Rio Bravo (1959)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Graham J

  
  One of the most entertaining and fun film experiences you'll ever have. Wayne, Martin & Brennan really shine in this one. Some of the best dialogue I've ever heard.

• Daniel P

  
  An entertaining classic. Sure, to an extent, it's a vehicle for Ricky Nelson - toward the end, we get some very anachronistic country music! - but overall, it's a simple film in which John Wayne does his usual thing (as the sherriff), Dean Martin shines as a drunk struggling… More
  An entertaining classic. Sure, to an extent, it's a vehicle for Ricky Nelson - toward the end, we get some very anachronistic country music! - but overall, it's a simple film in which John Wayne does his usual thing (as the sherriff), Dean Martin shines as a drunk struggling to get it together, and luminous Angie Dickinson and her legs-right-up-to-her-neck win the seen-it-all-sherriff's heart. I liked the way in which everyone in town was trapped, in a sense, and the tension that comes from having the barbarians - Burdette's gang - at the gate all the while. The title wasn't the best one, but there's so much in this movie, I don't know what you'd call it: laughs, love, action and drama combine to make an enjoyable film. It doesn't "hit hard," but it's definitely a hit.

• Melvin W

  
  John T. Chance: You want that gun, pick it up. I wish you would.  "You've seen nothing like 'em together... and in the heat and hate of Rio Bravo nothing can tear 'em apart!" Rio Bravo is a film that defines the Western genre, maybe more than any other does.… More
  John T. Chance: You want that gun, pick it up. I wish you would.  "You've seen nothing like 'em together... and in the heat and hate of Rio Bravo nothing can tear 'em apart!" Rio Bravo is a film that defines the Western genre, maybe more than any other does. It has everything that the makes the genre great. It has tough leader, with two under respected helpers against a lot of bad guys. Then comes the young gunslinger to help out the undermanned sheriff. The setting looks great as a backdrop to the violence that ensues. It may be a tad bit longwinded, but the actors and plot will keep your attention for the 140 minute runtime. At the beginning of the film, Chance arrests Joe Burdette for murder and locks him in the local jail. Joe's brother assembles a team to of hired hands to watch the town and make sure that the sheriff can't take Joe away from the town. Soon, a battle ensues between the authorities and Burdette. This plot has been used a million times since Rio Bravo, but never has it been done as well as it was here.  This isn't my favorite Western, nor is it my favorite John Wayne movie, but it is one of the best in both categories. If you're a fan of the genre, there isn't much you can find to complain about here. It's right up there with Stagecoach, Once Upon a Time in the West, and The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly, when talking about the best of the genre. What makes it so great is Howard Hawk's wonderful direction and a big name cast that includes John Wayne, Dean Martin, and Ricky Nelson. Rio Bravo is a must see for the casual and die hard film fan alike. There's a reason it has acquired its status as a genre masterpiece.  John T. Chance: Sorry don't get it done, Dude. That's the second time you hit me. Don't ever do it again. 

• Dan S

  
  A massively over-rated but still largely enjoyable Western yarn concerning a town under fire, and the sheriff (John Wayne) who must keep it from falling apart after he arrests the brother of a morally bankrupt man who will do anything to break him free. Many critics hail this to be a… More
  A massively over-rated but still largely enjoyable Western yarn concerning a town under fire, and the sheriff (John Wayne) who must keep it from falling apart after he arrests the brother of a morally bankrupt man who will do anything to break him free. Many critics hail this to be a classic and one of the best Westerns ever - it isn't. It's corny, sometimes badly acted, and there are predictable stereotypes and plot-lines everywhere. However, Wayne's likable performance coupled with Dean Martin's surprising turn as a drunk gunslinger makes this film worth watching, as well as occasionally funny and exciting, especially the closing sequence. Still though, how this is seen by many as one of the best movies ever is beyond me. It's just like "The Searchers", it bogs down from time to time and it goes on a little long, but when you have a master actor like Wayne at the helms, more than likely it will somehow, someway, still win you over at the end due to its irresistible charm despite its faults.

• Thomas B

  
  Fun, fast and very funny. Full review later.

