Rating: 
Summary: My favorite Western
Review: One of the best Westerns ever made, despite possibly the worst ending in the history of film. John Wayne was never better (anyone who thinks he wasn't a great actor needs to see this film). Montgomery Clift, in his first film role, is just as good. The incredibly intense father-son rivalry between them is what makes the film so great. The tension slowly builds throughout the film to a great tragic climax -- that never comes. The ridiculously silly ending will leave you disappointed, but the rest of the film more than makes up for it. One of the great ones.
Rating: 
Summary: Flawed, But Still An Essential, Classic Western
Review: One of the handful of timeless Westerns that essentially changed public expectations of the genre. The script and characters were unique for its day, when most Westerns had fallen prey to strict, good-guys-in-white-hats formulas, thus paving the way for for the likes of "High Noon" and "Shane". Wayne's and Brennan's performances are standouts by any measure, and the supporting cast of many John Ford-MGM stalwarts is equal to the task (you even find unique appearances by father-and-son veterans Harry Carey and Carey Jr, not to mention some B-Western bad guys from the Republic lot given a chance to do some real acting). Despite the contrived and awkward ending, the story and characters are riveting and exceptionally engrossing. Director Hawks seems to have had a field day here, as the production values are superb, especially for a western. The only obvious downside (and this is strictly a personal bias) is the shuffle-and-mumble Method techniques of Montgomery Clift, whose acting here and in later years remained somewhat contrived and stilted. As for that old standby, John Ireland, he reveals a more natural style that only highlights Clift's somewhat affected effort in the scenes they share. The ending aside, this is one of those classics that can be watched again and again to reveal new detail with each viewing. The DVD is a bit murky in spots, but it does convey the gritty, nearly film-noir visual style of the original. I was a kid when I saw the film's initial release. It's as impressive today as it was then. get it!
Rating:
Summary: Flawed, But Still An Essential, Classic Western
Review: One of the handful of timeless Westerns that essentially changed public expectations of the genre. The script and characters were unique for its day, when most Westerns had fallen prey to strict, good-guys-in-white-hats formulas, thus paving the way for for the likes of "High Noon" and "Shane". Wayne's and Brennan's performances are standouts by any measure, and the supporting cast of many John Ford-MGM stalwarts is equal to the task (you even find unique appearances by father-and-son veterans Harry Carey and Carey Jr, not to mention some B-Western bad guys from the Republic lot given a chance to do some real acting). Despite the contrived and awkward ending, the story and characters are riveting and exceptionally engrossing. Director Hawks seems to have had a field day here, as the production values are superb, especially for a western. The only obvious downside (and this is strictly a personal bias) is the shuffle-and-mumble Method techniques of Montgomery Clift, whose acting here and in later years remained somewhat contrived and stilted. As for that old standby, John Ireland, he reveals a more natural style that only highlights Clift's somewhat affected effort in the scenes they share. The ending aside, this is one of those classics that can be watched again and again to reveal new detail with each viewing. The DVD is a bit murky in spots, but it does convey the gritty, nearly film-noir visual style of the original. I was a kid when I saw the film's initial release. It's as impressive today as it was then. get it!
Rating:
Summary: Classic Western!
