Rio Bravo Overview:

Rio Bravo (1959) was a Western - Romance Film directed by Howard Hawks and produced by Howard Hawks.

SYNOPSIS

Reportedly director Hawks and star Wayne were so put off by High Noon (1952) and the Cooper character's requests for help from the townspeople that they filmed this rough-and- tumble Western in rebuttal. It is, in any case, a terrific story, and features themes and characters that Hawks use again in El Dorado (1967) and Rio Lobo (1970). No-nonsense Texas bordertown sheriff Wayne arrests the bullying cattle baron (Akins) who dominates the town for murder, though he knows Akins's men will come after their boss. Wayne gets little help from Martin, his deputy, who's become a hopeless drunk, and Brennan, an old man who's little more than a mascot. When wagon-train boss Bond shows up with a gunslinging Nelson in tow, Wayne first resists Nelson's help. But when Akins's men shoot Bond, Nelson joins the fray. Martin straightens up, Nelson proves his mettle, and the Duke and Brennan flush out the bad guys with an explosive climactic gunfight. Wayne even gets the girl, saloon singer Dickinson.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

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Rio Bravo was inducted into the National Film Registry in 2014.

BlogHub Articles:

Western RoundUp: Rio Bravo (1959)

By Laura Grieve on Feb 26, 2021 From Classic Movie Hub Blog

Western RoundUp: Rio Bravo (1959) This month I’m taking a look at?Rio Bravo?(1959), which is not only one of my favorite Westerns, it’s one of my all-time favorite movies. My history with this film goes back to May of 1977 when I was in my early teens and saw the film for the v... Read full article


Sight and Sound Top 250 – #067 Rio Bravo (1959)

By Michael on May 18, 2018 From Durnmoose Movie Musings

As we continue our trip through the Sight and Sound Top 250 Movies of All Time list, we come to #67, Howard Hawk’s Rio Bravo. And as always I’ll note that for those just joining us, you can find a full introduction to what the Sight and Sound Top 250 list is, and a look at the complete l... Read full article


Review: Rio Bravo (1959)

By 4 Star Film Fan on May 1, 2017 From 4 Star Films

During the 1930s and 40s, Howard Hawks was an unstoppable force of nature churning out a string of classics year after year: Only Angels Have Wings, His Girl Friday, Sergeant York, Balls of Fire, To Have and Have Not, The Big Sleep, and Red River. All these titles stand as a collective testament to ... Read full article


Review: Rio Bravo (1959)

By 4 Star Film Fan on May 1, 2017 From 4 Star Films

During the 1930s and 40s, Howard Hawks was an unstoppable force of nature churning out a string of classics year after year: Only Angels Have Wings, His Girl Friday, Sergeant York, Balls of Fire, To Have and Have Not, The Big Sleep, and Red River. All these titles stand as a collective testament to ... Read full article


Rio Bravo (1959)

By Beatrice on Nov 10, 2016 From Flickers in Time

Rio Bravo Directed by Howard Hawks Written by Jules Furthman and Leigh Brackett from a short story B.H. McCampbell 1959/USA Warner Bros./Armada Productions Repeat viewing/Netflix rental #365 of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die John T. Chance: That’s WHAT I got. Howard Hawks liked thi... Read full article


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Quotes from

Pat Wheeler: If I ever saw a man holdin' a bull by the tail, you're it.


Stumpy: You think I'll ever get to be a sheriff?
Dude: Not unless you mind your own business.
[Stumpy cackles]


Pat Wheeler: I told him you were one of the best.
Colorado Ryan: Well, I'll tell you what I'm a lot better at, Mr. Wheeler... that's minding my own business.


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Facts about

On May 8th, just one week into shooting 'Rio Bravo', Ricky Nelson celebrated his 18th birthday. As a gift, John Wayne and Dean Martin gave him a 300 lb. sack of steer manure, which they then threw Nelson into as a rite of passage.
Dude's nickname Borrachón is Spanish for "drunkard". In the Spanish dubbed version, the nickname was changed to Merluzón, meaning "big hake," so that Dude can explain the meaning of the nickname.
The song "My Rifle, My Pony and Me" was originally used as the theme for Red River, another John Wayne western. The original title was "Settle Down".
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National Film Registry

Rio Bravo

Released 1959
Inducted 2014
(Sound)




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Also directed by Howard Hawks




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Also produced by Howard Hawks




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Also released in 1959




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