Elia Kazan (director)
Eureka! (studio)
PG (certificate)
110min (length)
23 February 2015 (released)
26 February 2015
Wild River is a socio-political drama as much as it an emotional drama, as wild and unruly as the river of its title. Montgomery Clift and Lee Remick star in a battle of wills versus a battle of hearts.
Set in the Deep South of the early 1930’s, we are introduced to several minutes of vintage b/w newsreel footage after the Tennessee Valley area has been severely flooded, resulting in loss of human live and widespread damage. The actual movie then begins in colour. Enter Chuck Glover (Montgomery Clift), an administrator for the Tennessee Valley Authority, whose job it is to supervise the clearing of land to be flooded following the construction of a hydroelectric dam. Arriving in Garthville, he sets out to acquire Garth Island on the river, a piece of property inhabited by the Garth family for generations and as yet not sold to the government. But selling the island is a lot more difficult than Chuck had imagined. Stubborn matriarch Ella Garth (Jo Van Fleet) refuses to leave, even on the promise that she and her family will be re-housed in a splendid new home complete with modern fittings. The elderly lady is simply not interested, pointing out that the Garthes have lived on the island for decades – that’s where she was born, and that’s where she intends on dying. Chuck receives an equally cold reception from Ella’s sons… they too are anything but keen on leaving the island. None of them ever had a job and leaving would mean they might actually have to work for a living. To emphasise their point, they throw the polite administrator into the water.
However, things are slightly different when Chuck encounters Ella’s granddaughter Carol (Lee Remick), a young widow with two little kids expecting to re-marry soon, albeit a man she is not in love with. Despite her initial refusal to hear Chuck out, there is an instant spark between them and we know just what that means…
Meanwhile, the authorities are under pressure to clear the last bit of land – meaning Garth Island, but Ella Garth refuses to give way more than ever! Things aren’t made easier by the fact that in order to avoid bad press, the authorities prefer not having to use force. The heat is on for Chuck to finally convince the Garth family that leaving the island is not only unavoidable but is in fact beneficial and an improvement to their lives. Already behind schedule, further tension rises when the local mayor is dismissing Chuck’s suggestion to hire additional black labourers as ‘problematic’ as the white workers would quit. This being the Deep South, segregation shows its ugly face everywhere. Then, there is the problem with his increasing emotions for Carol – although the two have fallen for each other she remains promised to another man. At least it would seem that way…
Gorgeously photographed and with engrossing performances by the lead cast, Wild River is a fine example of the cinematic genius that is Elia Kazan!
This Dual Format Edition has the following SPECIAL FEATURES:
• New 1080p transfer of the film on Blu-ray, with a progressive encode on the DVD
• Optional English subtitles for the deaf and hard-of-hearing
• New feature-length audio commentary with critics Glenn Kenny and Farran Smith Nehme
• Original theatrical trailer
• Gallery of behind-the-scenes and production stills
• 32-PAGE FULL COLOUR BOOKLET featuring a new essay on the film by critic Adrian Martin, remarks about the film by director Elia Kazan, and rare archival imagery