Product ReviewsRio Grande (DVD, 2002, Collectors Edition DVD)

John Wayne & Maureen O'Hara Battle It Out

John Ford's third western in his Monument Valley trilogy is this gem, "Rio Grande." The first two were "Fort Apache" and "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon." This movie also has another interesting source. It was used to test the pairing of John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara and to finance their second movie "The Quiet Man." If this movie had not made money, "The Quiet Man" would never have been made.

In my opinion, this is Maureen O'Hara's movie. Colonel Kirby York (John Wayne) is stationed with his soldiers near the Rio Grande to stem Apache uprisings in the late 19th Century. Lo and behold, he overhears the roll call of new recruits and learns that his 15 year old son from Virginia, Jeff (Claude Jarman, Jr.), is there after flunking math at West Point. Col. York has not seen his son since birth because he felt the absolute duty to serve his country and was transferred West. To make matters worse, a wagon drives up with his wife Kathleen (Maureen O'Hara), who is determined to get their son out of the Army, back to a math tutor in Kentucky, and then back to West Point where he could graduate and get his commission. Both the son and the father refuse.

There is not a whole lot of plot after this initial conflict. Kathleen charms the whole army camp, and we are serenaded by the Sons of the Pioneers Group with songs like "I'll Take You Back Home Again, Kathleen," which must have been written for this movie. (It was written by Dale Evans.)

There is a subplot involving a young Ben Johnson (who eventually won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for "The Last Picture Show"). He plays a young recruit too but is accused of man slaughter in a previous town. He flees the Army when the deputies arrive but eventually saves the day when the Apaches kidnap all the children in the camp.

Claude Jarman Jr, who plays Jeff York, is the grown up boy from "The Yearling."
He shows his stuff when he rides two horses at once and they jump over a fence.

There are two wonderful special features to this movie--one hosted by Leonard Maltin and the second hosted by Maureen O'Hara. You will get to meet John Wayne's son who comments on his father's part of the movie. Maureen comments on her relationship with Wayne and her direction by John Ford. Also we learn that the movie was made on the banks of the Colorado River--not the Rio Grande.

In my opinion, this movie is better than "The Quiet Man" even though it was only done to make the Irish followup.Read full review...

One of the trilogy of John Wayne's role as a soldier out west after the Civil War. Good movie. Highly recommend to Duke fans.

The company who put this out did a good job in the reproduction of this old black and white flick.......This is one of the Duke's early successes.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: swb

An Old Gem

Classic old-school western with the Duke at his best. I bought this DVD for my son, a Marine, because it included Peter Ortiz in a bit part. Ortiz was a real-life hero who's life and accomplishments rise above the fiction of Hollywood; it is a real pleasure to see him in film.Read full review...

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: hIEqfPP0QdG@Del...

Family movie

I love the emotions in this movie. The quality of the dvd is good.

This is the story of America

John Wayne, America and Westerns mmm mmm good.

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: lowellpawn123

A good western with John Wayne

A good western with John Wayne

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: decluttr_store

Classic john wayne movie just great

Good movie Good cast great scenery another john wayne Homer

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: goodwillsa

Great movie

Rio grande great movie loved it would buy it again thank you

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: 44sissie

Love John Wayne

It's a John Wayne movie, how could it be any better

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: new | Sold by: beanstalkneworl...

Very under stated.

Excellent picture of the old west and a John Wayne triumph!!!!

Verified purchase:  Yes | Condition: pre-owned | Sold by: steven4392