Rio Grande (1950)

Director:

John Ford

Writers:

James Kevin McGuinness (screenplay)
James Warner Bellah (Saturday Evening Post story)

Release Date:

15 November 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Romance | Western

Tagline:

THE BREATHTAKING SAGA OF THE UNITED STATES CAVALRY! (original print ad - all caps)

Plot:

Rio Grande takes place after the Civil War when the Union turned their attention towards the Apaches...

Plot Keywords:

Sequel | Cult Western | Beautiful Woman | Reveille | Cavalry

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

John Wayne	...	Lt. Col. Kirby Yorke
Maureen O'Hara	...	Mrs. Kathleen Yorke
Ben Johnson	...	Trooper Travis Tyree
Claude Jarman Jr.	...	Trooper Jefferson 'Jeff' Yorke
Harry Carey Jr.	...	Trooper Daniel 'Sandy' Boone
Chill Wills	...	Dr. Wilkins (regimental surgeon)
J. Carrol Naish	...	Lt. Gen. Philip Sheridan
Victor McLaglen	...	Sgt. Maj. Timothy Quincannon
Grant Withers	...	U.S. Deputy Marshal
Sons of the Pioneers	...	Regimental Musicians
Peter Ortiz	...	Capt. St. Jacques
Steve Pendleton	...	Capt. Prescott
Karolyn Grimes	...	Margaret Mary
Alberto Morin	...	Lieutenant
Stan Jones	...	Sergeant

Also Known As:

John Ford and Merian C. Cooper's Rio Grande (UK) (complete title) (USA) (complete title)
Rio Bravo (USA) (working title)
Rio Bravo, Rio Grande Command (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Iceland:L | USA:Approved (PCA #14822) | New Zealand:G | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | Australia:G | Finland:K-12 | Norway:16 (1959) | Sweden:15 | UK:U | West Germany:12

Filming Locations:

Colorado River, Moab, Utah, USA

Company:

Argosy Pictures

Trivia:

Two stunt men drowned while filming a river crossing sequence.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Quincannon is addressing the recruits about horsemanship, Sandy takes his hand out of his pocket and removes the hay straw from his mouth, when the camera angle changes to behind Sandy, he has his thumb looped through his suspenders, and the straw is back in his mouth. When it changes again to the front view of Sandy, his hand is back in his pocket again.

Quotes:

[York plans the rescue of children held prisoner by Apaches]
Lt. Col. Kirby York: Is it dark enough for you to get in there?
Trooper Travis Tyree: With two men I pick, sir.
Lt. Col. Kirby York: Two men you pick? I know you're a excellent judge of horse flesh, Trooper Tyree. You proved that when you stole my horse. But how are you as a judge of men for a dangerous mission?
Trooper Travis Tyree: I consider myself a good judge of men I trust, sir.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Daria: Camp Fear (#5.4)" (2001)

Soundtrack:

Footsore Cavalry

A timeless tribute to the West

Rio Grande, the last of John Ford's 'Calvary Trilogy' is a triumphant paen to the US Calvary and a great romance between John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara and a wonderful showcase of the great character actors who are at the heart of all Ford's films. This movie has drama, romance, beautiful photography and great music by the Son's of the Pioneers. Their version of the "Down by the Glenside" still sends chills up my spine as well as tears to Victor McLaglen, the redoubtable Sergent Major timothy Quincannon and Wayne's ever present comrade in arms from, the bloody Shenendoah campaign of the Civil War, when they burned down the estranged Mrs. Yorke's beloved Bridesdale. The country that had lately been torn apart, was being brought together as former Johnny Rebs like Travis Tyree (Ben Johnson)and Yankees like Lt.Col. Kirby Yorke fought together along America's western frontier. A wonderful screen chemistry between Wayne and O'hara, and some understated, economic emoting, rather than sappiness or corn make this a distinguished film, a highlight of Ford's great career.