Coming into the rougher parts, Mitchum says:
"Indians call it the river of no return. Now you'll see why."
Being a bit harsh about this, what a dumb name, isn't it. Many rivers are of no return. You can't and don't return via them up-stream.
I took it as a statement, or overstatement, meaning if you go down it you never return to anything ANYWHERE.
"Did you make coffee...? Make it!"--Cheyenne.
It was called that in the movie because that is it's name. It is in Idaho and it is part of a wilderness area called by that name. In the 1980's they added the name if Sen. Frank Church to the park. Now It is the Frank Church River of no Return Wilderness Area.
shareIn the future, I predict the Federal government will sell naming rights to government land. For instance, we could have the Petco Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness Area.