A River Runs Through It (1992)

User Rating:

7.1/10   

Director:

Robert Redford

Writers (WGA):

Norman Maclean (story)
Richard Friedenberg (screenplay)

Release Date:

9 October 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Two fly-fishing sons of a Presbyterian minister--one reserved, one rebellious--grow up in rural Montana.

Plot Keywords:

Fly Fishing | Fishing | Male Rear Nudity | Gambling | Coming Of Age

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 3 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Craig Sheffer	...	Norman Maclean
Brad Pitt	...	Paul Maclean
Tom Skerritt	...	Rev. Maclean
Brenda Blethyn	...	Mrs. Maclean
Emily Lloyd	...	Jessie Burns
Edie McClurg	...	Mrs. Burns
Stephen Shellen	...	Neal Burns
Vann Gravage	...	Young Paul
Nicole Burdette	...	Mabel
Susan Traylor	...	Rawhide
Michael Cudlitz	...	Chub
Rob Cox	...	Conroy
Buck Simmonds	...	Humph
Fred Oakland	...	Mr. Burns
David Creamer	...	Ken Burns

MPAA:

Rated PG for momentary nudity, and some language in a family drama.

Runtime:

123 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:A (Nova Scotia) | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Australia:PG | Iceland:12 | Australia:M (DVD rating) | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Finland:K-10 | Germany:6 | Spain:T | Sweden:11 | UK:PG | USA:PG | South Korea:12 | Singapore:PG | Norway:10

Filming Locations:

Bozeman, Montana, USA

Company:

Allied Filmmakers

Trivia:

At one point, this was considered as a vehicle for Lloyd Bridges and his two sons, Beau and Jeff.

Goofs:

Continuity: Paul's collar during the restaurant scene.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Norman: [narrating] Long ago, when I was a young man, my father said to me, "Norman, you like to write stories." And I said "Yes, I do." Then he said, "Someday, when you're ready you might tell our family story. Only then will you understand what happened and why."

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Melrose Place: A Christine Runs Through It (#6.23)" (1998)

Soundtrack:

The Sheik of 'Araby'

A Nearly Perfect Film

When I saw previews for this film, I thought "Its a movie about fishing, why would I want to see that?" This is as much of a fishing movie as Hoosiers is about basketball, or Field of Dreams is about baseball.

The story is elegant, the narrative beautiful, the characters deftly drawn. The relationship between the father and two sons is really interesting, and I love the interplay between them. There is great sadness, and also great humour. While nostalgic, I don't think the film ever becomes maudlin, and by the time the film draws to its inevitable close, I feel the same sense of loss and regret every time.

This movie does what films are supposed to do - touch one's heart and mind.

The closing lines, taken from a short story by McLean, are as haunting as they are beautiful:

"But when I am alone in the half light of the canyon all existence seems to fade to a being with my soul and memories. And the sounds of the Big Black Foot River and a four count rhythm and the hope that a fish will rise. Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters."