SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION


                             Washington, D.C. 20549



                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT


                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934


        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) August 7, 1997



                       JAMES RIVER CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


                                    Virginia
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)


        1-7911                                       54-0848173
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Commission File Number)                   (IRS Employer Identification Number)


                  120 Tredegar Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)


Registrant's telephone number, including area code        (804) 644-5411 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


<PAGE>

Item 5.  Other Events.

     On August 7, 1997,  James River  Corporation of Virginia  ("James River" or
the "Company")  filed a press release  announcing that the Department of Justice
has completed its regulatory review of the merger of James River and Fort Howard
Corporation  and will  take no  action.  A copy of the  press  release  is filed
herewith as Exhibit 99.


Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

         (c)      Exhibits:

                  99     Press release dated August 7, 1997, published by the 
                         registrant - filed herewith.
<PAGE>

                                                    SIGNATURES


     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities and Exchange Act of 1934,
the  registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.


                                     JAMES RIVER CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA
 
 
 
                                     By:/s/Clifford A. Cutchins, IV 
                                           Clifford A. Cutchins, IV
                                        Senior Vice President, General Counsel


Date:    August  8, 1997
[{"type": "8-K", "sequence": "1", "description": "FORM 8K DATED AUGUST 7, 1997", "secsgml_size_bytes": 2571}]
{"company-data": {"conformed-name": "JAMES RIVER CORP OF VIRGINIA", "cik": "0000053117", "assigned-sic": "2621", "irs-number": "540848173", "state-of-incorporation": "VA", "fiscal-year-end": "1231"}, "filing-values": {"form-type": "8-K", "act": "34", "file-number": "001-07911", "film-number": "97654029"}, "business-address": {"street1": "120 TREDEGAR ST", "city": "RICHMOND", "state": "VA", "zip": "23219", "phone": "8046494296"}, "mail-address": {"street1": "P O BOX 2218", "city": "RICHMOND", "state": "VA", "zip": "23218"}}
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT

                       Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of
                       the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

        Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) August 7, 1997

                       JAMES RIVER CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                                    Virginia
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

        1-7911                                       54-0848173
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Commission File Number)                   (IRS Employer Identification Number)

                  120 Tredegar Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code        (804) 644-5411 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Item 5.  Other Events.

     On August 7, 1997,  James River  Corporation of Virginia  ("James River" or
the "Company")  filed a press release  announcing that the Department of Justice
has completed its regulatory review of the merger of James River and Fort Howard
Corporation  and will  take no  action.  A copy of the  press  release  is filed
herewith as Exhibit 99.

Item 7.  Financial Statements and Exhibits.

         (c)      Exhibits:

                  99     Press release dated August 7, 1997, published by the 
                         registrant - filed herewith.
SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the  requirements  of the  Securities and Exchange Act of 1934,
the  registrant  has duly  caused  this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                     JAMES RIVER CORPORATION OF VIRGINIA
 
 
 
                                     By:/s/Clifford A. Cutchins, IV 
                                           Clifford A. Cutchins, IV
                                        Senior Vice President, General Counsel

Date:    August  8, 1997