Rio Grande (1950)

75% of critics liked it
(12 reviews)
74% of users liked it
(8,395 ratings)

John Wayne stars as Lt. Col. Kirby Yorke, whose devotion to duty has cost him his marriage to his beloved Kathleen (Maureen O'Hara). Yorke gets word that his son, Jeff (Claude Jarman Jr.) -- whom he hasn't seen in 15 years -- has been dropped as a cadet from West Point, and that he lied about his… More John Wayne stars as Lt. Col. Kirby Yorke, whose devotion to duty has cost him his marriage to his beloved Kathleen (Maureen O'Hara). Yorke gets word that his son, Jeff (Claude Jarman Jr.) -- whom he hasn't seen in 15 years -- has been dropped as a cadet from West Point, and that he lied about his age to enlist in the cavalry, in an effort to redeem himself. By chance, the boy is then assigned to his father's post. Once more, as a function of his duty as a cavalry officer, Yorke must sacrifice his love of family -- he cannot show any preferential treatment to the boy, or exhibit any sign of love and affection. But Jeff is too strong to be injured by his father's actions, and already enough of a man that he is befriended by two older recruits, troopers Tyree (Ben Johnson) and Boone (Harry Carey Jr.), who watch out for him while taking him in as a virtual equal. Yorke's resolve is further tested when his estranged wife, Kathleen, arrives at the post, the better to look after her son -- and possibly to buy back the boy's enlistment, which Yorke, as commanding officer in a remote post with a critical shortage of men, can't and won't permit. After an attack by the Apaches, Yorke orders the post's women and children to be moved to safety, and Jeff is assigned as part of the troop conducting the caravan, despite his wish to participate in the planned action against the Apaches. The caravan is attacked, and the wagon with the children is taken by the Apaches to their encampment in a deserted village across the Rio Grande in Mexico. Yorke has been given permission by General Sheridan (J. Carrol Naish) to take his men into Mexico in pursuit of the Apaches, but the punitive expedition is now a rescue mission, as the Indians' night-time vengeance dance is the prelude to certain slaughter of the children at daybreak. As part of the mission, it's up to Tyree, the slyest man in the troop, to infiltrate the enemy camp, and he chooses Jeff and Boone as the two men he wants with him on this dangerous mission. ~ Bruce Eder, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By: John Ford
Written By: James Kevin McGuinness
Genres: Western, Action & Adventure, Classics

In Theaters: Nov 15, 1950 Wide
On DVD: May 22, 2001
Studio: Artisan Entertainment

Critic Reviews

Jeffrey M. Anderson, Combustible Celluloid
I like it better than the problematic Fort Apache; it's far simpler and more effective.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
In this Ford's Western, part of a trilogy that also includes She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, Wayne gets to play the tough biological and sociological father of his recruits, which include his son.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
A minor but enjoyable John Ford and John Wayne collaboration.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
a cookie-cutter, spit-'em-out, assembly-line product

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

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Featured Audience Ratings

Graham J

Though the least impressive of Ford's three "Cavalry" films, this still is a great film.
Conner R

The true sequel to Fort Apache in that you get to see what happens to Yorke and the remaining troops. This is a lot more of a relationship based movie than the other two, maybe that's what makes it so powerful. John Wayne's performance is even stronger this time around and… More
The true sequel to Fort Apache in that you get to see what happens to Yorke and the remaining troops. This is a lot more of a relationship based movie than the other two, maybe that's what makes it so powerful. John Wayne's performance is even stronger this time around and he plays such a timeless character. The father/son storyline is such a classic representation, but so well done that it doesn't feel stale. John Ford truly is the greatest pioneer in film-making and took all the risks and leaps that no one else dared to do.
Randy T

Director John Ford agreed to make this one in a deal with Republic Pictures to secure financing for his pet project, The Quiet Man. Never one to do things half-ass, Ford secured a rather large budget and a top notch supporting cast for his two stars, John Wayne and… More
Director John Ford agreed to make this one in a deal with Republic Pictures to secure financing for his pet project, The Quiet Man. Never one to do things half-ass, Ford secured a rather large budget and a top notch supporting cast for his two stars, John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. Rio Grande isn't Ford's most popular or most acclaimed film, but it's hard to deny it's prototypical old-west charm.
Cassandra M

