Name: The River (1929) Director: Frank Borzage Studio: Fox Film Corporation Starring: Charles Farrell, Mary Duncan, and Ivan Linow Release Date: November 3, 1929 Runtime: Originally 84 minutes (only about 50 minutes survive) Format: Silent with synchronized music and sound effects (Movietone system) Country: United States Language: Silent (English intertitles) Genres: | Romance | Drama | Melodrama | --- Summary: The River tells the story of Allen John, an innocent young man who drifts down the river to work on a dam construction project, where he meets Rosalee, a woman hardened by betrayal and loss. As the two are stranded together through a harsh winter in an isolated riverside cabin, their relationship evolves from mistrust to love. Against the backdrop of the thawing river and the return of spring, their emotional thaw mirrors nature’s renewal — but their newfound happiness is threatened by the return of Rosalee’s violent past. --- Background: Directed by Academy Award–winning filmmaker Frank Borzage, The River was conceived as a lyrical romantic drama in the director’s signature style — emphasizing emotion, spirituality, and human connection. The film was released near the end of the silent era, during the industry’s transition to sound, and originally featured synchronized music and limited dialogue effects using the Movietone system. Unfortunately, large portions of the film are lost; the surviving 50-minute version has been reconstructed using still photographs and production notes. Despite its incomplete state, The River is celebrated by film historians as one of Borzage’s most poetic works, capturing both the sensual and spiritual essence of love and redemption. --- Trivia: * Only about two-thirds of the original film survives; the missing sections have been restored through stills and title cards. * The River is often cited as one of the most visually stunning examples of late silent cinema. * Director Frank Borzage won Oscars for *Seventh Heaven* (1927) and *Bad Girl* (1931), and *The River* is considered thematically linked to those films. * The chemistry between Charles Farrell and Mary Duncan was widely praised and remains a highlight of Borzage’s romantic storytelling. * The film’s minimal dialogue and expressive cinematography make it a bridge between silent cinema and early sound films. --- Hashtags: #TheRiver1929 #FrankBorzage #SilentFilm #FoxFilmCorporation #CharlesFarrell #MaryDuncan #LostFilm #FilmHistory #OldHollywood #ClassicCinema