Comments on: A River Runs 15 Years (with Suckers!) http://fishfliesandwater.com Jason Borger's Fly-Fishing Blog Tue, 22 May 2012 14:09:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: JB http://fishfliesandwater.com/words-images/a-river-runs-15-years-with-suckers/comment-page-1/#comment-756 JB Sat, 29 Aug 2009 02:35:50 +0000 http://fishfliesandwater.com/?page_id=852#comment-756 Bob—Thanks for taking the time to comment. The filming of <i>River</i> was a truly special time for me. I cannot help but to think back to those days, and remember the cast and crew, the still-gorgeous locations, and Norman's lovingly crafted story of what happened (and why). I still find it surprising (or perhaps not so surprising, really) that the film continues to influence so many people. I suppose the relationships in the film reflect so many lives and families, that it's hard for the film <i>not</i> to continue to wield influence. And for those who may not connect with the story in that way, at least there is Montana scenery (and one serious rainbow trout) to keep things flowing along! There may have a rush on fly fishing post-movie, but as you say, those who found a passion likely stayed, and those who didn't likely moved on to another endeavor. It is those who stayed who hopefully have found more than just fish... I cannot, I think, tire of the last few dozen words in Norman's book, nor have I heard a reading of them done as affectingly as what Redford did in the film. I suppose that the memories of those days under the Montana big sky color my perception of Norman's words, but as someone whose life has been run through by rivers, I doubt they will ever lose their potency. Bob—Thanks for taking the time to comment. The filming of River was a truly special time for me. I cannot help but to think back to those days, and remember the cast and crew, the still-gorgeous locations, and Norman’s lovingly crafted story of what happened (and why).

I still find it surprising (or perhaps not so surprising, really) that the film continues to influence so many people. I suppose the relationships in the film reflect so many lives and families, that it’s hard for the film not to continue to wield influence. And for those who may not connect with the story in that way, at least there is Montana scenery (and one serious rainbow trout) to keep things flowing along!

There may have a rush on fly fishing post-movie, but as you say, those who found a passion likely stayed, and those who didn’t likely moved on to another endeavor. It is those who stayed who hopefully have found more than just fish…

I cannot, I think, tire of the last few dozen words in Norman’s book, nor have I heard a reading of them done as affectingly as what Redford did in the film. I suppose that the memories of those days under the Montana big sky color my perception of Norman’s words, but as someone whose life has been run through by rivers, I doubt they will ever lose their potency.

]]> By: Bob Brockett http://fishfliesandwater.com/words-images/a-river-runs-15-years-with-suckers/comment-page-1/#comment-750 Bob Brockett Thu, 27 Aug 2009 19:55:40 +0000 http://fishfliesandwater.com/?page_id=852#comment-750 Nothing wrong with looking back now and again, JB. (Just so we can still see what's coming an instant before it gets here!) You should be proud having been a part of what many, myself included, consider a modern cinematic classic. I realize the disdain many fly fishers still have for A River Runs, always grumbling on about the ensuing hordes of Orvis clad numbskulls clogging up "their" rivers, fashion fadders who couldn't find their ferrules with both hands at high noon and frankly didn't give a damn. Those people were clearly not in it for the long haul and, so far as I can tell, are long gone. What we're left with is the percentage who, because of Norman McClean and because of Redford's movie, did stick with it and became better people for it. Better naturalists. Better conservationists. Better fishermen. Even better parents. While I began fly fishing before "the movie," it was an important influence on my children. It helped them to understand me better and, more gradually, me them. Anything that helps with that sure can't be all bad. Nothing wrong with looking back now and again, JB. (Just so we can still see what’s coming an instant before it gets here!) You should be proud having been a part of what many, myself included, consider a modern cinematic classic. I realize the disdain many fly fishers still have for A River Runs, always grumbling on about the ensuing hordes of Orvis clad numbskulls clogging up “their” rivers, fashion fadders who couldn’t find their ferrules with both hands at high noon and frankly didn’t give a damn. Those people were clearly not in it for the long haul and, so far as I can tell, are long gone. What we’re left with is the percentage who, because of Norman McClean and because of Redford’s movie, did stick with it and became better people for it. Better naturalists. Better conservationists. Better fishermen. Even better parents. While I began fly fishing before “the movie,” it was an important influence on my children. It helped them to understand me better and, more gradually, me them. Anything that helps with that sure can’t be all bad.

]]> By: Dan Knox http://fishfliesandwater.com/words-images/a-river-runs-15-years-with-suckers/comment-page-1/#comment-455 Dan Knox Thu, 21 May 2009 03:04:15 +0000 http://fishfliesandwater.com/?page_id=852#comment-455 I have added a few thoughts of my own at my Web Log. No doubt this is one of my favorite films. Thanks, Jason, for your behind-the-scenes commentary. Dan I have added a few thoughts of my own at my Web Log. No doubt this is one of my favorite films. Thanks, Jason, for your behind-the-scenes commentary.

Dan

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