This late silent masterpiece by the romantic director extraordinaire Frank Borzage is regrettably incomplete and lost. All that remains are about 55 minutes of restored footage. Nonetheless, it contains some of most sublime and ineffable images in the history of cinema. The final sequence where Mary Duncan revives Charles Farrel from death is among the pinnacles of silent cinema. It is surreal and perfect. "The River" deserves to be known and appreciated, if only for this incredible sequence. You have to see it to believe it.
