Rio Lobo (1970)

Director:

Howard Hawks

Writers:

Leigh Brackett (screenplay)
Burton Wohl (screenplay)

Release Date:

18 December 1970 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Western | Romance | War

Tagline:

Give 'Em Hell, John.

Plot:

After the Civil War, Cord McNally searches for the traitor whose perfidy caused the defeat of McNally's unit and the loss of a close friend.

Plot Keywords:

Sheriff | Civil War | Colonel | Traitor | Texas

Cast

John Wayne	...	Col. Cord McNally
Jorge Rivero	...	Capt. Pierre Cordona aka Frenchy
Jennifer O'Neill	...	Shasta Delaney
Jack Elam	...	Phillips
Christopher Mitchum	...	Sgt. Tuscarora Phillips
Victor French	...	Ketcham (boss of Rio Lobo)
Susana Dosamantes	...	Maria Carmen (Tuscarora's girlfriend)
Sherry Lansing	...	Amelita
David Huddleston	...	Dr. Ivor Jones (Rio Lobo dentist)
Mike Henry	...	Rio Lobo Sheriff 'Blue Tom' Hendricks
Bill Williams	...	Blackthorne Sheriff Pat Cronin
Jim Davis	...	Rio Lobo Deputy
Dean Smith	...	L / Cpl. Bide
Robert Donner	...	Whitey Carter (Rio Lobo deputy)
George Plimpton	...	4th Gunman

Also Known As:

San Timoteo

Runtime:

114 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Spanish

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Ontario) | Canada:G (Nova Scotia/Quebec) | Iceland:12 | West Germany:12 (new rating) | West Germany:16 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | Sweden:15 | USA:G | Australia:M | UK:PG

Filming Locations:

Cuernavaca, Morelos, Mexico

Company:

Batjac Productions

Trivia:

Howard Hawks later said, "I didn't think it was any good." He also blamed the film's poor critical and commercial performance on John Wayne, saying that at 63 the star was now too old to carry a movie.

Goofs:

Audio/visual unsynchronized: When McNally and his companions arrive at Phillips's farm, Phillips walks to the window saying a phrase without moves his lips.

Quotes:

[Phillips is irritating everyone by playing a jaw harp]
Cord McNally: Dammit, Mr. Phillips! Don't you know any other songs?
Phillips: I don't know this one. That's why I keep practicin'.
[McNally and the others open bottles of beer]
Phillips: Don't I get a beer?
Cord McNally: Not as long as you're playin' that harp.
Phillips: I'll put it up!
[Phillips throws harp in the trash can]
Phillips: What about Ketchum? He don't get no beer, does he?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Jitters (1989)

Much maligned, better than you're told

OK, put down the film criticism texts and just watch this fun movie for what it is. Feels like a TV movie, but several cuts above one. The opening train robbery sequence is pretty damn breathtaking for a "bad" movie. Bet some action directors have studied that one. "Lobo" is collection of a lot of good Hawks-ian moments recycled, sort of like a retrospective of his bag of tricks ie. "Yer necks broken," etc. The Duke aging, beat up, but still The Duke. Sherry Lansing pretty hot looking in her one role. Jack Elam the scene stealer. Too bad they didn't have the money to cast the other parts better--Mitchum or Martin would have helped a lot. Duke looks a little lonely. Plot sorta strung together, but Hawks was concentrating more on characters in his Bravo/Dorado/Lobo "trilogy." "Smart" dialog, while not up to 30s & 40s banter, still has clever moments by today's standards. Clever rifle bit at the end shows old timers' practical knowledge of things, like weapons. If you like old westerns, you'll like this one. Not among his greatest, but low end Hawks is better than no Hawks. I've seen much thinner stuff win awards.