Rating: Summary: Wonderful Entertainment Review: Well deserving of the "Classic Movie" tag that so often accompanies it's reviews, this movie has John Wayne written all over it. Great direction, and an artful performance by Dean Martin as "Dude" the reforming alcoholic, along with a wonderful musical cameo by Ricky Nelson, help along a storyline which is essentially simple, and was mirrored some years later in the Howard Hawks film "Eldorado" (also starring Wayne). Chances are you've seen this movie on reruns several times, but a definitive commercial free copy like this is worthy of any home collection. Not just for die hard John Wayne fans, it has what movies always used too - A beginning, middle, and an end, even if the bad guys didn't always wear the black hats. An absorbing family western that stands up well to the test of time. Look out for a very early performance by Angie Dickenson as the romantic interest. Great Stuff.
Rating: Summary: A WESTERN PARODY Review: If we all like this western, its because it doesn't take itself seriously like usual westerns do.It's the casting that really makes it fun.Right from the start, its opening scene with the music following the situations ,we are in company of actors who are going all the way to entertain us.RIO BRAVO is after all a joke ,and we are greetful that HAWKS didn't like HIGH NOON.The DUKE is in top shape, but they all are ,from BRENNAN who had played similar characters with JIMMY STEWART ,to DINO who was never better.Finally as a co-star ANGIE DICKINSON was MAUREEN O'HARA's only rival for standing against big JOHN.In RIO BRAVO ,ANGIE matchs him perfectly.Good fun, and easily the best of the so-called trilogy although EL DORADO has its moments.
Rating: Summary: An outstanding example of the Western genre....5 stars ! Review: Rio Bravo is a movie that just seems to get better with every viewing...Howard Hawks dynamic 1959 western is a boisterous and energetic film that has it's share of both tension, adventure & laughs.John Wayne is Sheriff John T. Chance....a traditional lawman caught in a deadly game of cat and mouse. After arresting Claude Akins (Joe Burdett) for shooting a man dead in a bar fight, Wayne has to endure the hired cronies of Akins' brother John Russell (Nathan Burdett) stalking the jail house trying to break Joe out. The only assistance on hand for the beleagured Wayne is recovering alcoholic Dean Martin (Dude) and crippled jailer Walter Brennan (Stumpy). The odds are well and truly stacked against Wayne, but aid appears in the unlikely form of shy gunslinger Ricky Nelson (Colorado) and warm hearted, card shark Angie Dickinson (Flowers) as they both become embroiled in the tense stand off to keep everyone, including Joe Burdett, alive until the territory Marshall can get to town..... Rio Bravo never slows down in it's journey and it appears that the actors on screen all enjoyed making this film....especially the brilliant Walter Brennan ( Where would westerns have ever been if Walter Brennan were never born ! ) who giggles and cackles his way through his sparkling time on screen....and even getting a kiss from John Wayne in the process. And we even get to hear Ricky & Dean do a couple of duets...and Walter joins in!! A worthy addition to any film fans library...Rio Bravo is western film making at it's best...another one that I can't wait to come out on DVD !!
Rating: Summary: Rio Bravo Review: Rio Brovo is my favourite movie of all time!! Wayne, Martin,Nelson and last but not least Walter Brennan play in the movie. This movie is about 3 deputys trying to rid their town of violence. Martin plays a drunken deputy who trys to quit drinking Nelson plays a tough gunfighting teenager and Wayne is the sherrif.Walter Brennan adds humor to the movie. Altogether it is a great film. The only flaw is 3 cusswords! If it did not have them in the movie I would give it 5 stars!
Rating: Summary: The greatest western ever made! Review: This is my favorite western of all time and one of my favorite films all-around. Howard Hawks is never a better storyteller than he is here. The cast is phenominal. John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Angie Dickinson all absolutely pitch perfect. This is one of those movies that you just never want to end. The film has everything, great characters, action, suspense, comedy, musical numbers......One to be cherished.