As many people know, Rio Grande is the third installation of John Ford's sweeping "Cavalry trilogy*," his paean and dirge for the forging of the West after the Cival War. In each, there is Indian fighting, romance and Monument Valley. Younger officers look forward to… More
As many people know, Rio Grande is the third installation of John Ford's sweeping "Cavalry trilogy*," his paean and dirge for the forging of the West after the Cival War. In each, there is Indian fighting, romance and Monument Valley. Younger officers look forward to winning glory in the Indian Wars while the older, veteran officers who served in the Civil War are tired of fighting and would rather keep the peace instead. And the enlisted men coming from all walks of life, some running from something, others trying to find something, but all taking war and peace as they come. They want to stay alive, but aren't too worried about dying. Unlike the first two cavalry films, Rio Grande focuses more on the love between an Army officer and his wife, and the pain his life causes her. This pain is made even worse by the fact that their son has chosen to follow his father's way of life, and winds up serving in his father's command. When, as is inevitable, Indians flee their reservation, the family becomes embroiled in war against the Apaches (whom, everyone knows, were the toughest, most ruthless and evil Indian fighters of them all := ). This is where Ford starts to swerve away from ordinary westerns. While his Indians are fierce and tough, Ford tries to show in all the Cavalry films that they are also honourable and fighting for home and family, not because they are evil. And while Wayne's character must pursue his Indians until they're either captured or dead, he is not without both sympathy and respect, and with the knowledge that it is the white man's treatment of them that is at the heart of the war. It's more than certain that John Ford has become my favorite director. His ability to make stories with depth, compassion and remarkable truth has caused his films to last. I hope that you will see all of the Cavalry Trilogy, and then seek out all of his other films. *The other films in the trilogy are Fort Apache (1948) and She Wore A Yellow Ribbon (1949).
danny d

although this film had a horribly slow start, it had a terrific ending. this wasnt even a film john ford wanted to make. it was a contractual obligation so that he could make the quiet man. despite this fact the film has become an absolute classic. not quite as good in my mind as… More
although this film had a horribly slow start, it had a terrific ending. this wasnt even a film john ford wanted to make. it was a contractual obligation so that he could make the quiet man. despite this fact the film has become an absolute classic. not quite as good in my mind as its reputation suggests, but a must watch for serious film fans.
Dean M

Great epic battle with the Apaches in this John Ford classic and John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara are wonderful in their performance as the couple. Believe this is the last entry in director John Ford's celebrated cavalry trilogy (which also includes Fort… More
Great epic battle with the Apaches in this John Ford classic and John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara are wonderful in their performance as the couple. Believe this is the last entry in director John Ford's celebrated cavalry trilogy (which also includes Fort Apache and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon).
Ken S

Wayne's first appearance with Maureen O'Hara
xGary X

Final film in John Ford's classic cavalry trilogy. Typically solid, intelligent and entertaining.
Jonny C

The final installment of John Ford's cavalry trilogy, is as intelligent and entertaining as its predecessors. The duke reprises his role as Lt. Col. Kirby Yorke, the role he first played in Fort Apache, and is rejoined by Ben Johnson who reprises his role his role as Sgt. Tyree… More
The final installment of John Ford's cavalry trilogy, is as intelligent and entertaining as its predecessors. The duke reprises his role as Lt. Col. Kirby Yorke, the role he first played in Fort Apache, and is rejoined by Ben Johnson who reprises his role his role as Sgt. Tyree from She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (confusing I know). Along with other familiar actors from the trilogy, screen goddess Maureen O'Hara provides the eye candy on this occasion, in her first of 5 appearances alongside The Duke. Rio Grande may not be as memorable as the first 2, but it's got all the right ingrediants that make a great western.
MJS M

I've been trying to watch a lot of John Ford movies lately, he's an awesome director despite some political stupidity. This film is the third in the so called Cavalry trilogy, and I think clearly the worst of the three. This isn't the worst insult, in reality this… More
I've been trying to watch a lot of John Ford movies lately, he's an awesome director despite some political stupidity. This film is the third in the so called Cavalry trilogy, and I think clearly the worst of the three. This isn't the worst insult, in reality this isn't that bad, just very mediocre. The film takes way to long to get going, there's a lot of set up and it waste a lot of times with gratuitous singing by the soldiers. This isn't a musical but there are a lot of unnecessary scenes with the cavalry members singing as jolly unifying act. By the time the actual story finally kicked in the movie had already lost me. Minor Ford to be sure.

Read all 10 featured audience ratings

Cast

            John Wayne as Lt. Col. Kirby Yorke

            Maureen O'Hara as Mrs. Kathleen Yorke

            Ben Johnson as Trooper Tyree

            Claude Jarman Jr. as Trooper Jeff Yorke

            Harry Carey Jr. as Trooper Daniel "Sandy" Boone

            Chill Wills as Dr. Wilkins

            Victor McLaglen as Sgt. Maj. Quincannon

            J. Carrol Naish as Gen. Philip Sheridan

            Grant Withers as Deputy Marshal

            Peter Ortiz as Capt. St. Jacques

            Gaylord "Steve" Pendleton as Capt. Prescott

            Karolyn Grimes as Margaret Mary

            Alberto Morin as Lieutenant

            Stan Jones as Sergeant

            Fred Kennedy as Heinze

            Sunset Carson
            
            Ken Curtis as Regimental singer

            Shug Fisher as Regimental singer

            Adam Henry Garcia
            
            Cliff Lyons as Soldier

            Lee Morgan
            
            Chuck Roberson as Officer

            Patrick Wayne as Boy

            Jack Pennick as Sergeant

            Carl Farr
            
            Hugh Farr
            
            Bobby Clark
            
See full cast

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