Review: Red River has John Wayne as Tom Dunson, a man who has worked hard all his life for what he has. He has very little. His only hope is to get his heard of 9,000 or so to Missouri. There he can make back what the Civil War took from him. After the war ends Matt (Montgomery Clift in his first film) returns to the ranch. Tom who years before first encountered Matt, after an indian attack took him under his wing. Matt will take over one day after Tom dies. Matt is better than the next man at a quick draw. Walter Brennan (Groot)is more or less Tom's assistant through all the years. It took these three men 14 years to build what they have. There hopes are to get the cattle to market and avoid going broke. Which is really what they are. The most memorable hired hand that comes along is Cherry (John Ireland). Who is as quick with a gun as is Tom and Matt. As they get closer to the border near Missouri the men get scared of a raid. Tom is wounded and Matt takes over, Tom vows to kill Matt for doing so. Shortly enters Joanne Dru who more or less and in this case (more) ruins the film. Although she get's the heart of Matt. Dru did not need to be even close to the final showdown. However a great film by Howard Hawks and a good score by Dmitri Tiomkin and great photography by Russell Harlan, make this worth your time and is one of the best westerns ever. Grade:A
Rating:
Summary: Red River is a keeper
Review: Red River is a western that's surprisingly good, and has its tense and emotional parts that fulfills a gap that a lot of other westerns have. I was quite pleased with the storyline and how the characters interracted with each other. The characters as well as script is very believable, and the plot is very inviting even for non-western lovers.John Wayne plays Dunson, a land staker who had a dream on creating his own cattle ranch so he could sell beef. In other words, he wanted to live the American Dream through cows. Dunson's character is border line bad guy, as you will see, which is unusual when considering this is the eternal good guy in John Wayne. But as you might've noticed in past Wayne films, his universal character always seemed to have that dark side suppressed by his will to do good. Well in this movie, his dark side comes out. But this is a good thing, it creates conflict and makes the character a bit believable when you see how he became all dark. Montgomery Clift plays Matt Garth, a boy who Dunson adopts and trains. Garth becomes good with a gun as well as with people and cattle. Garth is a younger version of what John Wayne's character used to be: good willing, energetic, understanding.
These are the primary characters, although Walter Brennan co-stars as well. The movie spends about 15 minutes with a young John Wayne and a younger Walter Brennan, with Clift's character as a boy before the rest of the film takes place I think twenty years later when Wayne is middle aged, Brennan is an old man, and Clift is a grown man. Although the first 15 minutes were kinda cut and dry with the initial phase of the plot it was effective enough in creating a necessary past for each of the main characters and how they became the way they are. The plot is simple. Dunson (Wayne) needs to sell his beef, his cattle, but there is no market for beef in Texas. So Dunson plans on driving his cattle to St. Louis where there is a market. However during the drive, not all things work out as planned. Mutiny spreads to the cow hands against Dunson, including those that Dunson trusts the most. This sudden change in loyalty is outstanding, and so well mastered that it becomes very emotional and very suspenseful to the viewers. This mutiny works because of the actions of Dunson in different parts of the film. This is a great movie, and it probably deserves five stars, but it is marred because this western makes the classic mistake as most other westerns do: they try and create a love interst. So the director brings in Joanna Dru's character about two thirds into the film for a romance session with Clift. This sucked. The romance is pitiful, it's predictable, it's not necessary and doesn't work for this film. First of all the romance comes in way too late in this film. Not to mention there's nothing compelling about the romance either, it's the typical love at first sight gimic. You know what's going to happen when they sit next to one another. It doesn't take a genius to see that the romance in this film was rushed and it was late. To be frank this isn't a film that needs romance, because it had already survived wonderfully without it for a good 2/3 of the film. Not to mention, Joanna Dru's character spoils the ending of the film. What I thought was about to be a colossal ending, a monumental finish to this film turns out to be some pitiful attempt to create comedy. Big no no in a drama film is to create comedy through romance. You do not take the fun out of the movie by replacing it with something unnecessary and cheesy. Again, I'll let you see for yourself. I know I ragged on the romance of this film pretty bad, but I guess I'm growing real tired of romance being thrusted in films that don't need it. I understand why it's done, but it takes away from the storyline by creating useless sub-plots. In short, Joanna Dru's character costed Red River a star. To be fair, I recommend Red River to all western lovers. I liked the story, I like the characters, I think it brings conflict and emotion to a genre often lacking in good, true drama. The romance was cheesy and unnecessary and came too late, but other than that, it's a classic. It's a keeper. Grade: B-
Rating: 
Summary: Great Western (if you ignore the last 5 minutes)
Review: Red River is certainly an epic, but it unravels at the end. I want give anything away if you've never seen it, but COME ON! At the last second a minor character comes in and throws a big melodramatic wrench into this classic and ruins what could have been (and should have been) a stunning finish. Boo!
