In memory of a truly beautiful (in all senses of the word) young man.

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For me it all started with "Stand By Me". There was something magical about this film, on the surface it was just a short and simple tale of youth, friendship, and the passing of innocence. Yet it was so beautifully realised, with practically flawless performances from all the players, I can't imagine anyone not being touched by it.

It is perhaps a little unfair to single out River, but it was his character, and the way he played it that seemed to speak to me directly. Not necessarily because my life was in any way mirrored by that of Chris Chambers, but because you could sense the honesty and integrity with which he was portrayed. And this from a kid barely fifteen years old! Of course, he was cute too and that certainly helped, but even then there was this incredible sense of sincerity about him that is, for me, an instant attraction.

For many reviewers and fans, one word that often comes up is 'vulnerability', the unnerving feeling that he was genuinely giving himself to the audience. In every role he played, however trivial, he always seemed to rely upon his own life to make the characters come alive. Almost without exception he gave directly of himself to imbue each performance with a sense of the tragic, of someone not quite in the mainstream, of someone who needed you. When you consider that his whole background was so at odds with the strange world that is the Hollywood movie machine, it is no wonder that he often felt lost and confused by the demands placed on him.

To Gallery 2

This is the pick of my collection, and I'm eager to get more! If you have, or know the whereabouts of, any more River pix, please .

Copyright © 1996-2002 Adrian Skeates
This page was created 14 December 1996
Most recent revision 3 June, 2002