Rent Rio Grande (1950)

Superb extras - Rio Grande review by LE

This is probably the weakest of Ford's Cavalry Trilogy and takes a, shall we say, 'conservative' view of the war on native americans - in contrast to Ford's other films of this time. So quite an odd one. Definitely worth seeing though and some typically poetic cinematography. I love that Ford had the confidence to just stop his films at various points for a cast song. Also well worth checking the commentary by Stephen Prince which is superb, and the video essay by Tag Gallagher. Those two extras make this a must-see BluRay for anyone wanting to learn more about the great John Ford. Good print too.

Standard Ford. - Rio Grande review by Steve

There is so much knockabout farce and harmonising of Irish ballads in the third of John Ford's cavalry trilogy that it's as much a sentimental musical comedy as a western. When the Apache attack finally arrives in the last reel, it gives the film an action climax but this isn't really about the 'Indian' Wars. There is nothing about the aims or the justness of either cause.

The plot actually rests on the rekindling of a long ago romance between a cavalry officer (John Wayne) and his estranged wife (Maureen O'Hara). There is some chemistry, and O'Hara smoulders effectively. They would have a bigger hit with Ford in 1952 with The Quiet Man.

The battle is well staged, but the best of the action is a boisterous though incongruous episode with the troops 'roman riding' during their initial training. That's standing on two horses simultaneously, while circuiting the corral. Apparently Ford got the actors to do this rather than use stuntmen.

It's a typical John Ford western, for good and bad. Victor McLaglen ineptly drills yet another set of raw recruits. The Sons of Pioneers sing a sweet lullaby.  There's yet another comical punch up. The era is plausibly recreated and Ford captures many fine images of his cavalry photographed against the Utah landscape.