• Chris W

  
  Considering how many people consider this to be one of the best and most influential westerns out there (and especially since it was the loose basis for one of my personal favorites, and many of the directors I love and am influenced by love it) I had some extremely high hopes for… More
  Considering how many people consider this to be one of the best and most influential westerns out there (and especially since it was the loose basis for one of my personal favorites, and many of the directors I love and am influenced by love it) I had some extremely high hopes for this one. Needless to say (at least for now) I'm a bit disappointed. First of all, flixster is wrong. The running time is not 1 hr. 25 min. Add 55 min. to it, and that's what it really is. I wasn't expecting the film to be that long, and have the very leisurely pace that it does. Also, given those two factors, I was shocked to learn that the plot is really straightforward and simple. It concerns a sheriff (John Wayne), two deputies, one a recovering drunk (Dean Martin), the other an old cripple coot (Walter Brennan), and a young aspiring gunslinger (Ricky Nelson) holed up in a western town holding a criminal wanted for murder hostage while that man's brother and his gang try to break him out. Some research tells me that during the later part of his career, Howard Hawks began feeling that all the stories had been told, so he started cutting down the plot to bare bones (which can be a bit off putting initially) and letting the films work as near plotless things with characters just hanging out and going for that type of filmmaking that would become really big with art house cinema. I think it is kinda cool now sicne I have let it set in, but initially, this kinda bugged me. I do like that type of things once in a while, but I guess I jsut wasn't in the mood for it when I watched this. Maybe I owe it a rewatch or something. I did like this film, but I don't really think it's a masterpiece, at least not yet. It's cool just hanging out with the characters, and i get why this is called a hang out movie, yet I felt kinda underwhelmed. Not really bored, but there could have been more character development, or more for the characters to do. There are moments of tension and suspense, but not as much as there could or should have been. Wayne is good, and doesn't totally just play the "John Wayne role". I also liked that he wears the same hat he's been weating ever since Stagecoach. Martin is surprisingly really good as the drunk turned straight, and Brennan is rather enjoyable (if a tad silly) as the comic relief. Angie Dickinson is also in this, and she's not bad (nice to look at), but they maybe could have given her a tad more to do. I do think this is a well made movie, but it could have been better. Maybe now that I know what to expect, when (if) I rewatch it I'll be able to sit back, relax, and see exactly why this is so highly regarded, beyond what I've already mentioned, and the fact that it has some good music and cinematography.

• Reid V

  
  Hawk's 2 & 1/2 hour celebration of heroism is actually an intimate and leisurely paced western. Partially a response to Zimmerman's indictment of cold war cowardice "High Noon", Hawks exhaustively explores redemption and bravado. Yet, what sets this film apart… More
  Hawk's 2 & 1/2 hour celebration of heroism is actually an intimate and leisurely paced western. Partially a response to Zimmerman's indictment of cold war cowardice "High Noon", Hawks exhaustively explores redemption and bravado. Yet, what sets this film apart from other testosterone charged westerns is that Hawks looks at the price of such courage. Martin's ongoing quest for redemption amid the battle with the brutes feels very authentic and adds a surprising amount of emotional depth to a genre that allows no time for tears. Also, Hawks adds a dose of realism to the film by having characters feel physically ill after a bout of violence. However, other than the touching character studies, I never really got a sense of what was at stake during this battle between good and evil. The so called villians aren't really explored and by the time we reach the climactic final shoot out, it becomes really hard to care about who wins. This is made worse by Hawks' idealism, which often suffocates the realism that could have really made this film incredible. The good seem to always be in the right and one gets the feeling that Wayne's life is never at stake. In the final battle, Wayne is able to pretty much stand out in the open and experiences no danger. He is also able to hammer out any one liner he wants to, regardless of the impending doom. Wayne's character is of the ilk that if a man is given a chance to do the right thing, he will. While I think this was probably a message that cold war audiences really needed to be fed, it detracts from the realism that Hawks explores elsewhere in the film. Sure Martin's character experiences hard times, but you know he will come surely come around. I suppose I set myself up for failure by watching a lot of Italian Westerns before this. After spending so much time with morally ambivalent characters, these characters seem a little too puffy at times to be taken too seriously. It is an entertaining watch and Hawks is a phenomenal storyteller, I just think tonally he wanted it all in this film and it makes it feel inconsistent.

• Tim S

  
  I can't come down hard on this particular western. I wanted to, because it is flawed, but I enjoyed it far too much. An excellent Howard Hawks picture.

• Conner R

  
  Every time I watch it, Rio Bravo gets better and better. Not only is it one of my favorite westerns, but one of my favorite movies. There?s so much to love and admire about it, I think it?s one of the most accessible movies. People of all ages and gender can appreciate this classic… More
  Every time I watch it, Rio Bravo gets better and better. Not only is it one of my favorite westerns, but one of my favorite movies. There?s so much to love and admire about it, I think it?s one of the most accessible movies. People of all ages and gender can appreciate this classic because it covers so much ground and truly depicts the lifestyle and attitude of the time period. John T. Chance, easily one of John Wayne?s most memorable roles. He?s as charming as he is quick with a shotgun. The cast doesn?t end there though, Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson are a wonderful supporting team that gives so much to the lovable nature of the film itself. Walter Brennan as Stumpy still makes me laugh, by far the greatest comedic relief to ever exist in a single movie. The story is pretty interesting in that it has about four central plots going on at the same time, but it works wonderfully and feels more natural than just having a simple jail defense for two and a half hours. Howard Hawks never fails to make a visually stunning screen, this is one of the most beautiful westerns that rivals John Ford. This is a movie that should be seen by all, it?s truly remarkable and in my opinion flawless.

