Rating: 
Summary: A JOYFUL ENTERTAINING MASTERPIECE
Review: This film is my favorite Hawks movie, the one I enjoy the most. It does necessary means it's his most IMPORTANT in term of film history, (HIS GIRL FRIDAY and RED RIVER should be considered his highest achievement, in that sense); many would just say it's a remake of RIO BRAVO, one of his most popular film. But I actually enjoy EL DORADO more than RIO BRAVO because of its playfulness. It is perhaps not the story itself is interesting, but the way Hawks tells it and Wayne and Mitchum (two of my favorite super-heroes, I must say) acting it. They fill the movie with a lot of humor; not only the comic relief James Caan and Arthur Hunnicut who are funny, but Wayne and Mitchum may get even more laugh than these two. There's nothing fancy about Hawks's direction in this film, but everything is done so natural, casual and indeed perfect, which is, I think, only a great master of this trade can achieve. EL DORADO has actually more dramatic element than RIO BRAVO, and these dramas are actually far more carefully constructed to make the story more interesting than in RIO BRAVO. For instance, Wayne's and Mitchum's camaraderie is colored with a tint of old age: not only that Mitchum is a drunk alcoholic (as Dean Martin in RIO BRAVO) but Wayne also becomes crippled. The motivation of revenge gives the strength to this basically entertaining plot. And these dramatic darker themes do not interfere with the enjoyment of the story, which is amazing with Hawks, but rather reinforce the excitement of it. The new transfer is quite brilliant. It captures the richness and depth of the original IB-Technicolor print. If you have already seen the VHS edition, panned-and-scanned and with shallow colors, you haven't really seen this film. With this DVD, you can enjoy the masterful direction of Hawks, the beautiful score by Nelson Riddle (I think the song is very good), and the harmony of performances of those incredible actors who can become those characters just by being in front of camera repeatedly. It's really one of the most enjoyable, entertaining movie ever coming out from Hollywood.
Rating: 
Summary: swagger
Review: A beautiful DVD transfer for a great film. One of the other reviews described the movie as "relaxed." That's just it. Hawks really brings out the best in Wayne (though Wayne is always wonderful). I can't describe the sort of comfortable, macho male swagger that this kind of picture typifies--you just have to see it. And they really don't make 'em like this anymore. Great performances all around, but especially Wayne and Guest. I'll quibble with the last reviewer: Mitchum is great but the Duke is so large that he pushes everyone else out of the screen. Hey, what can you do?
Rating:
Summary: Excellent restoration
Review: El Dorado is one of may favorite Westerns. I am a Howard Hawks junkie. I am very happy with the DVD transfer of this film. The film print used to produce the VHS video tape was in bad shape. The problems of color balance and evendent splicing have been fixed in the DVD. The color is a big improvement over the VHS.
Rating:
Summary: The best Wane flick
Review: This is my all-time favorite John Wayne flick. Most lists I see list "The Searchers" as the best, but I disagree. This is essentially a reworking of "Rio Bravo", but you get better co-stars here with Robert Mitchum and James Caan. Plus you don't have the unrealistic sing-a-long that occurs in the middle of "Bravo" In this movie Cole Thornton (Wayne) is a hired gunman in town to help out in a range war. Before he goes out to meet his new boss, Bart Jason (Ed Asner), he meets his old buddy J. P. Harrah (Mitchum). Harrah convinces Thornton that he'd be fighting for the wrong side. Later, Thornton is in another town, where he meets up with Nils McCloud (Christopher George), who is off to El Dorado to take the job Thornton turned down. McCloud tells Thornton that Harrah is now a hopeless drunk, so of course, this being a Wayne flick, Thornton has to ride to the rescue. Along the way he is accompanied by Alan Bedillian Traherne ("Yeah, that's why most people call me 'Mississippi'.") and Bull (Arthur Hunnicut). The end is a shootout worthy of the name.
