Review: Rio Bravo - 1959

Story - A small-town sheriff in the American West enlists the help of a disabled man, a drunk, and a young gunfighter in his efforts to hold in jail the brother of the local bad guy.

Cast - John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Walter Brenan, Angie Dickinson, Claude Akins

Crew - Howard Hawks (Director), Jules Furthman (Writer), Leigh Brackett (Writer), B. H. McCampbell (Writer)

Runtime - 141 minutes

         

Rio Bravo is one of the best Westerns I've ever seen, directed by Howard Hawks, it offers us a great time amongst four characters who represent law and order. Sheriff John T. Chance (John Wayne), Dude (Dean Martin), Colorado (Ricky Nelson), and Stumpy (Walter Brenan) in their efforts to stop a group of criminals trying to free a man from prison, Joe Burdette (Claude Akins).

The first time I tried to watch this movie I didn't feel comfortable or in the mood, but yesterday, with some pizza and coke, I finally could get into the movie and really sink into the story, one that is funny, filled with action, tension, and sensuality. It made me remember how much I like Western movies.

Feathers (Angie Dickinson) serves as Chance's love interest, she brings a spark to the film that lights the mood, although because I watched it in Spanish the scene where she cries was bad, not sure if it was her acting or the VA's performance, I will rewatch this movie in English when I get the chance.

I don't think there is a deeper meaning to this movie, there's some commentary on alcoholism. Illustrates how people who suffer from this condition are treated by people, ridiculed, and ignored, and when they need money they do stuff that degrades them just to get a buck. Dean Martin's character is the one who suffers this and in the end, he becomes a part of the heroes who saved the town.

Overall it is an amazing movie, beautifully restored by Warner Bros. and The Film Foundation, presented in a gorgeous 4K Blu-ray that brings the colors back to the picture and gives the environment much more needed depth. Perhaps is my own biases with Western movies but this one is another great example of why they should be brought back.

Side note: I believe Warner Color has some interesting ways to reproduce color, it gives darker areas some sort of a metallic blue tone, the picture has much contrast and the blue eyes of the characters are REALLY blue.

         

Final Score - 5/5