Film Review
Red River has an epic quality
and spectacular fusion of realism and lyricism which makes it one of the
greatest of the Hollywood westerns. It is hard to believe
that this was the first western to be directed by Howard
Hawks. The film's sheer scale and visual power is unlike
anything that we find in any of Hawks's previous films, which consist
mainly of cheap studio-bound comedies and claustrophobic film noir
crime dramas. Hawks did go on to make a few more westerns,
notably
Rio Bravo (1959), but
none of these would match the supreme excellence of Red River, which is
widely regarded as his finest film.
The film is notable in that it features what is arguably the best
performance of its iconic lead actor, John Wayne. Even John Ford
was impressed. He had directed Wayne in a couple of films
previously, most notably
Stagecoach (1939), but he was
driven to exclaim, on seeing Wayne perform in
Red River, "I didn't know the
big son of a bitch could act!" Howard Hawks was a hard taskmaster
who knew how to get the best out of his actors, as can be seen from the
authenticity and realism that Wayne brings to his performance in this
film. His Tom Dunson is a flawed and complex character who is as
loathsome as he is sympathetic.
Just as impressive is Montgomery Clift, making a remarkable film debut
at the age of 27. Clift's career would be cut short by tragic
misfortune, yet throughout his brief period of stardom he was rarely
less than perfect in whatever role he was given. Although he and
John Wayne are reputed to have had a bad working relationship during
the making of
Red River,
on-screen he is the perfect complement to his co-star. Clift's
Matt Garth matches Wayne's Tom Dunson in charisma and Old West
machismo, but shows a humanity and pragmatism that is so evidently
lacking in the flawed Dunson. Whilst this is undoubtedly Wayne
and Clift's film, it would be a sin to overlook the impressive
contributions of the supporting cast, particularly that of Walter
Brennan, who supplies much of the comic relief. It was at
Hawks's insistence that the 53-year-old Brennan removed his false
teeth to provide the film with its amusing running gag.
Another key contributor to the film was cinematographer Russell Harlan,
who is responsible for the stunning vistas that vividly convey the
enormity of the ordeal undertaken by the cattle drivers. The
sequence in which thousands of cattle are driven across a river is one
of the greatest ever filmed for a western, but there are so many other
memorable images: the wagon train silhouetted against the skyline, the
thunderous stampede, the battle with the rampaging Indians and, of
course, the final showdown between Matt and Dunson. How much of
Red River's brilliance is down to
Harlan and how much should be attributed to Howard Hawks is hard to
determine, but one thing is certain: together they have crafted one of
the undisputed masterpieces of cinema, a western that everyone should see.
© James Travers 2009
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.
Next Howard Hawks film:
I Was a Male War Bride (1949)
Film Synopsis
Leaving his wagon train and the woman he loves, Tom Dunson heads south
towards Texas to make his fortune as a ranch owner. Not long
after his departure, the wagon train is attacked by Indians who
slaughter the entire party, except for a teenage boy, Matt Garth, who
manages to escape and join up with Dunson. Impressed by the boy's
spirit, Dunson adopts him as his own son and the two continue their
journey to Texas with just two cattle, enough to start a ranch.
Fourteen years later, Matt returns from serving in the Civil War to
find that Dunson is the owner of nine thousand head of cattle.
Knowing that he would barely make a profit if he were to sell his
cattle in Texas, Dunson decides to drive the entire herd to Missouri,
where beef commands a higher price. The thousand mile drive is
likely to take a hundred days, but Dunson manages to put together a
team of men who are willing to go along with him. But it is not
long before Dunson, with his stubbornness and authoritarian streak,
begins to antagonise his men. Dissent grows when the men learn
that there is a railhead at Abilene in Kansas where the cattle could be
sold at a good price, but still Dunson insists on going all the way to
Missouri. Things come to a head when Matt turns on Dunson and
takes control of the drive. Leaving his adopted father behind,
Matt takes the cattle to Abilene. He knows that one day Dunson
will carry out his threat to kill him...
© James Travers
The above content is owned by filmsdefrance.com and must not be copied.