rape scene

I'm watching this film now, I read some of these threads, and I felt I had to respond - as a filmmaker/scholar.

You must remember: these movies were made by MEN. The dramatic - and sexual - tensions in the plot emanate from what MEN think would be compelling. That's the way Hollywood was back then: run by MEN (although they were well aware that women made up a good portion of the audience - which resulted in "women's pictures" often directed by GAY MEN, like George Cukor!).

While there's no outright rape occurring "River," these scenes are nevertheless MEN's attempts to create drama using these stars and, consequently, convey the lust that a guy character would feel toward a character with the appearance of MM.

Also - the attempted rape helps create drama: the burst of passion from Mitchum is then followed by the invasion into the camp by first a mountain lion, and then two armed vagrants. Most likely the screenwriter(s) meant to convey how human sexual weakness (e.g., Mitchum's giving in to his sexual attraction to Monroe despite his claim that she means nothing to him) ends up exposing him, Monroe and his son to serious danger (in this case, the dangers of the wilderness).

I'm sure a female screenwriter would have written a completely different scene/script.

So - yes - you female viewers had/have every right to feel "uncomfortable" during this scene.

Back in 1954, I'm sure the female audience members would have felt the same way - except - more than likely - they would have been escorted to this movie by a guy/date/husband/boyfriend who would have made them feel "safe" in the dark of the movie theater. My - how times have changed!

"Don't call me 'honey', mac."
"Don't call me 'mac'... HONEY!"

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Without any doubt it was rape:

violent attack, domination, enforced kiss,
and certainly it would have ended up in enforced intercourse,
if the mountain lion had not appeared.

And rape was a heavy crime in the 19th century too,
and ever before and after.

So I don`t see any excuse for the ugly character played by Robert Mitchum ...

This scene was totally unnecessary and left a terrible taste in my mouth about this (otherwise good) movie.

But the worst part of all was that she went away with him (apparently to marry and live with him) at the end of the film.

What a great lesson for all women: MARRY YOUR RAPIST, THAT WILL FIX EVERYTHING !!

just like today, I think they threw that scene in there to titillate viewers. things are getting a little boring on that river, lets throw in a scene where mitchum goes nuts!makes no sense since he was this cool cucumber and even marilyn monroe would not cause him to go crazy like that. I"ll bet at the time he didn't agree with the scene but being the pro he was, he went ahead and did it.

There are few things more stupid than trying to superimpose the values and conventions of the 21st Century on the past.

"It ain't dying I'm talking about, it's LIVING!"
Captain Augustus McCrae

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it was a weird scene, didn't fit into the movie at all



so many movies, so little time