Rio Grande Overview:

Rio Grande (1950) was a Romance - Western Film directed by John Ford and produced by John Ford and Merian C. Cooper.

SYNOPSIS

The third entry in Ford's "Cavalry Trilogy" finds Wayne the commander of a Western fort. When his son (Jarman) gets assigned to his command, Wayne's estranged wife (O'Hara) follows. After 15 years' separation, caused by Wayne's refusal to disobey orders that he burn down O'Hara's family's plantation, Wayne courts his wife again as he tries to instill his feeling for the military in his son. After a wagon train leading women and children to safety is attacked by Indians, Jarman proves his courage and ability to his father. A stirring portrait by Ford of the men who made the southwest safe, and the sense of duty that kept them at their hard, hazardous profession. This was Wayne and O'Hara's first pairing and they were clearly meant for each other, making five films together. The 45th anniversary video edition includes a special program, "The Making of Rio Grande," hosted by Leonard Maltin.

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

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BlogHub Articles:

On Olive Films Signature Blu-ray: Ford, Wayne, and O'Hara United for the First Time on Rio Grande (1950)

By KC on Dec 16, 2020 From Classic Movies

Rio Grande (1950) marks an interesting point in the careers of both director John Ford and star John Wayne. It was a time when the men were maturing into their later careers, where they would both try variations on their well-established images. It’s the last film of Ford’s loosely arran... Read full article


Review: Rio Grande (1950)

By 4 Star Film Fan on May 10, 2019 From 4 Star Films

Rio Grande is the final chapter in John Ford’s Cavalry Trilogy. It is less of a continuous narrative, held together instead through the maintaining of a similar spirit as well as analogous thematic elements and characters. Much of this must be attributed to Ford and Merian C. Cooper who produc... Read full article


A KISS IS JUST A KISS blogathon: Rio Grande (1950)

By Caftan Woman on Feb 13, 2016 From Caftan Woman

Lesley Gaspar of Second Sight Cinema is hosting a Valentine's Day treat for us all, the A Kiss is Just a Kiss blogathon devoted to our favourite film kisses. Click HERE for the contributions. John Ford's Rio Grande, released by Republic Pictures in 1950 was the first onscreen teaming of Maureen O... Read full article


Rio Grande (1950) ? with Maureen O?Hara and John Wayne

By Greg Orypeck on Dec 31, 2015 From Classic Film Freak

Share This! ?I?m very lucky.? I really had some wonderful movies.??? ??Maureen O?Hara Just which one movie to select to represent the career of Maureen O?Hara, who died October 24, 2015, age 95, is a conundrum?not that a single film is necessarily the ideal procedure; better, maybe, a sampling of so... Read full article


Rio Grande (1950, John Ford)

By Andrew Wickliffe on Aug 17, 2015 From The Stop Button

Rio Grande doesn’t have much going for it. The best performance is probably Ben Johnson, who isn’t even very good, he’s just not as bad as everyone else. Harry Carey Jr. and Victor McLaglen aren’t good, but they’re likable. Carey’s performance is just weak, while ... Read full article


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Quotes from

Sgt. Maj. Timothy Quincannon: Did any of youse ever ride a horse?
Trooper Travis Tyree: Yeah, some.


[Lt. Col. York lectures new recruits]
Lt. Col. Kirby York: I don't want you men to be fooled about what's coming up for you. Torture, at least that. The War Department promised me 180 men. They sent me eighteen. You are the eighteen... so each of you will have to do the work of ten men. If you fail, I'll have you spread-eagled on a wagon wheel. If you desert, you'll be found, tracked down and broken into bits. That is all.


Sgt. Maj. Timothy Quincannon: [breaking up soldier's fight] Break it up! Who started this?
Trooper Travis Tyree: [indicating Heinze] This fella talked derogatory about the boy's pappy.
Trooper Daniel 'Sandy' Boone: Yeah, he called him the teacher's pet of a chuckle-headed Mick sergeant. What's that mean, doc?
Sgt. Maj. Timothy Quincannon: [to Heinze] Oh, you said that, did ya?
Trooper Heinze: Yes, I did.
Sgt. Maj. Timothy Quincannon: And did ya mean it?
Trooper Heinze: Yes I did.
Sgt. Maj. Timothy Quincannon: [exasperated] A chuckle... what was that?
Trooper Daniel 'Sandy' Boone: Chuckle-headed Mick sergeant.
Sgt. Maj. Timothy Quincannon: And you meant it?
Trooper Heinze: Yes I did.


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Facts about

Ben Johnson (Tyree) and Victor McLaglen (Quincannon) had the same character names in both this film and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon. The oddity is in "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon"--released before this one-- they were older soldiers with higher ranks than in this film.
John Wayne wore a smaller hairpiece than usual to make his character look slightly older.
John Wayne's first film with Maureen O'Hara. They starred together five times and would become known as one of Hollywood's greatest on-screen couples.
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