Favorite Scenes: A River Runs Through It

Since the entire scene consists of characters reciting parts of William Wordsworth’s Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood back and forth, I guess we’ll give him at least partial credit. But it's also Mark Isham's touching score, Robert Redford's tasteful direction, and the great performances of Craig Sheffer and Tom Skerritt.After receiving a letter that offers him a Professorship at the University of Chicago, Norman Mclean enters the house and overhears his father, Reverend Mclean reading Wordsworth’s poem. By the way, a first-rate composition by Redford, with Norman in the mirror screen right, and the symbolic clock, screen left.

Norman walks to the door then recites from memory, “Though nothing can bring back the hour of splendor in the grass, of glory in the flower. We will grieve not, rather find strength in what remains behind.

Reverend: In the primal sympathy which having been must ever be.

Norman: In the soothing thoughts that spring out of human suffering.

Reverend: In the faith that looks through death.

Norman: Thanks to the human heart by which we live. Thanks to its tenderness, its joys, its fears. To me, the meanest flower that blows . . .

Both Norman and Reverend: Can give thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears.”

A moment passes between father and son, acknowledging lost childhood and the desire to find strength in what remains.