Rio Bravo

The drama Rio Bravo is one of the great Westerns – Sheriff John Wayne is determined to get a murderer to trial, but the man’s rich brother is determined to prevent that at all costs …

Rio Bravo (1959) starring John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Walter Brennan, Angie Dickinson

Rio Bravo is one of the great Westerns. Sheriff John Wayne is determined to get a murderer to trial, but the man’s rich brother is determined to free his brother at all costs. On Wayne’s side is his former deputy, Dean Martin, coming off a two-year bender, and the crippled Walter Brennan. And one new gunfighter he knows nothing about – Ricky Nelson. And his elderly, cantankerous partner, Walter Brennan.

Cast

• John Wayne (The Quiet Man) … Sheriff John T. Chance. He’s outmanned and outgunned.But he’s determined to bring Joe to justice. All he has to do is stay alive long enough. And he does have some friends willing to stand by him.
• Dean Martin (Pardners) … Dude (‘Borrachón’). Disgraced as the town drunk, he’s going to win back his self-respect. From the townspeople, his friend Chance, and even himself.
• Ricky Nelson (The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet) … Colorado Ryan. The young, but inexperienced gunfighter. He knows the risks, and is going to help Chance anyway. Especially after Burdett’s men murder his boss, Pat.
• Angie Dickinson (Police Woman) … Feathers. The love interest for chance, but very different from what Chance expects. A lovely young gambler, who isn’t shy and demure. And Chance has no idea how to deal with her.
• Walter Brennan (The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle) … Stumpy. Absolutely delightful as the crippled “geezer” who stands by Chance, no matter what. And dangerous in his own right.
• Ward Bond (The Quiet Man, Young Mr. Lincoln) … Pat Wheeler. Chance’s friend, who Burdette murders for standing with Chance.
• John Russell (The Outlaw Josey Wales) … Nathan Burdette. The wealthy farmer, who isn’t going to sit idly by while his brother is hung for murder. Amoral, he’s willing to intimidate and murder multiple people to get his way.
• Pedro Gonzalez Gonzalez (The High and the Mighty) … Carlos Robante. Another friend who stand with Chance. He and his wife run the local hotel.
• Estelita Rodriguez (Jesse James Meets Frankenstein’s Daughter) … Consuela Robante
• Claude Akins (Battle for the Planet of the Apes) … Joe Burdette. The nasty, vicious, entitled murderer. There’s no question of his guilt. But he’s convinced that his brother Nathan will get him out of the trouble.

Product Description 

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 the 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.

Songs

• Rio Bravo
  • Music by Dimitri Tiomkin
  • Lyrics by Paul Francis Webster
  • Sung by Dean Martin (uncredited)
• My Rifle, My Pony, and Me
  • Music by Dimitri Tiomkin
  • Lyrics by Paul Francis Webster
  • Performed by Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson (uncredited)
• Cindy Cindy
  • Performed by Ricky Nelson, Walter Brennan and Dean Martin