John Ford was perhaps the best-known exponent of the of the 'cavalry film', that sub-genre of the Western that tells the story of the conflict between the US Army and the native Indians of the American West during the second half of the nineteenth century. The three films which he made on this theme between 1948 and 1950 (all of which starred John Wayne) have become known as his "cavalry trilogy". "Rio Grande" is the third of these, the earlier instalments being "Fort Apache" and "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon". It is also the first of three films Wayne made beginning with the word "Rio", the others being "Rio Bravo" and "Rio Lobo", both directed by Howard Hawks.
In "Rio Grande" Wayne plays the same character he played in "Fort Apache", Kirby Yorke, although he has now been promoted from Captain to Lieutenant Colonel. (The spelling of his surname has also changed; in the earlier film it was spelt "York"). The title derives from the fact that Yorke is now stationed on the Texas frontier, charged with defending settlers against marauding Apaches. The fight against the Indians, however, is only one of a number of interlocking plot lines. The most important one concerns Yorke's relationship with his son Jeff and his estranged wife Kathleen, neither of whom he has seen for fifteen years. The cause of the estrangement was an incident during the Civil War when Yorke, then serving with the Union forces, obeyed an order to burn down his wife's plantation home in the Shenandoah valley. (Kathleen is from an old Virginia family). During the course of the film, however, they begin to rediscover their love for one another.
Jeff, having failed officer training at West Point, has enlisted in the Army as a private, and has been sent to serve with his father's regiment. Kathleen disapproves of her son's choice of a career and arrives at the fort determined home with her, only to find that he is just as determined to remain in the Army. A third plot line concerns Jeff's friend Trooper Travis Tyree who is on the run from the law, having killed a man in a fight. Jeff and Tyree are among those who volunteer for a dangerous mission to rescue some children kidnapped by the Apaches.
Ford is, rightly, regarded as one of the great Western directors; some of his films, such as "Stagecoach" are recognised as being among the great classics of the genre. As with all great directors, however, not all his films are of the same quality, and "Rio Grande" has always struck me as being one of his lesser works. It has its good points; John Wayne was an expert in portraying tough but honourable men of action, and this is a typical Wayne performance. There is some good photography of the dramatic scenery of the West (black-and-white, although "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" had been made in colour), especially of Monument Valley, one of Ford's favourite locations. (Although the action supposedly takes place on the Texas frontier, the valley is actually on the borders of Utah and Arizona).
The film, however, also has its weaknesses. Maureen O'Hara is miscast as Kathleen; only 30 at the time, she was far too young to play the mother of an adult son. (Apparently the studio, Republic Pictures, insisted that Ford use her as part of their price for allowing him to make The Quiet Man, which was eventually made two years later with the same combination of Wayne and O'Hara). The depiction of the Indians is biased; as in many Westerns of this period such as "Only the Valiant", another "cavalry film", they are simply portrayed as savage barbarians venting their bloodlust on innocent white settlers, with no attempt to show their point of view. (The earlier instalments of the trilogy had been rather more liberal in this respect). For a film which is not officially a musical there is an awful lot of singing going one, so much so that one might conclude that the US Cavalry's main function was light entertainment, with warfare only a sideline. (A sentimental ballad like "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen" doesn't really seem right on the lips of hardened cavalrymen). Overall, "Rio Grande" is really little more than a standard Western adventure story. 6/10
In "Rio Grande" Wayne plays the same character he played in "Fort Apache", Kirby Yorke, although he has now been promoted from Captain to Lieutenant Colonel. (The spelling of his surname has also changed; in the earlier film it was spelt "York"). The title derives from the fact that Yorke is now stationed on the Texas frontier, charged with defending settlers against marauding Apaches. The fight against the Indians, however, is only one of a number of interlocking plot lines. The most important one concerns Yorke's relationship with his son Jeff and his estranged wife Kathleen, neither of whom he has seen for fifteen years. The cause of the estrangement was an incident during the Civil War when Yorke, then serving with the Union forces, obeyed an order to burn down his wife's plantation home in the Shenandoah valley. (Kathleen is from an old Virginia family). During the course of the film, however, they begin to rediscover their love for one another.
Jeff, having failed officer training at West Point, has enlisted in the Army as a private, and has been sent to serve with his father's regiment. Kathleen disapproves of her son's choice of a career and arrives at the fort determined home with her, only to find that he is just as determined to remain in the Army. A third plot line concerns Jeff's friend Trooper Travis Tyree who is on the run from the law, having killed a man in a fight. Jeff and Tyree are among those who volunteer for a dangerous mission to rescue some children kidnapped by the Apaches.
Ford is, rightly, regarded as one of the great Western directors; some of his films, such as "Stagecoach" are recognised as being among the great classics of the genre. As with all great directors, however, not all his films are of the same quality, and "Rio Grande" has always struck me as being one of his lesser works. It has its good points; John Wayne was an expert in portraying tough but honourable men of action, and this is a typical Wayne performance. There is some good photography of the dramatic scenery of the West (black-and-white, although "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" had been made in colour), especially of Monument Valley, one of Ford's favourite locations. (Although the action supposedly takes place on the Texas frontier, the valley is actually on the borders of Utah and Arizona).
The film, however, also has its weaknesses. Maureen O'Hara is miscast as Kathleen; only 30 at the time, she was far too young to play the mother of an adult son. (Apparently the studio, Republic Pictures, insisted that Ford use her as part of their price for allowing him to make The Quiet Man, which was eventually made two years later with the same combination of Wayne and O'Hara). The depiction of the Indians is biased; as in many Westerns of this period such as "Only the Valiant", another "cavalry film", they are simply portrayed as savage barbarians venting their bloodlust on innocent white settlers, with no attempt to show their point of view. (The earlier instalments of the trilogy had been rather more liberal in this respect). For a film which is not officially a musical there is an awful lot of singing going one, so much so that one might conclude that the US Cavalry's main function was light entertainment, with warfare only a sideline. (A sentimental ballad like "I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen" doesn't really seem right on the lips of hardened cavalrymen). Overall, "Rio Grande" is really little more than a standard Western adventure story. 6/10