Watch Clear Water: Detroit’s River Revival (1970) : Full Movie Online Free The film, directed by metro Detroit native Randin Brown, tells the story of the environmental recovery of the Detroit and Rouge rivers and their combined watersheds. Loosely based on the environmental book, “Burning Rivers” by Dr. John Hartig, “Clear Water” documents the rivers’ recovery beginning in 1969 when the Rouge River literally caught on fire. Two Detroit-born actors provide voice to the film: Pam Dawber narrates, while Tom Skerritt speaks as the river.