Rio Bravo

Western classic

06 December 2008

One of the great westerns, Rio Bravo finds John Wayne as Sheriff Chance in a lawless outpost of the American West. Wayne’s buddy Dude (Dean Martin) used to be a great sharpshooter but drink has since made his hands unsteady. They are accompanied by the old, toothless Stumpy (Walter Brennan) as watchman in the local Sheriff’s office and this trio of misfits have to face up against a gang of cowboys who are as bad as they come. Revered as one of legendary director Howard Hawk’s very best films, it is driven by a simple and effective set-up. Confined to a limited Hollywood set comprising of a prison, bar and hotel, the distance from which the bad guys ride in seems like an almost mystical place, turning the film into a succinct allegory of good vs. bad. But the real joy comes from watching Wayne, Martin and Brennan in their element.

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