WWI, was sent to school in England in 1920 and didn’t return until she was 18. The film is somewhat timeless, due to the absence of popular music or trendy fashions that would tie it to a particular decade, but there are some clues. Melanie returns from boarding school in a horse-drawn carriage, Harriet’s family plays records on a wind-up gramophone, etc.

As to the comments that the film is somehow “offensive” or lacking for not depicting the poverty of the natives or the politics of the time… Please! It’s the story of a few months in the lives of three teenage girls, not a documentary or a portrait of India. Is “Grease” offensive because it takes place in the U.S. during the 1950s and it doesn’t address the civil rights movement?

Reviews and message board comments suggest that this is a film that most people either love or hate. Obviously, it will not appeal to those who only go to blockbuster films full of superheroes and/or explosions or who have limited attention spans. I’ve read lots of negativity here about the performances and even appearances of some of the actors. The only performance that’s problematic for me is that of Radha, who plays Melanie. I get that the character is more enigmatic than the other girls and doesn’t wear her angst on her sleeve but her monotone delivery and habit of staring straight ahead come across as expressionless. I think Patricia Walters gives a great performance for someone who never acted before. As far as looks go, early on Harriet describes herself as “an ugly-duckling, determined to be a swan.” She’s not supposed to be ravishing, it wouldn’t work if she were. Captain John is no model but he’s not hideous either. Narrator-Harriet explains that visitors from abroad were usually old and married so the arrival of any young, single man would’ve been exciting. He had the added cachet of being a war hero and an American.

Call me crazy but Harriet seems to undergo a sort of metamorphosis during the scene on the boat with Captain John. I don’t know if it’s the lighting and camera angles or the fact that she’s smiling more than usual and looking happy and content but from the moment she tells him that Victoria had said something similar to his comment about being born until they leave the boat she suddenly looks quite pretty. It seems symbolic, as if his saying that she wasn’t the type of person to lay down and die, that she could begin again, and that one of her poems might still be alive 2,070+ years in the future gave her a new confidence that was manifested in her appearance.

Not quite a masterpiece but enjoyable.

Other Information:

Original Language en
Runtime 1 hr 39 min (99 min)
Budget 0
Revenue 0
Status Released
Rated Approved
Genre Drama, Romance
Director Jean Renoir
Writer Rumer Godden, Jean Renoir
Actors Patricia Walters, Nora Swinburne, Esmond Knight
Country France, United Kingdom, India, United States
Awards Nominated for 2 BAFTA 3 wins & 4 nominations total
Production Company N/A
Website N/A

Technical Information:

Sound Mix Mono (Western Electric Recording)
Aspect Ratio 1.37 : 1
Camera N/A
Laboratory Technicolor
Film Length N/A
Negative Format 35 mm
Cinematographic Process Spherical
Printed Film Format 35 mm