Red River
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Movie Reviews of Red River
Movie Review: AN AMERICAN MASTERPIECE
Summary: 5 Stars
Although there are definitely weaknesses in the screenplay and score for RED RIVER, there is also no question that this film is an American masterpiece.Howard Hawks who directed one of the best comedies Hollywood ever produced, BRINGING UP BABY, took on an almost impossible task: making an adult Western, basically a cattle drive- inspired remake of MUTINY ON THE BOUNTY, with over 9,000 head of cattle and the men who, for various reasons, go on the drive from Texas to Kansas. John Wayne is the boss, Dunson the cattle baron, who becomes obsessed with his mission--getting his cattle sold and onto the railroad. If there is a "villain" in the movie, Dunson is it and Wayne plays him wonderfully. The drive, itself, takes over three months and it is grueling: psychological, as well as physical, problems beset the men. Wayne's "adopted" son, Matthew, is second in command and it is the relationship between these two men that makes up the heart of the movie and makes the movie as deep and moving as it is.
Director Hawks had seen a young actor in a Broadway play and brought him to Hollywood to make his screen debut as "Matthew." In this crutial role, Hawks had discovered one of the most under-rated, talented, complicated, handsome actors Hollywood ever saw: Montgomery Clift. If Clift had done no film work besides Fred Zinneman's FROM HERE TO ETERNITY and Hawks' RED RIVER, he'd deserve a place in cinema history.
Quibbles? The score by Dmitri Tiomkin could certainly stand to be a bit more subtle; both the creation by the writers and the playing by Joanne Dru of the major female role is completely one dimensional; the last few moments of the movie are as silly as the rest of the two hours+ are fascinating. So, an altogether thrilling movie, even with a few faults.
If for no other reason, all true movie lovers must see the way the stampede is filmed. The D.V.D. version has no "extras" to speak of, but the print looks beautiful. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Movie Review: Classic western that still delivers!
Summary: 5 Stars
The greatest cattle drive ever filmed! Director Howard Hawks (Rio Bravo, El Dorado) cements his lifelong association with star John Wayne in this gripping Western adventure with more than a slight hint of Mutiny on the Bounty. Wayne stars as a grizzled rancher out to save his business in the early days of Texas. To do so he has to embark on an epic drive to get his cattle to market. Together with his adopted son Marty (Montgomery Clift), he enlists a team of cattle drivers to aid him in a final, desperate drive West. As time and nature bear down, his obsession begins to drive his men to breaking point - with Marty increasingly in the middle of the growing conflict that ensues between the crusty leader and his disgruntled men. With mutiny in the air, it is finally up to father and son to face each other with some hard truths - and force a confrontation that will test the bonds of family and loyalty. Both Wayne and Clift are on top form, their contrasting personas and acting styles very much at the heart of the electricity between them whenever they share a scene. Clift's thoughtful coolness has impressively survived the passage of time and he accordingly makes for a sympathetic protagonist - struggling to strike out from beyond the giant shadow of a larger-than-life adoptive father whose original kindness begins to pale in the face of the increasing of his obsessive drive to market. Affectionately referenced in the comedy City Slickers, Red River remains a worthy epitome of the old school traditional Western, unencumbered by the darkness, cynicism and irony that would begin to influence the genre in the 50's and 60's through the works of Fred Zinneman, Anthony Mann, Sergio Leone, Arthur Penn and, most interestingly, old school cowboy auteur John Ford as well (The Searchers; Cheyenne Autumn).Movie Review: A classic western from John Wayne and Howard Hawkes
Summary: 5 Stars
Red River is a great western with an all-star cast headed by John Wayne and Montgomery Clift in his film debut. In 1851, Tom Dunson rides into south Texas with plans of starting a cattle ranch. Fourteen years later in 1865 after the Civil War, Dunson has his cattle ranch, but he is broke since no one is willing to buy his cattle. Dunson decides to drive 9,000 head of cattle to Missouri at all costs. On the trail, he becomes a tyrant, obsessed only with getting the cattle to market. His tyranical behavior begins to wear on his men causing his right hand man, Matt Garth, to take over the herd. This is an excellent western from director/producer Howard Hawkes. They just do not make them like this anymore. Huge cast, great musical score from Dimitri Tiomkin, exciting action, and well-developed characters makes Red River one of my favorite John Wayne westerns.
