Rio Bravo (UK)

7 / 10
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Certificate: PG
Running Time: 135 mins
Retail Price: £12.99
Release Date:

Synopsis:
On one side is an army of gunmen dead-set on springing a murderous sidekick from jail. On the other is Sheriff John T Chance and his two deputies: one a drunk, the other a cripple. Place your bets.
John Wayne is Chance in Rio Bravo, a lean western classic packing solid heroics and a strong emotional core. He`s joined by Dean Martin as the deputy coming off a two-year drunk, Walter Brennan as the old coot whose spirit outmatches his hobbled stride, Ricky Nelson as a youth out to prove himself and Angie Dickinson as a scarlet woman with her eye on Chance. Director Howard Hawks lifted the Western to new heights with Red River. Capturing the legendary West with a stellar cast in peak form, he does it again here.

Special Features:
Interactive Menus
Scene Access
Theatrical Trailer

Video Tracks:
Widescreen Anamorphic 1.85:1

Audio Tracks:
Dolby Digital Mono English

Directed By:
Howard Hawks

Written By:



Starring:
Ward Bond
Walter Brennan
Angie Dickinson
Ricky Nelson
Dean Martin
John Wayne

Soundtrack By:
Dimitri Tiomkin

Director of Photography:
Russell Harlan

Editor:
Folmar Blangsted

Costume Designer:
Marjorie Best

Producer:
Howard Hawks

Distributor:
Warner Bros

Your Opinions and Comments

8 / 10
A must for all classic western fans!
posted by Richard73 on 4/12/2001 23:06
9 / 10
A great film!
posted by Martin Zandstra on 17/7/2002 00:18
6 / 10
Being such a famous movie that was a smash hit in its time, this had been on my to-watch list for some time. I finally got round to renting it recently and watched it last night. Howard Hawks and John Wayne. Two of the biggest names in hollywood history come together for what is called a classic western. The movie has the main theme of outnumbered underdogs who struggle to keep their honour but have high spirits. This scenario has since been repeated on so many occaisions but this movie is supposed to be the one that set it all off.

John Wayne is John T Chance, the local sheriff who has arrested Joe Burdette, brother of the local big gangster, for murder. John knows he is in a lot of trouble but wants to keep his honour. Together with his Deputies(Dean Martin and Walter Brennan) and a rookie (Ricky Nelson), John and his team do their best to keep Joe locked up, despite many attacks, until the not so big finale.

The finale is probably the main and only problem in that it is disappointing. It could have and should have been so much better. I dont know what expectations were like in the old days but todays audience would probably freak if they saw the ending after all the huge and marvellous build up.

The picture is mostly clean and sharp and on the whole pretty great for its age. Much better than some of the grainier pictures of some 60`s westerns on dvd.
There is no surround on the sound channels but the soundtrack is pretty clear and coherant. Dialogue is easy to make out. The songs are quite humble and generally uplifting.
A good dvd as far as sound and picture are concerned. There is only a trailer but it is well presented with similar quality to that of the main feature.

Overall its a good movie that builds up well. It is only the ending that lets the movie down but its still a worthwile experience to watch the movie. The dvd is very good but should have had more extra features. If you have seen the movie and like it, its a dvd to own. If not, I recommend you rent this or maybe one of the modern remakes(check out John Carpenters Assault On Precinct 13)
posted by dicanio on 14/5/2003 21:36