Red River (1948) | |
| Director(s) | Howard Hawks, Arthur Rosson |
| Producer(s) | Howard Hawks, Charles K. Feldman (executive uncredited) |
| Top Genres | Action, Adventure, Romance, Western |
| Top Topics | Book-Based, LBGT, Ranchers |
Featured Cast:
Red River Overview:
Red River (1948) was a Western - Action Film directed by Howard Hawks and Arthur Rosson and produced by Howard Hawks and Charles K. Feldman.
The film was based on the serial novel The Chisholm Trail written by Borden Chase published in The Saturday Evening Post from Dec 7, 1946 - Jan 11, 1947.
SYNOPSIS
With Hawks's first Western he showed his mastery of the genre, producing an enduring classic that features one of Wayne's finest performances. Wayne splits from an ill-fated wagon train heading west, and steers toward Texas with his friend Brennan and a young Indian-attack survivor who grows up to be Clift. Wayne establishes the biggest spread in Texas, and runs it with the ruthlessness he showed in seizing the land. When he drives thousands of cattle north to Missouri, Wayne ignores the advice of his hands about the new Chisholm Trail, and runs the drive with an iron fist that leads to killings and mutiny. Clift finally establishes his own claim to the ranch's heritage by defying Wayne and heading to Kansas despite Wayne's threat to kill him. After a climactic brawl, Wayne acknowledges Clift's claim and the men are reconciled. A big, muscular drama with Clift's quiet steel making a nice contrast to Wayne's grit, and Brennan's comic turn adding a lighter note. The director's restored version contains eight minutes of previously excised footage.
(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).
.Red River was inducted into the National Film Registry in 1990.
Academy Awards 1948 --- Ceremony Number 21 (source: AMPAS)
| Award | Recipient | Result |
| Best Film Editing | Christian Nyby | Nominated |
| Best Writing | Borden Chase | Nominated |
BlogHub Articles:
John Wayne and Montgomery Clift clash in Howard Hawks's "Red River"
By Stephen Reginald on Apr 24, 2023 From Classic Movie ManJohn Wayne and Montgomery Clift clash in Howard Hawks's "Red River" Red River (1948) is an American western film directed by Howard Hawks and starring John Wayne, Montgomery Clift, Walter Brennan, and Joanne Dru. The movie is based on The Chisholm Trail, first published in The Saturday Evening ... Read full article
PRIDE MONTH: John Ireland and Montgomery Clift in Red River (1948)
By Carol Martinheira on Jun 10, 2021 From The Old Hollywood GardenPRIDE MONTH: John Ireland and Montgomery Clift in Red River (1948) On June 10, 2021 By CarolIn Uncategorized June is Pride Month and, like always, celebrations abound here at the Garden. And while I’ve already talked about some of the big ones, like Morocco (... Read full article
Review: Red River (1948)
By 4 Star Film Fan on Jul 4, 2016 From 4 Star FilmsAny conversation on quintessential American Westerns certainly has to at least consider Red River. It has genre mainstay John Wayne in one of his most stirring performances, a moody precursor to The Searchers. It boasts the debut of the often criminally under-appreciated method actor Monty Clift. Mo... Read full article
Review: Red River (1948)
By 4 Star Film Fan on Jul 4, 2016 From 4 Star FilmsAny conversation on quintessential American Westerns certainly has to at least consider Red River. It has genre mainstay John Wayne in one of his most stirring performances, a moody precursor to The Searchers. It boasts the debut of the often criminally under-appreciated method actor Monty Clift. Mo... Read full article
Red River
By Amanda Garrett on Nov 17, 2015 From Old Hollywood FilmsToday, I'm looking at director Howard Hawks' classic Western Red River (1948) starring John Wayne (left) and Montgomery Clift. This article is part of the Criterion Blogathon hosted by Criterion Blues, Speakeasy, and Silver Screenings. Here's a gentle reminder that this review contains spoile... Read full article
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Quotes from
Matt Garth: You mean he just doesn't know who to fight.
Nadine Groot: Yeah.
Matt Garth: Well that's all right.
Nadine Groot: Never liked seeing strangers. Maybe it's because no stranger ever good newsed me.
Thomas Dunson: Give me ten years, and I'll have that brand on the gates of the greatest ranch in Texas. The big house will be down by the river, and the corrals and the barns behind it. It'll be a good place to live in. Ten years and I'll have the Red River D on more cattle than you've looked at anywhere. I'll have that brand on enough beef to feed the whole country. Good beef for hungry people. Beef to make 'em strong, make 'em grow. But it takes work, and it takes sweat, and it takes time, lots of time. It takes years.
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Facts about
There was some concern that John Wayne and Montgomery Clift would not get along since they were diametrically opposed on all political issues, and both were outspoken on their views. According to legend they agreed not to discuss politics and the shooting went smoothly. However both Wayne and Walter Brennan would not get along with Clift since they were aware of his homosexuality, and they stayed away from the young actor when not filming. At one point Wayne tried to have Clift replaced when he heard that his co-star was having an affair with John Ireland. Clift later turned down Dean Martin's role in Rio Bravo because he did not want to be reunited with those two actors.
Howard Hawks was distressed by John Ireland's unprofessional and lecherous behavior during filming, which were partially due to the actor's alcoholism. This contributed to Ireland's part, "Cherry Valance", being drastically reduced in the finished film. At one point, Cary Grant was in consideration for the part (he turned it down).
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