Rating: Summary: a casual, brilliant film Review: Rio Bravo is one of a handful of movies (see also The Quiet Man) that belies the one-note, tough-guy stereotype that so many people associate with John Wayne. Here he is endearing (his scenes with Walter Brennan are hilarious and genuine) and, dare I say, even somewhat sensitive in his own way (his firm method of "treatment" for Dean Martin's alcoholic character is something a counselor friend of mine finds priceless). The rest of the cast is wonderful as well: Brennan is cranky, Martin is wounded but charismatic, Angie Dickinson is sly and assured and Ricky Nelson, surprisingly, does more than just hold his own and look pretty (*and* he sings a duet with Dean Martin). Everyone involved here obviously had a ton of fun making the movie, but more importantly the film exudes that sense of good cheer without undercutting the narrative tension. Director Howard Hawks certainly had a great deal to do with the quick pacing and the tightness of the ensemble, both of which assure that the film never seems to drag, even in quiet moments. In short, a western for people who don't like westerns and a John Wayne movie for people who don't like John Wayne.
Rating: Summary: As good as it gets! Review: This is one of the 5 best westerns ever made. John Wayne is solid as a rock, Dino gives a fine performance as the reformed drunk, Walter Brennan is hilarious and Angie as lovely as ever. Even pop-singer Ricky Nelson works fine here. Young people seem to find it a little on the slow side - so, maybe you have to be somewhat mature to fully appreciate it. Hawks tried to improve it with the making of "El Dorado" - but this one is better!Highly recommended!
Rating: Summary: To put it simply: A pure classic Review: Like Singin' in the Rain,A Hard Day's Night, Charade, Jaws, King Kong and The Adventures of Robin Hood (and too many others to list is such a small space), Rio Bravo is as close to perfect entertainment for the sake of escapist satisfaction as there is. Containing the archetypal John Wayne performance as Sherriff John Chance as well as sterling work by Dean Martin, Angie Dickinson and the incomparable Walter Brennan, Rio Bravo is a finely crafted story that doesn't contain a extaneous scene or misplaced piece of dialouge. The pacing is solid and the framing is economical and purely functional. Howard Hawkes was known for directing strong ensemble casts in tight adventures and this is certainly no exception. He truly was an actor's director as he obviously encouraged his casts to create and communicate small morsels of behavior that richly enhance his direct and unpretentious storylines. A Hawkes film, to me, is a goldmine of subtle and effective acting choices. If good acting is about, according to David Mamet, completly serving the script and completing objectives through action, then Rio Bravo is a compelling and fine example of screen acting at its finest. Rio Bravo is a film that doesn't taint with repeated viewings. If it does not rest on your video shelf it is time it did. An American classic.
Rating: Summary: The Best Western Ever Review: Without question, Rio Bravo is the best John Wayne movie and the best Western. The casting is brilliant. I never really liked Dean Martin, but he has just the right touch in Rio Bravo. This film has excitement, humour, a fun musical break, crisp dialogue, and a great conclusion. Over the years, I have probably watched Rio Bravo 25 times and I never get tired of it.
Rating: Summary: The Duke at the top of his form! Review: Stars the Duke and sidekicks Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson and Walter Brennan-- also Angie Dickinson, and Ward Bond (all too briefly). The Duke has the local cattle baron's murderin', no-account brother in jail. The federal marshal is comin' to pick the rascal up for a quick trip to Presidio and a hangin'. The cattle baron wants murderin' brother out of jail. Result? Mayhem ensues! Great Dimitri Tiomkin soundtrack. On that note, this film preceded what the Duke hoped would be his biggest and best movie, _The Alamo_. Catch the interplay between the Duke and Nelson as the cantina band strikes up what Dimitri Tiomkin imagined as _Deguello_, the Mexican bugle call of, "no quarter," heard again and at greater length in, _The Alamo_. Any fan of the Duke will enjoy this one!
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