The River
Synopsis
This short Depression-era documentary describes the importance of the Mississippi River to the United States and laments the environmental destruction committed in the name of progress, particularly farming and timber practices and their impact on impoverished farmers.
Top Cast
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Release History & Theatrical Window
Venice Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
February 4, 1938
Wide Cinema Exhibition
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Pare Lorentz
- Screenplay & Story
- Pare Lorentz
- Original Score
- Virgil Thomson
- Original Title
- The River
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 31m
- Production Studios
- Farm Security Administration
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Pare Lorentz
Pare Lorentz
Virgil Thomson
Floyd Crosby, Stacy Woodard, Willard Van Dyke
Leo Zochling, Lloyd Nosler
Department Leadership Roster
Pare Lorentz
Writer
Pare Lorentz
Director
Virgil Thomson
Original Music Composer
Leo Zochling
Editor
Lloyd Nosler
Editor
Floyd Crosby
Director of Photography
Stacy Woodard
Director of Photography
Willard Van Dyke
Director of Photography
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for The River.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring The River.
list2
National Film Registry
Films preserved in the Library of Congress National Film Registry.
Harvard University's Suggested Film Viewing List Non-Fiction Films - (120): (2012)
Early Documentaries Pt 2
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Frequently Asked Questions About The River
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is The River about?
This short Depression-era documentary describes the importance of the Mississippi River to the United States and laments the environmental destruction committed in the name of progress, particularly farming and timber practices and their impact on impoverished farmers.
Who directed The River?
The River was directed by Pare Lorentz.
Who stars in The River?
The principal cast of The River includes Thomas Chalmers.
When was The River released and how long is it?
The River was released in 1938 with a total runtime of 31m.
Who composed the musical score for The River?
The original motion picture soundtrack for The River was composed by Virgil Thomson.