Rio Bravo (1959)
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The story
Sheriff John T. Chance arrests Joe Burdette, the spoiled brother of a wealthy land baron, for murder. Chance must hold Joe in jail until a U.S. marshal can arrive. To protect the prisoner, Chance relies on a lame old deputy named Stumpy, a drunk former deputy named Dude, and a young gunfighter named Colorado Ryan. As Nathan Burdette's gang gathers to seize Joe, the small group of allies must hold off the rancher's army. The tension rises as Chance tries to manage the various personalities and threats while ensuring the prisoner remains secure against the looming siege.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
After Sheriff John T. Chance arrests Joe Burdette for murder, he is forced to hold him in jail until a U.S. marshal arrives. Chance's small team includes Stumpy, a lame deputy with a grudge against the land baron Nathan Burdette; Dude, a drunk former deputy; and Colorado Ryan, a young gunfighter. Nathan's men, led by his hired guns, begin to pressure the town. During the siege, Pat Wheeler's wagon train is intercepted, and Wheeler is gunned down. Chance allows Dude to confront a killer in a saloon, earning the respect of the outlaws. Feathers, a local woman, stays to guard Chance, and the two bond. Nathan arrives and plays 'El Degüello' to signal his intent. Stumpy's old grudges and Dude's alcoholism create internal friction. After a series of skirmishes and a trap involving Carlos's wife, a final shootout occurs. Stumpy throws dynamite into the warehouse where the Burdettes are holed up, ending the fight. With the Burdettes in jail, Chance admits his feelings for Feathers, and Colorado volunteers to guard the jail so Stumpy and Dude can enjoy a night out.
- First release year
- 1959
- Runtime (minutes)
- 141
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English; Spanish
- Directors
- Howard Hawks
- Writers
- Jules Furthman · screenplay; Leigh Brackett · screenplay
- Cast and characters
- John Wayne · John T. Chance; Dean Martin · Dude; Angie Dickinson · Feathers; Ricky Nelson · Colorado Ryan; Walter Brennan · Stumpy; Ward Bond · Pat Wheeler; John Russell · Nathan Burdette; Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez · Carlos Robante
- Genres
- Western; Buddy; Action
- Themes
- Duty; Friendship; Alcoholism; Loyalty
- Tone and mood
- Serious; Action-oriented; Seamless
- Premise and plot tags
- Western; Siege; Buddy Film; Crime
- Source material / true-story basis
- Short story 'Rio Bravo' by B.H. McCampbell
- Content notes
- Alcoholism
- Reception
- The film received critical acclaim, being considered one of Howard Hawks' best and one of the greatest films of all time. It was highly successful, becoming the highest-grossing Western of 1959.
- Reported review scores
- Metacritic · score: 93 · scale: 100 · review count: 18
- Production trivia
- The story was actually written by Howard Hawks' eldest daughter, Barbara Hawks McCampbell.; The film was made as a response to and critique of 'High Noon'.; The film was deemed 'culturally, historically or aesthetically significant' by the Library of Congress.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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