Rating: 
Summary: A John Wayne Western Only A Woman Could Love
Review: The director John Ford and the actor John Wayne made three of the most remarkable Westerns ever made. Critics refer to them as the "Calvary Trilogy and they center on the life and times of horse soldier Nathan Brittles, who "Never apologizes because it's a sign of weakness" but does manage to make amends to the wife he wronged (O'Hara) in spectacular style. The chemistry between Wayne and O'Hara is amazing, all the more so because they kiss only twice in the film. Both are middle-aged when they meet again, but communicate a passion and sexuality which puts any modern screen pairing in the shade. The film is remarkable because O'Hara is truly Wayne's equal, a feminist in hoop skirts and even more suprising, not the only one in the film. Rounding out the cast are Ford's "stock company" a group of some of the finest character actors ever to grace the screen. If you're female and you've never been able to get into Westerns, this is the one that will get you there. It's funny, touching and features a female lead who is far from passive and years ahead of her time.
Rating:
Summary: Awesome!
Review: This DVD edition of Rio Grande is of the highest quality. There is no need to be wordy. Rio Grande is simply awesome in picture quality and sound! One can only hope that She Wore a Yellow Ribbon and Fort Apache will be released soon and will be of the same caliber.
Rating:
Summary: Now this is a MOVIE
Review: This film classic is all that and more. It looks like an advertisement for "excellent entertainment from the past". The scenery is fabulously filmed in chiaroscuro black and white, the story is compelling, and John Wayne is at the height of his masculine grace. I especially love the Claude Jarman role, the sensitive teenager who seeks his fathers' approval. Recommended viewing.
Rating:
Summary: "Rio Grande"
Review: This film marks the first of five films that John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara made together. Once John Ford got a somewhat reluctant Republic mogul Herbert Yates to agree to produce his long-time dream "The Quiet Man" - Yates added a "condition." That condition was that the same team, Maureen O'Hara, Duke Wayne, do a western film first, to make up for the money he anticipated 'losing' on "The Quiet Man." Yates must have had to eat a lot of crow because not only was "Rio Grande" a box office success, but "The Quiet Man" went on to become an all-time classic masterpiece. "Rio Grande" is an exceptionally wonderful film, and I feel is equal to "The Quiet Man" in it's own genre (Calvalry/western). It is romantic, sensitive, full of action, and everything you would expect from hero John Wayne...and his lovely lady, Maureen O'Hara - plus a happy ending. This is a subject close to my heart because I maintain a website on Ms. O'Hara and have interviewed her, as well as many of her peers, including Harry Carey, Jr., Anna Lee and John Agar. The chemistry of O'Hara and Wayne in itself is an interesting study and long underrated by Hollywood historians....
Rating:
Summary: "Rio Grande"
Review: This film marks the first of five films that John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara made together. Once John Ford got a somewhat reluctant Republic mogul Herbert Yates to agree to produce his long-time dream "The Quiet Man" - Yates added a "condition." That condition was that the same team, Maureen O'Hara, Duke Wayne, do a western film first, to make up for the money he anticipated 'losing' on "The Quiet Man." Yates must have had to eat a lot of crow because not only was "Rio Grande" a box office success, but "The Quiet Man" went on to become an all-time classic masterpiece. "Rio Grande" is an exceptionally wonderful film, and I feel is equal to "The Quiet Man" in it's own genre (Calvalry/western). It is romantic, sensitive, full of action, and everything you would expect from hero John Wayne...and his lovely lady, Maureen O'Hara - plus a happy ending. This is a subject close to my heart because I maintain a website on Ms. O'Hara and have interviewed her, as well as many of her peers, including Harry Carey, Jr., Anna Lee and John Agar. The chemistry of O'Hara and Wayne in itself is an interesting study and long underrated by Hollywood historians....
Rating: 
Summary: First in the Trilogy
Review: This has been the hardest to find of John Ford's cavalry trilogy, but that's because it is the first, not the last as identified in the Amazon review. If you like John Ford, John Wayne, Fort Apache and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, you've got to like this one!
Rating:
Summary: First in the Trilogy
Review: This has been the hardest to find of John Ford's cavalry trilogy, but that's because it is the first, not the last as identified in the Amazon review. If you like John Ford, John Wayne, Fort Apache and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, you've got to like this one!
Rating:
Summary: A Trilogy Completed
Review: This is the third of Ford's films which focus on the U.S. Cavalry and its violent encounters with the Apache. Wayne's role in each is quite different. He is a subordinate officer in Fort Apache, a commanding officer about to retire in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, and again a commanding officer in this film but estranged from his wife Kathleen (Maureen O'Hara), and son Jeff (Claude Jarman, Jr.) among the men he commands. Lieutenant Kirby Yorke (Wayne) resembles Woodrow F. Call in Lonesome Dove (played by Tommy Lee Jones) who refuses to show any favoritism or even affection whatsoever to his son. (In fact, Call denies his fatherhood.) Of course, Ford ensures that husband and wife are reunited by the end of the film; also, that father and son become close after Trooper Yorke plays a key role in helping to rescue children captured by the Apache and thereby earns his commanding officer's (and father's) respect. A similar relationship exists in Red River except that the conflict is resolved without a brawl. Personally, I would have preferred less reliance on Irish ballads, the focus on Yorke's marital conflicts, and what I view as the macho element of which Ford was so fond. Nonetheless, Wayne's performance is outstanding and the sequence by which the children is rescued is brilliantly portrayed. In additional to much improved sound and image, this DVD version also offers several excellent supplementary features which include a scene-specific commentary with Maureen O'Hara, a mini-documentary "Along the Rio Grande with Maureen O'Hara," and "The Making of Rio Grande" hosted by Leonard Maltin.
Rating:
Summary: Sons of The Pioneers
Review: This movie is my favorite of the triology. It has John Wayne, Maureen Ohara, the Sons of The Pioneers singing some of their most beautiful harmonys. Especially,"I'll take you home again, Kathleen and great western scenery. It also has some the actors that will be in other John Wayne movies that are my favorite. All of these combine for a great movie.
Rating:
Summary: The Best of The Trilogy
Review: To me this is the most enjoyable of the Ford-Wayne western trilogy. It has a more human story & great chemistry between Wayne & O'Hara. Supporting cast is excellent & 2 songs performed by the Sons of the Pioneers are well suited to the plot.
|
