Rio Grande

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Rio Grande

Released Nov 15, 1950

1h 45m

Western

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75%

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16 Reviews

70%

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5,000+ Ratings

Lieutenant Colonel Kirby Yorke (John Wayne) heads a cavalry post on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, defending settlers against Apaches launching raids from the Mexican side of the river. When Yorke's 16-year-old son, Jeff (Claude Jarman Jr.) --- who he has not seen since he was a baby -- shows up at the post as one of the new recruits, he treats him more harshly than the others. Things are further complicated when Yorke's estranged wife, Kathleen (Maureen O'Hara), returns to take her son home.

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

It's a forgettable Ford western. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 6/10

Aug 13, 2021

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James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

despite all that talent behind the camera, Rio Grande still strikes one primarily as a film that Ford just wanted to get done

Rated: 2.5/4

Mar 8, 2021

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Michael J. Casey

Boulder Weekly

Popular entertainment from a complicated time made by strong personalities with contradictory beliefs.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 8, 2021

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Matt Brunson

Film Frenzy

John Wayne is excellent, even if this Kirby Yorke seems different from the one in Fort Apache.

Rated: 3/4

Dec 17, 2020

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Kevin Wight

The Wee Review

While nowhere near an essential showcase for Ford or Wayne, and a complete waste of O'Hara, Rio Grande is still a generally enjoyable conveyor-belt western.

Rated: 3

Apr 4, 2020

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Rated: 4/5

Feb 22, 2008

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Kyle M

John Wayne stood front and center on a lesser stance with signature conviction in this routinely uneventful territorial formula with a mere gist of underlying family drama that doesn’t engage as much as the riveting third act. (B)

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

06/30/25

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Jelisije J

A nice fun light hearted John Wayne film deals where he is a cavalry man and his son enlist in the same regiment as him.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

05/15/25

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Audience Member

Not the best Western Ford has ever made, but at least it's a Western by Ford. The plot can't decide what it wants to be: a family story, a story about the cavalry, or an adventure film with evil Indians. Besides, there's a bit too much singing for my taste. On the other hand, maybe that's exactly what it's supposed to be: a colorful bag of wonders with a little bit of everything. Is it worth seeing? Absolutely!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/06/24

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Jeff S

If you like boisterous ballads and continuous cacophony, this one's for you.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/22/24

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Alec B

It lacks both the visual style and narrative complexity of Ford's best work. Also he clearly wasn't directing most of the actors, oh well its what he had to muddle through in order to get to make "The Quiet Man".

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/20/24

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Steve D

Only for the already converted.

Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars

01/04/24

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John Ford

Director

John Wayne

Lt. Col. Kirby York

Maureen O'Hara

Mrs. Kathleen York

Ben Johnson

Trooper Travis Tyree

Harry Carey Jr.

Trooper Daniel "Sandy" Boone

Victor McLaglen

Sgt. Maj. Timothy Quincannon

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Synopsis

Lieutenant Colonel Kirby Yorke (John Wayne) heads a cavalry post on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, defending settlers against Apaches launching raids from the Mexican side of the river. When Yorke's 16-year-old son, Jeff (Claude Jarman Jr.) --- who he has not seen since he was a baby -- shows up at the post as one of the new recruits, he treats him more harshly than the others. Things are further complicated when Yorke's estranged wife, Kathleen (Maureen O'Hara), returns to take her son home.

Director: John Ford
Producer: Merian C. Cooper, John Ford, Herbert J. Yates
Screenwriter: James Warner Bellah, James Kevin McGuinness
Production Co: Argosy Pictures, Republic Pictures Corporation
Genre: Western
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 15, 1950, Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2012
Runtime: 1h 45m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)

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