Rating: 
Summary: Rio Grandé - More than "interesting"
Review: "Rio Grande," although it fell into the "trilogy" label, it was made to satisfy Herbert Yates, the head of Republic Studios. He had relented earlier and agreed to do "The Quiet Man" (a project Ford had nursed for years) but was convinced the plot was just a "silly Irish story." Yates felt that doing a western calvalry film first would help him recoup the money he expected to lose on TQM. Yates also wanted to see what kind of chemistry O'Hara and Wayne would have - needless to say it was terrific. Victor Young also scored this film. ...
Rating:
Summary: Rio Grandé - More than "interesting"
Review: "Rio Grande," although it fell into the "trilogy" label, it was made to satisfy Herbert Yates, the head of Republic Studios. He had relented earlier and agreed to do "The Quiet Man" (a project Ford had nursed for years) but was convinced the plot was just a "silly Irish story." Yates felt that doing a western calvalry film first would help him recoup the money he expected to lose on TQM. Yates also wanted to see what kind of chemistry O'Hara and Wayne would have - needless to say it was terrific. Victor Young also scored this film. ...
Rating:
Summary: John Ford's Triumphant Conclusion to Cavalry Trilogy!
Review: 'Rio Grande', the last of director John Ford's 'unofficial' Cavalry Trilogy, has often been unfairly judged the 'weakest' of the three westerns. Certainly, it lacks the poetic quality of 'She Wore a Yellow Ribbon', or the revisionist view of a thinly-disguised reworking of the events surrounding the death of George Armstrong Custer ('Fort Apache'), but for richness of detail, a sense of the camaraderie of cavalrymen, an 'adult' (in the best sense of the word) love story, and a symbolic 'rejoining' of North and South conclusion that may have you tapping your toe, 'Rio Grande' is hard to beat!It is remarkable that 'Rio Grande' ever got to the screen; Ford hadn't planned to make it, but in order to get Republic Pictures to agree to his demands for 'The Quiet Man' (he wanted the film to be shot on location in Ireland, and in color), he had to agree to do a 'quickie' western that would turn a quick profit for the usually cash-strapped studio. This is, perhaps, a reason why the film is held in less esteem than it deserves. 'Rio Grande' may have not been born with high expectations, but with John Ford in the director's chair, and John Wayne and the Ford 'family' in the cast and crew, the potential for something 'special' was ALWAYS present! A few bits of trivia to enhance your viewing pleasure: Yes, that IS Ken Curtis, singing with The Sons of the Pioneers, in the film...while uncredited, he made a favorable impression with Ford, and soon became a part of his 'family'...Ben Johnson, Harry Carey, Jr, and Claude Jarman, Jr, actually did their own stunts while performing the 'Roman Style' riding sequence (Carey said in interviews that they were all young, and didn't think about the danger of it; a production would lose their insurance if they 'allowed' three major performers to do something as risky, today!)...Did you know that O'Hara, playing Jarman's 'mother', was barely 14 years older than her 'son', and was only 29 at the time of the filming?...Harry Carey barely had any lines in the script; most of what you see in the film was ad-libbed!...the popular ditty, 'San Antoine', sung by Jarman, Carey, Johnson, and Curtis, was, in fact, written by Mrs. Roy Rogers, herself, Dale Evans! Whether you're viewing 'Rio Grande' for the first time, or have sat through many viewings, the film has a richness and sense of nostalgia for a West that 'may never have existed, but SHOULD have'. It would be a proud addition to any collector's library!
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Summary: New 50th Anniversary Edition "Rio Grande" O'Hara commentary
Review: ...Producer/Director Michael Gillis is to be applauded for finally gave us a special of edition of these films with Maureen O'Hara given free reign in detailed commentary. There is even an enhanced audio version that has Ms. O'Hara narrating throughout the entire movie with little side stories and facts that are simply delightful. This is a must for film buffs and historians - if you don't have a DVD player - go out and get one. IT IS WONDERFUL!
