A superb western - Red River
DVD Collector, Action film aficionado, Fan of Superb Productions
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MAY
9
2008
Red River —
Red River (1948)
Howard Hawks directed excellent movies in many genres and Red River is evidence that he was up with the best of them when it came to making westerns. Fellow director John Ford noted "I didn't know the big SOB could act," when remarking on big John Wayne's scintillating performance as protagonist Tom Dunson.Montgomery Clift made his acting debut in this classic western, which has held up over the decades as one of the very best of the genre. Clift stars as "Matthew Garth," an orphaned boy picked up on the plains by "Tom Dunson" and his sidekick "Groot" (John Wayne and Walter Brennan). The narration is carried forward from 1851 through handwritten pages from the book Early Tales of Texas, shown across the screen from time to time, and read by Brennan.
Dunson typifies the no-nonsense nature of the early settlers of Texas. His inflexible character is established early, by abandoning the California-bound wagon train and his sweetheart to strike out on his own. Dunson wants to stake a claim to some of the land he sees around.
An Indian attack kills everyone left on the train and a pair of Indians jump Wayne and Brennan but are killed. Wayne finds the bracellet he gave to his sweetheart before he left the wagon train. Matthew, (Clift) the sole survivor of the massacre, shows up leading a cow. Dunson appropriates the cow and takes Matthew along, after disarming him and admonishing him not to trust anyone.
Later, Dunson stakes out his claim for the land. As he and Groot discuss raising beef cattle a pair of Mexican cowboys ride up. They tell the men the land belongs to a man who lives 400 miles south of the Rio Grande. Dunson tells him that it belongs to him now. The two men face off and draw. Dunson is the winner. He sends the other Mexican back to inform the former owner. A decent man at heart, Dunson buries the Mexican and reads the Bible over him.
Years pass and the Red River D is the largest ranch in Texas. Dunson is now white-haired. We identify the now grown-up Matthew by the silver snake bracelet given to him by his adoptive father Dunson, the same bracelet he had given his sweetheart back at the wagon train.
Dunson has a problem. It is after the Civil War and there is no market for beef in Texas. He decides to organize the first cattle drive over what will be known as the Chisholm Trail to Missouri.
What happens during the cattle drive and after makes for a compelling, interesting story, including a stampede, a mutiny and a gunfight. Any viewer, not just a western fan would enjoy this film, as it has all the elements that add up to a great viewing experience.
John Wayne does his most convincing performance as ramrod-straight Tom Dunson, the heavy of the film. Monty Clift plays the good guy and shows a lot of charm. Walter Brennan, plays a variation of his usual crotchety sidekick. His losing his false teeth to the Indian cowboy is priceless comic relief. The supporting cast consists of many familar faces: John Ireland, Noah Beery, Jr., Hank Worden, and Paul Fix. Lovely Joanne Dru provides the love interest.
Beautiful high contrast black and white photography by Russell Harlan.
Direction is superior by action specialist Howard Hawks, whose credits include several Wayne vehicles, and the original Scarface Dimitri Tiompkin produced the classic Western score.
The MGM DVD is presented in full screen theatrical format, in black and white, and running 133 minutes.
Last edited on May 18, 2008
Red River is recommended by GeorgeChabot
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