Similar to his performance in John Ford's The Searchers, John Wayne plays a character against type as Tom Dunson, the dedicated yet cruel cattle baron who will get his herd to market at all costs. Montgomery Clift matches Wayne step for step as Matt Garth, Dunson's adopted son and right hand man on the drive. Joanne Dru plays the obligatory love interest, Tess Millay, who Matt falls in love with on the trail. The always great Walter Brennan plays Groot Nadine, Dunson's close friend. The impressive list of supporting actors include John Ireland, Noah Berry JR, Harry Carey JR, Paul Fix, Hank Worden, Chief Yowlachie, and Ray Hyke. Red River also stars Harry Carey Sr., Coleen Gray, Mickey Kuhn, and Wally Wales. The DVD is in standard presentation with production notes, but no other extras are included. For a classic western with a great cast headed by John Wayne and Montgomery Clift, check out Red River!
Movie Review: 131 minutes of greatness 90 seconds of dumb
Summary: 5 Stars
I remember watching Fatal attraction. It was one of the most fascinating stories of obsession I had ever seen. At the end Glenn Close was dead. Her eyes glazed over white and a fitting end had come to a near perfect character. Suddenly she popped out the tub screaming and flailing away with a butcher knife in the fashion of a B-movie horror flick! It was fun but it significantly cheapened everything that was set up before it. I am comparing apples to pineapples but Red River is a little like that. John Wayne's character Tom Dunson is one most memorable movie characters of all time. He is focused, driven and hell bent to deliver his cattle to Missouri. In a masterful point in the film Dunson is separated from the drive and off screen for an extended period. Still his prescence is threatening & pervasive. A dozen men from his own drive fear his return. The tension build and builds. Finally the moment arrives and the inevitable fight ensues. Then suddenly something happens so out of left field you will have to witness it for yourself. Several endings were shot but like Fatal Attraction, Red River plugs in an ending that doesn't really fit but hopes to appeal to the masses. Fortunately this happens as the last 90 seconds of what is one of the most intense and exciting westerns ever filmed. I don't mean to focus on this one sour note because Red River should not be missed. This ending is such a blunder it almost spoiled the movie for me and its just a forewarning to cushion the shock to the unaware. Read some of the other reviews here to get a feel for the greatness of this film. You will find very few films that break the four and a half star average rating barrier on Amazon. Stick it in the DVD player and look forward to a great evening.Movie Review: My favorite John Wayne film
Summary: 5 Stars
This is my all-time favorite John Wayne film -- and one of the best westerns and films of all time. It's a simple tale of a cattle drive, a cruel, driven man (John Wayne), and his sensitive adopted son (Montgomery Clift). Clift is maybe the only actor I've seen -- except for James Stewart -- who can command by his performance equality in a scene with Wayne. I thought he was superb. The supporting cast is similarly good: Walter Brennan as comic relief and moral arbiter sets the standard for the type. The ending, however, would have been better had a female character, Joanne Dru, never have been introduced. This is a story about men; let them work out their problems in their own way.
Wayne, in a reversal of usual Hollywood practice, plays a man older than himself in this movie. He was about 40 when "Red River" was released, but his character in the movie is probably closer to fifty. This is probably the first time he played a tough old man, but he went on to play about the same role dozens of times.
The virtues of the movie, in addition to the cast of Wayne/Clift/Brennan, is the black and white photography. A scene which terrified me when I saw this movie as a small child is when Wayne takes on the Comanches at night in the river near the beginning of the movie; Then, there is the justly-famous scene when Wayne strides angrily toward a showdown with Clift and the cattle herd parts for him like the Red Sea did for Moses. And the "hee-haw" scene....and...and.... This is a memorable film.
Smallchief