Rio Grande (1950)

A cavalry officer posted on the Rio Grande must deal with murderous raiding Apaches, his son who's a risk-taking recruit and his wife from whom he has been separated for many years.

Director:

John Ford

Writers:

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

Stars:

John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Ben Johnson

1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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 (as Sons Of The Pioneers)
Peter Ortiz	...	Capt. St. Jacques
Steve Pendleton	...	Capt. Prescott
Karolyn Grimes	...	Margaret Mary
Alberto Morin	...	Lieutenant
Stan Jones	...	Sergeant

Storyline

Rio Grande takes place after the Civil War when the Union turned their attention towards the Apaches. Union officer Kirby Yorke is in charge of an outpost on the Rio Grande in which he is in charge of training of new recruits one of which is his son whom he hasn't seen in 15 years. He whips him into shape to take on the Apaches but not before his mother shows up to take him out of there.The decision to leave is left up to Trooper Yorke who decides to stay and fight. Through it all Kirby and Kathleen though separated for years fall back into love and decide that it's time to give it another try. But Yorke faces his toughest battle when his unorthodox plan to outwit the elusive Apaches leads to possible court- martial. Locked in a bloody Indian war, he must fight to redeem his honor and save the love and lives of his broken family

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Plot Keywords:

apache indian | apache indian tribe | apache | apache territory | river in title | 

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Taglines:

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

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Genres:

Romance | Western

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Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

15 November 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

John Ford and Merian C. Cooper's Rio Grande

Filming Locations:

Kayenta, Arizona, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,214,899 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Republic Pictures (I), Argosy Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of the songs performed in this film, "Aha San Antone" was composed by actress, singer and songwriter Dale Evans, who was also the wife of singer and actor Roy Rogers. Roy Rogers was one time lead singer with the Sons of Pioneers who play the Regimental Singers.

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Goofs

On the covered wagon carrying Kathleen Yorke during the Indian attack, when the driver falls off, the canvas behind Mrs Yorke is wide open. Later, when another trooper jumps on to drive the wagon, the canvas is closed tightly.

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Quotes

Lt. Col. Kirby York: At Chapultopec, my father, your grandfather, shot for cowardice the son of a United States senator

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Alternate Versions

Also available in a computer colorized version.

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Connections

Featured in Charmed: Sin Francisco (2001)

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Soundtracks

Cattle Call
(uncredited)
Written by Tex Owens
Performed by the Sons of the Pioneers

User Reviews

Last entry in trilogy cavalry with familiar drama ,love and military life

This is the last outing in John Ford's trilogy cavalry continuing ¨Fort Apache and She wore a yellow ribbon¨ based on writings by James Warner Bellah.It's the first John Wayne-Maureen O'Hara-John Ford's three movies together along with ¨Quiet man and Wing of eagles¨.It's a powerful retelling of the wild Indians wars at the Southwest US. It concerns about an US cavalry unit on the Mexican frontier and nearly to Rio Grande.The commander of the far outpost is ruled by Lieutenent Colonel Kirby(Wayne)leading an unsuccessful campaign against the Apaches.Kirby is under command of General Philip Sheridan(J.Carroll Naish).A grumpy sergeant(Victor McLagen)is in charge of training of new recruits,one which is the Kirby'son(Claude Jarman Jr).His mother Kathleen(Maureen O'Hara) arrives looking for her son Jeff ,she and Kirby are separated for fifteen years,but the marriage broke when Kirby fired a plantation of her ancestors during Civil War ,however now they fall back in love.Meanwhile the marauding Indians attack the outpost and Kirby taking on his toughest fight to redeem his honor.

This excellent film featuring a magnificent performance by complete casting.Awesome John Wayne in a larger-than-life role.Gorgeous Maureen O'Hara in a sensible role with sensational performance.The film develops usual John Ford's themes: The friendship,sense of camaraderie,a little bit of enjoyable humor,the familiar feeling,sentimental nostalgia and the glorification of the cavalry,besides a sensible songs in charge of Son of Pioneers with Ken Curtis and music score by Dimitri Tiomkin.Touching scenes when they're singing between the marriage Wayne-O'Hara with sweet glances.Spectacular scenes when the Apaches Indian-Chiricagua and Mezcaleros-spontaneously attack the outpost and sensational riding races with Roman style,someone did their own stunts.In the movie appear all habitual Ford's friends ,Chill Wills,Ben Johnson,Grant Withers,Jack Pennick,Ken Curtis and ,of course,Victor McLagen .Even appears Patrick Wayne,but his father John Wayne persuaded to Ford for an uncredited cameo role. Appropriate photography by Bert Glennon as sensational as the Ford's usual, Winston Hoch.The movie is produced by Ford's Argosy Production Company ,Republic Pictures and Merian C. Cooper(King Kong).The motion picture is magnificently directed by the master John Ford.