Rating:
Summary: One of the Best Ford and Wayne Westerns: Action Packed
Review: A great movie directed by John Ford and staring a very fit athletic John Wayne with a wonderful stable of stars from the rest of the Ford stock performers such as Maureen O'Harra (Quiet Man), Ben Johnson, Victor McLaughlin (Fort Apache, Tie a Yellow Ribbon), Harry Carey, Jr., and Chill Wills (McClintoc). Ford westerns are excellent primarily due to Ford's personal interest in the west and his on site locations in Monument valley giving the viewer not only a story about the west but the landscape as well. The story is about a dedicated leader, Captain York (Wayne), of a troop stationed in the southwest who is dealing with Apache who were the last of the Indians to resist white expnasion. Culminated in this battle between the two forces is the arrival of the captain's son who he has not seen in 15 years when he was forced to burn the family plantation while serving under Sheridan in the Shenadoah Valley in 1864. The son arrives as a simple trooper exiling himself from West Point. His mother (O'Hara) arrives to claim him and the interesction triangle between her, her son and her estranged husband wraps well around the conflict between Apache and the cavalry. This film boasts Wayne at his fitest and the realism of the set, typical of a John Ford film. The film includes spices of humor that Ford is always able to inject; however timely and not too gratutiously. A rollicking film that is exciting and adventurous. If you look closely, you'll see Ken Curtis (Festus of Gunsmoke) singing lead vocals as one of the regimental singers. Also, adding to the realism of the film, it appears that the Indians playing Apaches are actual Navaho Indians. Their reservation makes up part or all of Monument Valley .
Rating: 
Summary: Sorely disappointed
Review: After reading all of the glorious reviews of this movie, which led to my getting it, I feel bad about panning it but thumbs down on this one. I couldn't even finish watching this movie. Getting past Wayne in a moustache was troublesome enough; he wasn't his usual "take charge" self, even tho' he was the commander in the film. The actors seemed wooden, charicatures, and Wayne's character seemed befuddled and subdued. Then, O'Hara enters...whose mother is going to show up in a war zone? Unbelievable! I chucked it when she turns up in her son's tent during a songfest. (Incidentally, if you don't like western songfests, this film isn't for you!) Believe me, this was a real disappointment - and I am a J.W. fan. My favorites? The Cowboys and Chism... Rio Grande isn't even in the running. I mean, doesn't the story have to make sense? Wow.
Rating:
Summary: Sorely disappointed
Review: After reading all of the glorious reviews of this movie, which led to my getting it, I feel bad about panning it but thumbs down on this one. I couldn't even finish watching this movie. Getting past Wayne in a moustache was troublesome enough; he wasn't his usual "take charge" self, even tho' he was the commander in the film. The actors seemed wooden, charicatures, and Wayne's character seemed befuddled and subdued. Then, O'Hara enters...whose mother is going to show up in a war zone? Unbelievable! I chucked it when she turns up in her son's tent during a songfest. (Incidentally, if you don't like western songfests, this film isn't for you!) Believe me, this was a real disappointment - and I am a J.W. fan. My favorites? The Cowboys and Chism... Rio Grande isn't even in the running. I mean, doesn't the story have to make sense? Wow.
Rating: 
Summary: Not the best in the cavalry trilogy...
Review: But that doesn't mean this still isn't a fine movie, it merely can't hold a candle to Fort Apache and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon. But how can anyone complain when you have the brilliant John Ford, supported by the Duke, Maureen O'Hara and some of Ford's stock company? Ford's direction, as always, is stellar and the stunning Moab, Utah backdrop is as spellbinding as his usual Monument Valley setting. The chemistry between the Duke and Maureen O'Hara is palpable. My favorite scene is when they dine together in Yorke's tent and O'Hara spies his army cot and gives a rueful look (a portent of things to come!) Victor McLaglen, a regular of the Ford stock company, adds greatly to the comedic scenes. What would the cavalry trilogy be without the memorable character sculpted by McLa The weakness of the movie are some superfluous singing scenes which are totally unnecessary and interrupt the flow of the movie. Claude Jarmin is actually quite effective as Wayne's son and his scenes with O'Hara are especially edifying. A bit of trivia: Ben Johnson does all the stunt riding on his own: pay particular attention to the scene where he rides two horses standing up.
Rating: 
Summary: poor transfer
Review: Great movie, but want to comment on the DVD. Other reviewers to the contrary, I felt that this was a poor transfer, with digital artifacts present and indeed quite distracting in a couple of scenes. Not good. My old VHS copy is more of a pleasure to watch. Also, the last reviewer was incorrect; as Maltin makes clear in a pretty boring "Making of" segment, this wasn't shot in Monument Valley.
Rating:
Summary: Great film- Good DVD
Review: I noticed that one reviewer didn't like the transfer. Perhaps he got a bad copy. I watched my new copy on a big screen and it looked very good. While the soundtrack could have been cleaned up a little, the picture was as crisp as I imagine it was when it flickered accross movie screens upon release. The film itself is a John Ford masterpiece. Perhaps not as strong as the first two in the trilogy, but well worth owning and watching every year or so. Earlier today (2/7/01) Dale Evans passed away. She wrote some of the music used in this film. Ford packed his films with talent. This film is no exception. I think I'll watch it again this weekend as a tribute to Dale.
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