Blast from the Past:
1994: 30 Years Ago Meryl Streep became an Action Hero
Meryl Streep once again transformed her acting career in the 1990s, when she was unexpectedly cast as an action hero.
Before she made The River Wild, the career of Streep, who was only 45, was perceived to be in a middle-aged slump.
The Curtis Hanson’s 1994 thriller stars Streep as Gail Hartman, a former river guide who is forced to navigate treacherous white-water rapids by gun-toting thieves.
Grade: B
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Theatrical release poster
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Written by Denis O’Neill, the tale follows a young family whose white-water rafting holiday is endangered when they are taken hostage by armed fugitives.
The film, which was theatrically released on Sept 30, 1994 by Universal, was moderately popular at the box-office.
Critical Status:
Streep was nominated for the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award.
Doing Action Adventure
Streep told The New York Times, “The elements of outdoor river adventure were so appealing,” adding, “Besides, I couldn’t believe they wanted me for it. I thought they’d get somebody younger and stronger.”
Streep trained hard for months for “The River Wild,” filming mostly her own stunts. Her rowing coach, Elizabeth H. O’Leary, was impressed with Streep’s dedication. “Meryl Streep is an absolutely remarkable woman. She came having learned little about rowing, but it wasn’t so much that I had to teach her,” O’Leary told The Harvard Crimson. “She sees it and she can do it.”
Motivated by fear and adrenaline
But that doesn’t mean she wasn’t scared. She said to CBS 8 San Diego, “I was motivated by fear, and adrenaline, and the limits that my exertion would take me.”
The success of “Wild River” boosted Streep’s commercial appeal. It bumped her payday and gave her more Hollywood power.
Credits
Directed by Curtis Hanson
Written by Denis O’Neill
Produced by David Foster, Lawrence Turman
Cinematography Robert Elswit
Edited by Joe Hutshing, David Brenner
Music by Jerry Goldsmith
Production company: Turman-Foster Company
Distributed by Universal Pictures
Release date: September 30, 1994
Running time: 111 minutes
Budget $45 million
Box office $94.2 million
