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Red River

Red River (1948)

August. 26,1948
|
7.8
|
NR
| Western

Headstrong Thomas Dunson starts a thriving Texas cattle ranch with the help of his faithful trail hand, Groot, and his protégé, Matthew Garth, an orphan Dunson took under his wing when Matt was a boy. In need of money following the Civil War, Dunson and Matt lead a cattle drive to Missouri, where they will get a better price than locally, but the crotchety older man and his willful young partner begin to butt heads on the exhausting journey.

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Reviews

Phonearl
1948/08/26

Good start, but then it gets ruined

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Livestonth
1948/08/27

I am only giving this movie a 1 for the great cast, though I can't imagine what any of them were thinking. This movie was horrible

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Gurlyndrobb
1948/08/28

While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.

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Scarlet
1948/08/29

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

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JohnHowardReid
1948/08/30

Most people are going to enjoy this film. The story builds up well with some wonderful action set-pieces and montages, even though it could certainly benefit from further trimming. Coleen Gray making too much of her one scene would be twice as effective at half the length; and as for Joanne Dru, she doesn't belong in the film at all. True, she makes an extremely late entrance, but the story got along quite effectively without her. All she does is to slow down the pace and dissipate most of the tension. Mind you, the plot has some gaping holes. For instance, Wayne claims that he's too poor to buy some sacks of flour and few pounds of beans, yet he has no trouble engaging a band of badmen and buying them ammunition! And what a neat co-incidence that one of the pursuing Indians was wearing that charm bracelet that belonged - of course - to Wayne's mother! Wayne is his usual ruggedly roughshod self, Clift is less neurotic than usual, Brennan minus more teeth is more talkative than ever and even has an off-camera commentary as well! A fascinating assembly of support players includes the Careys, father and son (though the two never meet), Tom Tyler (briefly glimpsed), Paul Fix as a whinger saved from a hanging and Chief Yowlachie surprisingly amusing as a comic relief assistant cook and bottlewasher!

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Fella_shibby
1948/08/31

I first saw this in the mid 90s. Revisited it recently on a blu-ray. The story is about a determined n ruthless man who has forsaken everything in order to build his cattle empire from the ground up. John Wayne did a terrific job in portraying the man who is stubborn, focused n mean. The man doesnt hesitate to kill anyone who tries to come between his way but at the same time gives the dead an honorable burial. He snatches peoples land n cattles forcefully without giving a damn. He gives orders as well as spot on death punishment even if it means u r found stealing sugar. The only guy who can stand against the tyrannical fella is his adopted son played by very well by Montgomery Clift. Now imagine trekking more than a thousand miles journey filled with rough terrain, rains, rivers, animal stampede, food shortage n hostile Injuns with this tyrant fella. While watching this film one is transported as if one is among the trekkers. We have lots of interesting characters, Walter Brennan playing Waynes very old n loyal friend who is ready to provide Wayne with a weapon in need of time but at the same time laughs when he sees Wayne getting a beating. Ivan Parry as a sugar-addicted fella who may be responsible for a stampede. Chief Yowlachie beating Brennan in a poker game. Harry Carey Jr. who is eager to bring money home to his family n a pair of red shoes for his wife. There are two things i didnt like in this film. The ending was a bit letdown. After creating so much tension n suddenly....... The other thing was the lack of shoot-out scenes. We hav a gunslinger Cherry played by John Ireland but his role was too small n the final confrontation between him n Wayne was again like u blink n u miss.

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Wuchak
1948/09/01

Released in 1948 and directed by Howard Hawks (with Arthur Rosson), "Red River" stars John Wayne as a tough ranch mogul who heads a cattle drive from Texas to Missouri, the culmination of over 14 years of work. But his authoritarian abuse along the way causes his men to revolt, led by his adopted son (Montgomery Clift). Walter Brennan in on hand as the rancher's sidekick while John Ireland plays the son's friend/rival. The plot is essentially Mutiny on the Bounty in the Old West on a cattle drive. For that reason alone the story's compelling, yet it isn't anywhere near as good as Brando's or Gibson's versions of the infamous mutiny ('62 and '84 respectively). Nevertheless, it's great seeing Wayne when he was lean & mean at 40; and the tensions that slowly build leading to the gripping confrontation are well done. Moreover, Clift and Ireland are interesting, the former a precursor to the pensive style of Marlon Brando and James Dean. Speaking of Clift and Ireland, people confused about their sexuality tend to be obsessed with reading a "homosexual subtext" into their relationship, but it doesn't exist. Yes, the characters talk about each other's guns, but that's because they're young gunslingers. It's purely shop talk. Cherry (Ireland) is clearly interested in some past babe he met in a town and Matt becomes romantically enamored by Tess (Joanne Dru). Only pathetic SJWs who believe the drivel of their doofus libertine professors would read a "gay subtext" into the movie. The fact that Clift later fell into homosexuality and the corresponding guilt is irrelevant. While the movie's certainly worthwhile, it's held back by the B&W photography, dated score and a couple other old-fashioned elements. The dramatic scene between Clift and Dru during the Native attack on the wagon trail is eye-rolling and unbelievable. Moreover, the Arizona locations are disingenuous seeing as how Arizona looks nothing like the geography of the actual Chisholm Trail in Central/East Texas and the plains of Central Oklahoma & Kansas. The film runs 133 minutes and was shot in Arizona with studio work done in West Hollywood. The screenplay was written by Borden Chase & Charles Schnee based on Chase' story. ADDITIONAL CAST: Coleen Gray, Noah Beery Jr., Harry Carey Jr., Harry Carey and Chief Yowlachie. GRADE: B-

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texasrehab1
1948/09/02

What a wonderful movie . Once again John Wayne , Joanne Dru , and Montgomery Clift were phenomenal. While watching this movie , my thoughts were " Nobody should come to the movies unless you believe in heroes " and " if everything is not black and white why the heck not". Obviously, we all know these are John Wayne Quotes. The 1000 mile Journey was a challenge and despite the fact they had lots of challenges they completed there task. You would be shocked how beautiful the cows were , even in black and white . Cows have a special place in American culture and history . The cows helped settle this country and to no surprise they still have huge impact on us all I strongly suggest to see this movie and enjoy history unfold

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