The River (1938): cast, story & where to watch
1938 · Film · ★ 5.5
Released in 1938, The River is a documentary film directed by Pare Lorentz, running about 31 minutes.
What it’s 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’s in it. The River stars Thomas Chalmers as Narrator (Voice).
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.5/10, The River has drawn a solid, mixed-to-positive response.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch The River page.
If you liked it. Fans of The River tend to enjoy One Direction: This Is Us, Burn the Stage: The Movie, BTS World Tour: Love Yourself - Japan Edition and Senna.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch The River (1938)?
- In US, The River is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is The River worth watching?
- The River holds an audience score of 5.5 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy documentary. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in The River?
- The River stars Thomas Chalmers.
- When was The River released?
- The River was released in 1938, with a runtime of about 31 minutes.