Review of Rio Bravo (1959) by Nebeer K — 22 Mar 2009
Howard Hawks' meditation on professionalism and male bonding is a terrific bitch-slap to the morally flawed HIGH NOON. John Wayne is iconic; Dean Martin is a revelation; Walter Brennan is reliable as always; and Angie Dickinson is hot, hot, hot.
This is Hawks at the top of his game, spinning a suspenseful story also taking the time to let his characters develop at a natural pace. Like John Wayne's character here, Hawks is a consummate professional, elevating this otherwise boilerplate Western melodrama into something approaching high art.
RIO BRAVO joins THE SEARCHERS and RED RIVER in the troika of greatest Westerns ever made. My vote goes to this one for #1.
This review of Rio Bravo (1959) was written by Nebeer K on 22 Mar 2009.
Rio Bravo has generally received very positive reviews.
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