Rating:
Summary: Better Than "Rio Bravo"
Review: Though a minority opinion, Howard Hawks' "El Dorado" (1967) is a superior reworking of the director's overrated 1959 Western, "Rio Bravo." Along with the iconic presence of John Wayne, the tradeoffs are certainly better: instead of Dean Martin's drunken sheriff, you get Robert Mitchum's memorable comic performance in the same role; instead of Ricky Nelson singing an occasional song, there is James Caan's breakthrough performance as Mississippi; and Arthur Hunnicutt's comic relief is more palatable than Walter Brennan's obnoxious imitation of Gabby Hayes. "El Dorado" also is a tighter, better-scripted film -- running only 127 minutes. By comparison, "Rio Bravo" seems to go on forever with its 2 1/2-hour length. Hawks aficionados may disagree, but "El Dorado" improves upon the obvious weaknesses of "Rio Bravo." So does the final Hawks-Wayne collaboration, "Rio Lobo" (1970). Judge for yourself.
Rating:
Summary: Simply the BEST Western ever..
Review: I first watched this movie when i was 8 and then watched it 50 or 60 times... Now i'm 29 and for 21 years i didn't watch a better one.I think it's the best western and also the best John Wayne and the best Robert Mitchum film that ever made.The music is incredible and also the atmosphere and the action... This is a must have western..It's worth to buy ... Simply The Best...
Rating:
Summary: Great Movie - Fair transfer to DVD
Review: I would always rate this John Wayne movie with 5 stars, however the transfer onto DVD made me pull off 1 star. I love the fact that this movie is finally show in widescreen format (ratio 1.85 : 1). However, the movie is very dark throughout. Certain night scenes were almost completely black on my screen. Problem here is that most of this movie is shot during night scenes, so lighting would have to be dim. What Paramount failed to recognize was that they needed to "brighten" up the picture some. The few day scenes were in great condition, and the soundtrack is excellent. As for the plot, it's a loose reworking of Rio Bravo, and it is just as good. In my opinion, this was the last movie that John Wayne made as a nimble action hero. From here on, he eased into more senior roles. One last note, I own a 50" projection screen TV, so naturally the picture is darker that a tube. My brightness was turned up full. But on a tube, the picture will be brighter. So if your going to see this on a monitor tube, and not projection, it is probably going to be ok.
Rating:
Summary: The Duke at his best!
Review: El Dorado is most likely the best John Wayne movie along with The Searchers and Stagecoach. If you are looking for a movie filled with action and adventure, this is it!
Rating:
Summary: A Great Western!
Review: This is my favorite John Wayne movie...hands down. The music is cool, the acting is good, the plot is terrific, and John Wayne is at his toughest! Robert Mitchum is a great costar as the drunken sheriff J.P. Harra. Once he sobers up, he's the fastest and toughest gun in the West (besides Cole Thornton (Wayne), of course!) When Harra hits Bart Jason (the bad guy) in the face with his rifle, it makes your own jaw hurt. Ouch! He'll feel that in the morning! There are plenty of funny parts in this movie too. I LOVE the part where "Mississippi" is giving his "sobering up" concoction to Mitchum. That is really funny! This movie is definitely worth your money! So, grab your best pony, 6 shooter, and saddle pal, and gallop along with the Duke in one of the greatest Westerns ever made!
Rating:
Summary: Top notch acting in an excellent western
Review: This film is a joy to watch. John Wayne,Robert Mitchum, James Caan and Christopher George do an outstanding job in this Howard Hawks film. Great humor abounds through it, especially when Caan tries to sober up Mitchum with his "concoction of gunpowder, croton oil etc, There is a great scene in which John Wayne confronts the troublemaker and his crew. Wayne says "You wont get the job done with this sorry bunch, they couldnt even stomp a stringy jackrabbit! Wayne then backs out on horseback ... some slick ridin! This is a great film !!!
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