• Cassandra M

  
  In terms of structure and character development, this is a fascinating movie. The first wordless sequences that introduce the story to the viewer are a textbook on how to establish time and place in an economical manner. The story takes place in a small town in Texas, and director… More
  In terms of structure and character development, this is a fascinating movie. The first wordless sequences that introduce the story to the viewer are a textbook on how to establish time and place in an economical manner. The story takes place in a small town in Texas, and director Hawks works hard to create his own universe. For the most part, the movie is filmed indoors, giving the story a strong sense of isolationism. This technique forces the viewer to concentrate on characters and situations. It is interesting that such a character-driven movie doesn't utilize close-ups, which made me think that Hawks was very interested in showing how characters interact with the environment. Even more interesting is the fact that our hero is not all that good. The main character played by John Wayne is a bit morally problematic because he is willing to operate outside the law. It reflects the sensibilities of Hawks and Wayne. They simply dare people not to agree with their point of view, and that makes the film fascinating to watch. Wayne is such a charismatic movie star that it is almost impossible not to agree with his most questionable choices. The script is excellent and the supporting cast is memorable (Walter Brennan steals many scenes as an old timer). I could go on and on about the film's great attributes, but I'm just going to say that I believe this movie is one of the great American films. If you love westerns or you just want to see a near perfect film I recommend you to watch this masterwork. It's a classic.

• danny d

  
  everything in me wants to rate this perfectly except the small voice holding me back until i get a second viewing. probably the second best western ive ever seen, and better for me than many of the western gold standards like high noon and the searchers. this is the most ive enjoyed… More
  everything in me wants to rate this perfectly except the small voice holding me back until i get a second viewing. probably the second best western ive ever seen, and better for me than many of the western gold standards like high noon and the searchers. this is the most ive enjoyed john wayne whom i normally dont care too much for, and every cast member was chosen perfectly for their role. the story was epic although typical, and the film had an epic feel because of the grand and detailed stoytelling. truly one of the great westerns of all time.

• Dean M

  
  One of my very favourite and all-the-time John Wayne western movies of the year.

• Adam M

  
  the end flags I think, but it's still a masterpiece

• xGary X

  
  This film was virtually remade as El Dorado, even to the point of recasting crotchety old cowpoke Walter Brennan in the same role. That was played more broadly and for laughs, but each version has merit. And Dean Martin (unsurprisingly!) plays a very believable drunk...

• Dillon L

  
  Howard Hawks later 'reinvented' this movie in 1967 as El Dorado, which is also good. The parallels between the two films is clearly evident, but I would say that they are equal to each other overall.

• Matthew R

  
  Along with True Grit, I finally got to see the classic Rio Bravo on TCM. So this was supposed to be the "real" spirit of the West opposed to Cooper's "High Noon". A fashion conscious sheriff who wears a red shirt on one day and a blue on the next, I wonder who… More
  Along with True Grit, I finally got to see the classic Rio Bravo on TCM. So this was supposed to be the "real" spirit of the West opposed to Cooper's "High Noon". A fashion conscious sheriff who wears a red shirt on one day and a blue on the next, I wonder who does his laundry? A drunkard and an old geezer as his wingmen, a "funny" stereotype Mexican couple who run a hotel, a dance hall girl who has a crush on the sheriff, and a saloon keeper. Not to mention lots and lots of firearms and ammo for everybody. In the beginning there are quite a few people on the streets, later the town seems to be deserted except for the mentioned individuals plus an unspecified amount of hired gunmen out to free an imprisoned murderer. Where did all the people of the little town go? They just disappear without any trace. My guess is that there was much more gun action than shown on screen and that many good citizens succumbed under the "friendly fire" of the forces of the law. John Wayne and his companions are nervous and extremely trigger happy, the sheriff's plan to hold out alone and wait for the Marshall to pass through the town does not seem to be dictated by common sense (there would have been alternatives) but by personal pride. There is no interaction whatsoever between him and the community he is supposed to serve. Frankly, the sheriff seems to be a pretty irresponsible guy with the mind of an adolescent - and responsibility was the main theme of High Noon, a film, it must be said, of a different league. The main protagonists have to deliver long, winding, unnatural monologues as to their motives and feelings, which makes the movie also slow at times. This surplus of talk unfortunately does not give it or its message more substance but harms it suspense-wise. As for the performances, John Wayne is always John Wayne. He doesn't really act (Stagecoach the exception) but his mere presence just finalizes the job. Ricky Nelson was also a complete misfit, simply in this film because of his heartthrob status he had back then. Amidst the general mediocrity, the brilliant performance of Dean Martin (I was surprised since I heard he was a terrible actor) as the alcoholic who wants to regain his standing among men stands out clearly. The same can be said for the use of music which is beautiful but somewhat irrelevant. In the end, I found Rio Bravo unconvincing and filled with inconsistencies with the filmmaking; the only bright spot was Martins role. Story: C Acting: B Direction: C- Visuals: C+ Overall: C ** out of 4 stars

