Rio Bravo

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Rio Bravo

Released Mar 18, 1959

2h 21m

Western

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

96%

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50 Reviews

91%

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10,000+ Ratings

When gunslinger Joe Burdette (Claude Akins) kills a man in a saloon, Sheriff John T. Chance (John Wayne) arrests him with the aid of the town drunk, Dude (Dean Martin). Before long, Burdette's brother, Nathan (John Russell), comes around, indicating that he's prepared to bust his brother out of jail if necessary. Chance decides to make a stand until reinforcements arrive, enlisting Dude, an old cripple named Stumpy (Walter Brennan) and baby-faced cowboy Colorado Ryan (Ricky Nelson) to help.

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Critics Consensus

Rio Bravo finds director Howard Hawks -- and his stellar ensemble cast -- working at peak performance, and the end result is a towering classic of the Western genre.

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Richard Brody

New Yorker

The movie is simultaneously an apogee of the classic Western style, with its principled violence in defense of just law, and an eccentrically hyperbolic work of modernism, which yokes both bumptious erotic comedy and soul-searing rawness to the mission.

Apr 23, 2013

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Roger Ebert

Chicago Sun-Times

To watch Rio Bravo is to see a master craftsman at work. The film is seamless. There is not a shot that is wrong. It is uncommonly absorbing, and the 141-minute running time flows past like running water.

Rated: 4/4

Apr 23, 2013

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TIME Magazine

Wayne, of course, walks off with the show -- not by doing anything in particular, but simply by being what he is: at 51, still one of the most believable he-men in Hollywood.

Apr 27, 2009

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Moira Walsh

The Catholic World

In addition to its excessive length and consequent slow pace the film has other liabilities... Nevertheless the characterizations are unusually solid and get more interesting as they go along.

Nov 28, 2023

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

A marvelous motion picture.

Rated: 4/4

Aug 10, 2023

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Noah Gittell

Washington City Paper

It's pure romantic bliss that feels about as far away from a political statement as you could imagine.

Jul 21, 2023

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Fred

It looked spectacular on the big screen. It's a wonderful film, with a great cast.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/24/24

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steve

Great great movie!!! Everyone is wonderful and perfect for their roles.it’s also very funny 🤠🤠🤠

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

05/22/23

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Audience Member

This was the worst movie. Simplistic plot and bad acting. And I am a JW fan.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

11/10/24

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Joel H

Rio Bravo is another strong showing for director Howard Hawks and John Wayne. This movie features a character-driven story, which meant that I was willing to overlook the simplistic story. I liked the characters and was interested to see what they’d do in the given situations. I also gave a pass to the obvious stunt casting of singers Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson (along with their somewhat random musical number) because they were able to hold their own in the film. Sure, Rio Bravo may have its faults, but it’s how it stands up to those faults with a bold determination that makes this movie likeable.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/25/24

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Merick H

Awesome western that is gripping from beginning to end.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/09/24

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bob c

One of the best Westerns until totally eclipsed by The Wild Bunch.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/20/23

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Howard Hawks

Director

John Wayne

Sheriff John T. Chance

Dean Martin

Dude ("Borachón")

Ricky Nelson

Colorado Ryan

Angie Dickinson

Feathers

Walter Brennan

Stumpy

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Synopsis

When gunslinger Joe Burdette (Claude Akins) kills a man in a saloon, Sheriff John T. Chance (John Wayne) arrests him with the aid of the town drunk, Dude (Dean Martin). Before long, Burdette's brother, Nathan (John Russell), comes around, indicating that he's prepared to bust his brother out of jail if necessary. Chance decides to make a stand until reinforcements arrive, enlisting Dude, an old cripple named Stumpy (Walter Brennan) and baby-faced cowboy Colorado Ryan (Ricky Nelson) to help.

Director: Howard Hawks
Producer: Howard Hawks
Screenwriter: B.H. McCampbell, Jules Furthman, Leigh Brackett
Distributor: Warner Home Vídeo, Warner Bros.
Production Co: Armada Pictures
Genre: Western
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 18, 1959, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Sep 11, 2015
Runtime: 2h 21m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Flat (1.85:1)

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