RIO BRAVO [1959] review

June 11, 2006 · Print This Article

I have been saving RIO BRAVO for a rainy Sunday when I don’t go play ultimate for a long, long time. So when I woke up this morning too hard rain, I knew I finally had the conditions I wanted for watching it. I remember watching westerns as a kid on Sunday mornings. (I also remember watching Tarzan movies) I wanted to have that feeling again. I was inspired to start watching westerns again because of the movie podcast Cinecast (now FilmSpotting). I was looking forward to seeing the Duke, and most of all perhaps to hearing Dean Martin sing, “my rifle, my pony, and me . . .”

…I want to see these same characters in another movie. RIO BRAVO is so strongly about it’s characters since the plot is quite simple, keep safe in jail the murderous brother of a rich rancher until U.S. marshals can show up to take him away. … Sheriff Chance (played by the Duke of course) guides all the characters with his firm, but wise hand.

These also include Stumpy, faithfully guarding the brother in the jailhouse; Carlos and his wife as the hotel owners, also loyal to the Sheriff; Feathers, a sassy young girl who falls for the Sheriff (which was semi-strange watching since John Wayne was then 52 and Angie Dickinson was only 28 and hardly looked that old; and Colorado, a smooth, quick young man with a gun.

The aforementioned song took place toward the end of the movie, and it was a great reprise before the final scenes. It showed how people had to pass the time back in the day before any of the electronic distractions we had now. And the value of a good singing voice to soothe the harsh surroundings. “My Rifle, My Pony & Me” has a perfect tinge of the sadness, loneliness, and hope of the great American West.

Rio Bravo, watch it on a rainy Sunday morning. The Cinecast boys mentioned it was Quentin Tarantino’s favorite film. It’s not my favorite, but it could be my favorite western.

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