John Wayne & Maureen O'Hara Battle It Out

John Ford's third western in his Monument Valley trilogy is this gem, "Rio Grande." The first two were "Fort Apache" and "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon." This movie also has another interesting source. It was used to test the pairing of John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara and to finance their second movie "The Quiet Man." If this movie had not made money, "The Quiet Man" would never have been made.

In my opinion, this is Maureen O'Hara's movie. Colonel Kirby York (John Wayne) is stationed with his soldiers near the Rio Grande to stem Apache uprisings in the late 19th Century. Lo and behold, he overhears the roll call of new recruits and learns that his 15 year old son from Virginia, Jeff (Claude Jarman, Jr.), is there after flunking math at West Point. Col. York has not seen his son since birth because he felt the absolute duty to serve his country and was transferred West. To make matters worse, a wagon drives up with his wife Kathleen (Maureen O'Hara), who is determined to get their son out of the Army, back to a math tutor in Kentucky, and then back to West Point where he could graduate and get his commission. Both the son and the father refuse.

There is not a whole lot of plot after this initial conflict. Kathleen charms the whole army camp, and we are serenaded by the Sons of the Pioneers Group with songs like "I'll Take You Back Home Again, Kathleen," which must have been written for this movie. (It was written by Dale Evans.)

There is a subplot involving a young Ben Johnson (who eventually won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for "The Last Picture Show"). He plays a young recruit too but is accused of man slaughter in a previous town. He flees the Army when the deputies arrive but eventually saves the day when the Apaches kidnap all the children in the camp.

Claude Jarman Jr, who plays Jeff York, is the grown up boy from "The Yearling."
He shows his stuff when he rides two horses at once and they jump over a fence.

There are two wonderful special features to this movie--one hosted by Leonard Maltin and the second hosted by Maureen O'Hara. You will get to meet John Wayne's son who comments on his father's part of the movie. Maureen comments on her relationship with Wayne and her direction by John Ford. Also we learn that the movie was made on the banks of the Colorado River--not the Rio Grande.

In my opinion, this movie is better than "The Quiet Man" even though it was only done to make the Irish followup.

John Ford : Creator of magic moments

This John Ford movie along with (She were a yellow ribbon and Fort Appache) makes space to other actors than John Wayne. Victor M
McGlagen always the funniest as the Irish-alcoholic Undiscipline but sensible soldier. Maureen O'Hara more beautiful than ever in the role of the wife of Kirby Yorke (John Wayne) struggling betwin the life of a rancher and the life of a Cavalry's wife. Most incredible part is the authenticity of the Indian characters(which I will remark, at that time, they took irish actor and painted them), not to mention the incredible outdoors which were even more increadible in his first technicolor movie. And let's not forget the songs which are really beautiful and had a really great asset of the whole movie.

The story is Kirby Yorke's son who had not seen in 15 years engage in the Cavalry as a trooper after failing mathematic in West Point. Kirby doesn't like the idea and his wife neither. She comes in the camp and tries to convince her son who refuse. While the Apache are more united than never, they do a huge raid on the camp to send a message by arsoning and rioting the Americans: We will not surrender. A large rallye is organized to counter those repetitive attacks on the Orders of General Sheridian.

Rio Grande (2002, DVD)

I bought this DVD as a gift and the person absolutely loves it. It has been digitally remastered and has restored audio. It includes a minidocumentary "Along the Rio Grande with Maureen O'Hara." Great John Wayne movie.

Ford, Wayne, O'Hara - Did it get any better?

The Western that had to be made so that "The Quiet Man" could get made. This is an excellent movie, not at all dated, and so well filmed by John Ford. The special features are great, too. Way better then current cinema drivel!

Rio Grande

John Wayne+John Ford=Great Movie making and Entertainment.You don't find better film making then the Wayne Ford teaming.