• ashley h

  
  Not the best John Wayne movie I've ever seen, but definitely not one of my favorites. With Dean and Ricky in it I wondered how long it would take them to burst into song, only an hour and a half. Dean Martin actually wasn't bad, he looked like he had a promising movie career… More
  Not the best John Wayne movie I've ever seen, but definitely not one of my favorites. With Dean and Ricky in it I wondered how long it would take them to burst into song, only an hour and a half. Dean Martin actually wasn't bad, he looked like he had a promising movie career in this one. Ricky Nelson, however, no matter how cute or popular he was at the time, couldnt act his way out of a paper bag.

• Jared H

  
  I think this is my favorite western that I've seen in this Western Studies class so far this semester. Even though "The Searchers" is known as the greatest of all westerns, I think that this one is, simply put, a better movie. It's more fun, has less flaws and… More
  I think this is my favorite western that I've seen in this Western Studies class so far this semester. Even though "The Searchers" is known as the greatest of all westerns, I think that this one is, simply put, a better movie. It's more fun, has less flaws and awkward storytelling decisions, and it's just an all-around great movie, with an awesome cast. Wayne's Sheriff Chance, Dean Martin's Dude, and Ricky Nelson's "Colorado" are all super cool heroes. Angie Dickinson is also super hot in this movie, and the flirty banter between her and Wayne are some of my favorite scenes because they're so well-written and so fun. This is the kind of "cool western" that you think of when you think of... well... a really cool western. Bravo! (pun intended).

• Andre T

  
  Western directed by Howard Hawks.It stars John Wayne, Dean Martin, and Ricky Nelson, with the beautifun and exotic Angie Dickinson, Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez, Ward Bond, and Walter Brennan. The film was shot at Apacheland Movie Ranch, just outside Apache Junction, Arizona. Rio Bravo… More
  Western directed by Howard Hawks.It stars John Wayne, Dean Martin, and Ricky Nelson, with the beautifun and exotic Angie Dickinson, Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez, Ward Bond, and Walter Brennan. The film was shot at Apacheland Movie Ranch, just outside Apache Junction, Arizona. Rio Bravo is generally regarded as one of Hawks' best, and is notable for its scarcity of close-up shots. Only three appear in "Rio Bravo." In the opening scene where Joe shoots an unarmed man: Joe's revolver is shown in close-up, when he rolls a cigarette, and later when Dude pours the whiskey back into a bottle. It features a long opening scene with absolutely no dialogue. The musical score was composed by Dimitri Tiomkin. His score contains the haunting tune "El Degüello", which is played several times to build tension. A character (Colorado, played by Nelson) identifies the tune as "The Cutthroat Song". He relates the song's historical playing on the orders of Antonio López de Santa Anna to the Texans holed up in the Alamo to signify that no quarter would be given. The tune was used in the following year, over the opening credits of Wayne's film, The Alamo. Composer Ennio Morricone recalled director Sergio Leone requesting him to write "Dimitri Tiomkin music" for A Fistful of Dollars. The trumpet theme is similar to Tiomkin's "Deguella" while the Italian title of Rio Bravo was Un Dollaro D'onore. Because the film starred a crooner, Martin, and a teen idol, Nelson, Hawks included three songs in the soundtrack. Before the big showdown, in the jail house, Martin sings "My Rifle, My Pony, and Me" (which contained new lyrics to a Tiomkin tune that appeared in Red River) accompanied by Nelson, after which Nelson sings a brief version of "Get Along Home, Cindy", accompanied by Martin and Brennan. Over the closing credits, Martin, backed by the Nelson Riddle Orchestra, sings a specially composed song, "Rio Bravo." Nelson later paid homage to both the film and his character, Colorado, by including the song "Restless Kid" on his 1959 LP, Ricky Sings Again. A brief clip from Rio Bravo was among the archive footage later incorporated into the opening sequence of Wayne's last film, The Shootist, to illustrate the backstory of Wayne's character. Simply one of the best westwrns ever made.Dry and direct like a shot this movie makes we want to see more and more westerns.In my collection now.

• Chad R

  
  Come on kids - one of the best John Waynes ever - Sorry don't get it done, Dude. That's the second time you hit me. Don't ever do it again. You want that gun. Pick it up. I wish you would.

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