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Rio Grande Overview:

Rio Grande (1950) was a Romance - Western Film directed by John Ford and produced by John Ford and Merian C. Cooper.

SYNOPSIS

The third entry in Ford's "Cavalry Trilogy" finds Wayne the commander of a Western fort. When his son (Jarman) gets assigned to his command, Wayne's estranged wife (O'Hara) follows. After 15 years' separation, caused by Wayne's refusal to disobey orders that he burn down O'Hara's family's plantation, Wayne courts his wife again as he tries to instill his feeling for the military in his son. After a wagon train leading women and children to safety is attacked by Indians, Jarman proves his courage and ability to his father. A stirring portrait by Ford of the men who made the southwest safe, and the sense of duty that kept them at their hard, hazardous profession. This was Wayne and O'Hara's first pairing and they were clearly meant for each other, making five films together. The 45th anniversary video edition includes a special program, "The Making of Rio Grande," hosted by Leonard Maltin.

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

Rio Grande BlogHub Articles:

On Olive Films Signature Blu-ray: Ford, Wayne, and O'Hara United for the First Time on Rio Grande (1950)

By KC on Dec 16, 2020 From Classic Movies

Rio Grande (1950) marks an interesting point in the careers of both director John Ford and star John Wayne. It was a time when the men were maturing into their later careers, where they would both try variations on their well-established images. It’s the last film of Ford’s loosely arran... Read full article

Review: Rio Grande (1950)

By 4 Star Film Fan on May 10, 2019 From 4 Star Films

Rio Grande is the final chapter in John Ford’s Cavalry Trilogy. It is less of a continuous narrative, held together instead through the maintaining of a similar spirit as well as analogous thematic elements and characters. Much of this must be attributed to Ford and Merian C. Cooper who produc... Read full article

A KISS IS JUST A KISS blogathon: Rio Grande (1950)

By Caftan Woman on Feb 13, 2016 From Caftan Woman

Lesley Gaspar of Second Sight Cinema is hosting a Valentine's Day treat for us all, the A Kiss is Just a Kiss blogathon devoted to our favourite film kisses. Click HERE for the contributions. John Ford's Rio Grande, released by Republic Pictures in 1950 was the first onscreen teaming of Maureen O... Read full article

Rio Grande (1950) – with Maureen O’Hara and John Wayne

By Greg Orypeck on Dec 31, 2015 From Classic Film Freak

Share This! “I’m very lucky.  I really had some wonderful movies.”   ——Maureen O’Hara Just which one movie to select to represent the career of Maureen O’Hara, who died October 24, 2015, age 95, is a conundrum—not that a single film is necessarily the ideal procedure; better, mayb... Read full article

Rio Grande (1950, John Ford)

By Andrew Wickliffe on Aug 17, 2015 From The Stop Button

Rio Grande doesn’t have much going for it. The best performance is probably Ben Johnson, who isn’t even very good, he’s just not as bad as everyone else. Harry Carey Jr. and Victor McLaglen aren’t good, but they’re likable. Carey’s performance is just weak, while ... Read full article

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Rio Grande Quotes:

[repeated line]
Officer: You'll get busted for this, Quincannon.
Lt. Col. Kirby York: [breaking up a solders' fight] Qincannon, what started this?
Sgt. Maj. Timothy Quincannon: I refuse to answer sir... respectfully.
Lt. Col. Kirby York: Heinze?
Sgt. Maj. Timothy Quincannon: I refuse to answer, sir.
Lt. Col. Kirby York: Yorke?
Trooper Jefferson 'Jeff' Yorke: No, sir.
Lt. Col. Kirby York: Soldiers' fight, eh? Carry on.
[leaves the site]
Trooper Heinze: Sorry, soldier.
Trooper Jefferson 'Jeff' Yorke: Thanks, Heinze.
Lt. Col. Kirby York: You said it, soldier, that's enough for me!
Mrs. Kathleen York: Ramrod, wreckage and ruin, still the same Kirby York.
Lt. Col. Kirby York: Special privileges to special born, still the same Kathleen.
Lt. Col. Kirby York: But put out of your mind any romantic ideas that it's a way of glory. It's a life of suffering and hardship, an uncompromising devotion to your oath and your duty.
Sgt. Maj. Timothy Quincannon: [to the troop] Is there any man here from Texas?
Trooper Daniel 'Sandy' Boone: Yes sir; I'm from Texas. Name's Boone... Daniel Boone.
U.S. Deputy Marshal: Daniel Boone? That sounds familiar, don't it?
[looks through circulars]
U.S. Deputy Marshal: Name's Tyree!
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Rio Grande Facts
In order to get approval for a film he very much wanted to make, The Quiet Man, John Ford had to agree to Herbert J. Yates, head of Republic Pictures, to make this film, starring both John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara. Republic believed that "The Quiet Man" would tank at the box office and thought a western would recoup that film's expected losses.
John Wayne later said he considered the movie a parable for the Korean War.
Two stunt men drowned while filming a river crossing sequence.
John Wayne's first film with Maureen O'Hara. They starred together five times and would become known as one of Hollywood's greatest on-screen couples.
John Ford recycled the stampeding of the pony herd sound effect from She Wore a Yellow Ribbon for the rescue charge.
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