“Red River” is a superior horse opera featuring John Wayne as a cattle rancher who finds he cannot sell his herd in the cash-poor post-Civil War South. So he simply decides to move the cattle from Texas to Kansas in this fictional account of the first cattle drive. Director Howard Hawks (“The Big Sleep” 1946) worked his movie magic with tight direction from the marvelous screenplay by Borden Chase and Charles Schnee.
The all-star cast is headed by John Wayne in what is probably one of the best roles of his career. Montgomery Clift plays his adopted son, with some of the ranch hands portrayed by Walter Brennan, Paul Fix, Noah Berry Jr., and Harry Carey Jr. Also appearing are Joanne Dru, Coleen Gray, John Ireland, Chief Yowlachie, Hank Worden, and Harry Carey in his final movie appearance. His first role was in a 1909 silent picture called “Bill Sharkey’s Last Game” directed by D. W. Griffith. It is a lost film.
Several actors appearing in uncredited cameos early in their careers are Shelley Winters as a dance hall girl, William Self as a wounded wrangler, and Richard Farnsworth as a cattle driver. The very watchable and entertaining black-and-white western movie “Red River” was popular at the box office for producer Howard Hawks, Monterey Productions, and United Artists.
Red River (1948)
cinema
My Review
“Red River” is a superior horse opera featuring John Wayne as a cattle rancher who finds he cannot sell his herd in the cash-poor post-Civil War South. So he simply decides to move the cattle from Texas to Kansas in this fictional account of the first cattle drive. Director Howard Hawks (“The Big Sleep” 1946) worked his movie magic with tight direction from the marvelous screenplay by Borden Chase and Charles Schnee.
The all-star cast is headed by John Wayne in what is probably one of the best roles of his career. Montgomery Clift plays his adopted son, with some of the ranch hands portrayed by Walter Brennan, Paul Fix, Noah Berry Jr., and Harry Carey Jr. Also appearing are Joanne Dru, Coleen Gray, John Ireland, Chief Yowlachie, Hank Worden, and Harry Carey in his final movie appearance. His first role was in a 1909 silent picture called “Bill Sharkey’s Last Game” directed by D. W. Griffith. It is a lost film.
Several actors appearing in uncredited cameos early in their careers are Shelley Winters as a dance hall girl, William Self as a wounded wrangler, and Richard Farnsworth as a cattle driver. The very watchable and entertaining black-and-white western movie “Red River” was popular at the box office for producer Howard Hawks, Monterey Productions, and United Artists.