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Rio Bravo Overview:

Rio Bravo (1959) was a Western - Romance Film directed by Howard Hawks and produced by Howard Hawks.

SYNOPSIS

Reportedly director Hawks and star Wayne were so put off by High Noon (1952) and the Cooper character's requests for help from the townspeople that they filmed this rough-and- tumble Western in rebuttal. It is, in any case, a terrific story, and features themes and characters that Hawks use again in El Dorado (1967) and Rio Lobo (1970). No-nonsense Texas bordertown sheriff Wayne arrests the bullying cattle baron (Akins) who dominates the town for murder, though he knows Akins's men will come after their boss. Wayne gets little help from Martin, his deputy, who's become a hopeless drunk, and Brennan, an old man who's little more than a mascot. When wagon-train boss Bond shows up with a gunslinging Nelson in tow, Wayne first resists Nelson's help. But when Akins's men shoot Bond, Nelson joins the fray. Martin straightens up, Nelson proves his mettle, and the Duke and Brennan flush out the bad guys with an explosive climactic gunfight. Wayne even gets the girl, saloon singer Dickinson.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

Rio Bravo was inducted into the National Film Registry in 2014.

Rio Bravo BlogHub Articles:

Western RoundUp: Rio Bravo (1959)

By Laura Grieve on Feb 26, 2021 From Classic Movie Hub Blog

Western RoundUp: Rio Bravo (1959) This month I’m taking a look at Rio Bravo (1959), which is not only one of my favorite Westerns, it’s one of my all-time favorite movies. My history with this film goes back to May of 1977 when I was in my early teens and saw the film for the... Read full article

Sight and Sound Top 250 – #067 Rio Bravo (1959)

By Michael on May 18, 2018 From Durnmoose Movie Musings

As we continue our trip through the Sight and Sound Top 250 Movies of All Time list, we come to #67, Howard Hawk’s Rio Bravo. And as always I’ll note that for those just joining us, you can find a full introduction to what the Sight and Sound Top 250 list is, and a look at the complete l... Read full article

Review: Rio Bravo (1959)

By 4 Star Film Fan on May 1, 2017 From 4 Star Films

During the 1930s and 40s, Howard Hawks was an unstoppable force of nature churning out a string of classics year after year: Only Angels Have Wings, His Girl Friday, Sergeant York, Balls of Fire, To Have and Have Not, The Big Sleep, and Red River. All these titles stand as a collective testament to ... Read full article

Review: Rio Bravo (1959)

By 4 Star Film Fan on May 1, 2017 From 4 Star Films

During the 1930s and 40s, Howard Hawks was an unstoppable force of nature churning out a string of classics year after year: Only Angels Have Wings, His Girl Friday, Sergeant York, Balls of Fire, To Have and Have Not, The Big Sleep, and Red River. All these titles stand as a collective testament to ... Read full article

Rio Bravo (1959)

By Beatrice on Nov 10, 2016 From Flickers in Time

Rio Bravo Directed by Howard Hawks Written by Jules Furthman and Leigh Brackett from a short story B.H. McCampbell 1959/USA Warner Bros./Armada Productions Repeat viewing/Netflix rental #365 of 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die John T. Chance: That’s WHAT I got. Howard Hawks liked thi... Read full article

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Rio Bravo Quotes:

Pat Wheeler: I told him you were one of the best.
Colorado Ryan: Well, I'll tell you what I'm a lot better at, Mr. Wheeler... that's minding my own business.
Stumpy: You think I'll ever get to be a sheriff?
Dude: Not unless you mind your own business.
[Stumpy cackles]
Stumpy: Joe don't get no sugar in his coffee; he just gets water poured over the grounds.
Feathers: Hey, sheriff, you forgot your pants.
[Stumpy throws some dynamite at the warehouse and Chance shoots it, causing an explosion]
Stumpy: Hey, Dude! How do ya like them apples?
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Rio Bravo Facts
Malcolm Atterbury is listed in the credits (Jake, the stage driver), but like Harry Carey Jr., does not actually appear in the final cut of the movie.
The song "My Rifle, My Pony and Me" was originally used as the theme for Red River, another John Wayne western. The original title was "Settle Down".
There are only two close-ups in the movie: Joe firing his gun and Dude's hands trying to roll a cigarette.
When cast on this movie, for publicity, the production had Angie Dickinson's legs insured by Lloyds of London.
Hawks' instructions to Martin who showed up in an almost comical cowboy outfit on the first day of shooting, were not to play a cowboy but just play a drunk.
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