Rating:
Summary: One of the greatest Westerns of all time...
Review: Red River is easily one of the greatest Westerns of all time, and it is surely the definitive cattle-drive movie. Even though its script has some flaws (especially the ending, which I find somewhat unrealistic), the fantastic scenery, music, acting and direction by Howard Hawks more than makes up for it. In Red River, Tom Dunson (John Wayne) builds a ranch from scratch alongside his adopted son, Matthew Garth (Montgomery Clift). By the time Matt returns from the war, Dunson has built a huge ranch, but is unable to sell his cattle in the South, because there is no demand for it. Consequently, Dunson plans the largest, longest cattle-drive ever attempted. As they progess, however, the normally strict yet somewhat tolerant Dunson becomes a tyrant, and Matt is eventually forced to take over command, leaving the angered Dunson behind, vowing to kill him. Anyhow, this movie features wonderful performances from Wayne as the tyrannical leader and from Clift (in his first movie) as the milder son. But the real star of this movie is the landscape, and it is a must-see if only for the beautiful shots of the American West and the cattle progressing across it.
Rating:
Summary: The finest film ever made!
Review: Red River is hands down the finest movie ever made! In the U S of A or anywhere! Now you all know the story, and if you don't I advise you see it! John Wayne makes for a fine performance! And that Clift kid thinks he's swell, he ain't no match for the King of Actors! Now as far as Cattle Drive films go ( and I have seen all of em if I've seen one!) this is the finest! The scene where the hearders send the dead man's wife the red shoes still chokes me up to this day! Action, excitement, tasteful romance, Indians, drama, cattle herding, and the Duke! Add em all together, you get the finest film this side of the Universe!
Rating:
Summary: Classic western that still delivers!
Review: The greatest cattle drive ever filmed! Director Howard Hawks (Rio Bravo, El Dorado) cements his lifelong association with star John Wayne in this gripping Western adventure with more than a slight hint of Mutiny on the Bounty. Wayne stars as a grizzled rancher out to save his business in the early days of Texas. To do so he has to embark on an epic drive to get his cattle to market. Together with his adopted son Marty (Montgomery Clift), he enlists a team of cattle drivers to aid him in a final, desperate drive West. As time and nature bear down, his obsession begins to drive his men to breaking point - with Marty increasingly in the middle of the growing conflict that ensues between the crusty leader and his disgruntled men. With mutiny in the air, it is finally up to father and son to face each other with some hard truths - and force a confrontation that will test the bonds of family and loyalty. Both Wayne and Clift are on top form, their contrasting personas and acting styles very much at the heart of the electricity between them whenever they share a scene. Clift's thoughtful coolness has impressively survived the passage of time and he accordingly makes for a sympathetic protagonist - struggling to strike out from beyond the giant shadow of a larger-than-life adoptive father whose original kindness begins to pale in the face of the increasing of his obsessive drive to market. Affectionately referenced in the comedy City Slickers, Red River remains a worthy epitome of the old school traditional Western, unencumbered by the darkness, cynicism and irony that would begin to influence the genre in the 50's and 60's through the works of Fred Zinneman, Anthony Mann, Sergio Leone, Arthur Penn and, most interestingly, old school cowboy auteur John Ford as well (The Searchers; Cheyenne Autumn).
Rating:
Summary: A Great Western
Review: The other favorable reviews cover the greatness of this film, but I would like to give a nod to Coleen Gray who proves the old adage that there are no small parts only small actors. Her beauty and intensity in the opening moments of the movie are so powerful that I all but felt the personal loss as if I were John Wayne's character. Her part is brief, but she haunts the film in an almost sub-concious way. I never saw such a great movie with such a nothing ending.
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