Rio Grande (1950)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

John Ford

Writers:

James Kevin McGuinness (screenplay)
James Warner Bellah (Saturday Evening Post story)

Release Date:

15 November 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Romance | Western

Tagline:

THE BREATHTAKING SAGA OF THE UNITED STATES CAVALRY! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

Rio Grande takes place after the Civil War when the Union turned their attention towards the Apaches...

Plot Keywords:

Sequel | Cult Western | Beautiful Woman | Reveille | Cavalry

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

John Wayne	...	Lt. Col. Kirby Yorke
Maureen O'Hara	...	Mrs. Kathleen Yorke
Ben Johnson	...	Trooper Travis Tyree
Claude Jarman Jr.	...	Trooper Jefferson 'Jeff' Yorke
Harry Carey Jr.	...	Trooper Daniel 'Sandy' Boone
Chill Wills	...	Dr. Wilkins (regimental surgeon)
J. Carrol Naish	...	Lt. Gen. Philip Sheridan
Victor McLaglen	...	Sgt. Maj. Timothy Quincannon
Grant Withers	...	U.S. Deputy Marshal
Sons of the Pioneers	...	Regimental Musicians
Peter Ortiz	...	Capt. St. Jacques
Steve Pendleton	...	Capt. Prescott
Karolyn Grimes	...	Margaret Mary
Alberto Morin	...	Lieutenant
Stan Jones	...	Sergeant

Also Known As:

John Ford and Merian C. Cooper's Rio Grande (UK) (complete title) (USA) (complete title)
Rio Bravo (USA) (working title)
Rio Bravo, Rio Grande Command (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:Approved (PCA #14822) | New Zealand:G | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Australia:G | Finland:K-12 | Norway:16 (1959) | Sweden:15 | UK:U | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Colorado River, Moab, Utah, USA

Company:

Argosy Pictures

Trivia:

John Wayne wore a smaller hairpiece than usual to make his character look slightly older.

Goofs:

Revealing mistakes: The Indian who shoots the colonel uses a bow and arrow, but the arrow has a blunt tip.

Quotes:

Gen. Philip Sheridan: I'm going to issue you an order and give it to you personally. I want you to cross the Rio Grande, hit the Apache and burn him out. I'm tired of hit-and-run. I'm sick of diplomatic hide-and-seek.

Movie Connections:

Featured in The Making of 'The Quiet Man' (1992) (V)

Soundtrack:

Yellow Stripes

Grande indeed

This is an excellent film. Not usually a western fan, I am now a true-believer -- fan of the genre, of Wayne and O'Hara, and even, reluctantly, John Ford. Rio Grande captures the spirit of heroism that colors most of John Ford's best work. Strong personalities pursuing their values with a philosophical issue dividing them: it has an excellent, concise plot, well-developed characters, and boasts fantastic acting. Ford even shies away from allowing the scenery to star in the picture, which is a welcomed departure. With monuments like Wayne and O'Hara one does not need Monument Valley (this writer humbly submits.)

There is a profoundly moving scene in which Kirby and Kathleen York's entire relationship is summed up in the mere singing of a song (by the unforgettable voice of Ken Curtis) and O'Hara and Wayne's excellent acting -- hardly any dialogue, no flashbacks. It has to be cinematic moment for the history books... it is at least in mine.

By the way, avoid the colorized version if possible. Among other distractions, it makes John Wayne's hair look like instant brownie mix.