RED RIVER

US, 1948, 133 minutes, Black and white.
John Wayne, Montgomery Clift, Joanne Dru, Walter Brennan, Harry Carey, John Ireland, Colleen Gray.
Directed by Howard Hawks.

Red River is a classic cattle film directed by Howard Hawks. Hawks was an action director, specialising in films about aviation like Only Angels Have Wings. He also did a number of thrillers like The Big Sleep with Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall. Later he was to vary his interests and even directed Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. He made this film with John Wayne and was to make several films with Wayne in the 50s and 60s including the classics Rio Bravo and El Dorado.

This film has a musical score by Dimitri Tiomkin, setting a mood for the black and white photography and the cattle run to Texas.

John Wayne is the patriarch of the family, and Wayne was forty-plus at this time, who works with his adopted son played by Montgomery Clift in his first film. However, the Wayne character becomes tyrannical, his adopted son rebels and wants to take cattle in another direction. He is pursued by his stepfather. The film has an archetypal fight between father and son. In the background is Walter Brennan in yet another comic role, some kind of mediator between the two.

The film made an impact in its time, is considered one of John Wayne's best films and remains a classic cattle film.

1. The film is considered a classic western. Its impact. John Wayne. the American heritage? What are its main qualities as a western classic?

2. The emphasis of the title, the emphasis on Texas, history and heritage, the impact of the west?

3. The black and white photography, the studio sequences, the cattle sequences, the impact of the land itself?

4. The film as part of American history: the technique of turning the pages, the passing of time and the amount of time covered during the film?

5. John Wayne and his style as Dunson? As the old image of the typical American? His pioneer history when he was young, independent? His opening up of the land? His having nothing, ambitious, making everything of himself? The kind of American spirit represented?

6. The violence and power implied in the character of Dunson And his status? The killing of the Mexicans, the owning of the land, looking after Matthew, the devotion of Groot?

7. The change in Dunson as he grew older? Obsessed, lacking money? The nature of his power and its absolute nature? His not listening to people’s advice? The whipping, the shooting, the wish to harm? The motivation of revenge? The effect of hardship? What had changed in his life? The fact that men would mutiny against him? That Matthew would turn against him? What was necessary before the ending, in terms of confrontation? The implied criticisms in the character of Dunson and his status as a pioneer?

8. The contrast with Matthew? The young boy in the initial pioneer sequences? Influenced by Dunson? The effect of the war and the change to non-violence? His obedience and good sense? His quality of loyalty, for example, with the whip? His attitude towards the hanging? His differing methods, the need to rebel? His achievement on his own? The effect of Tess? The final shoot-out, the brand as a sign of reuniting, Matt as a hero?

9. The relationship between Matt and Cherry? Comparisons and contrasts, their work as cow-hands, Cherry's shooting at Dunson?

10. The contribution of Groot: comedy, pioneer, his accurate comments on people's behaviour? The chorus commentary?

11. The portrayal of men in the west: their signing for Dunson, the contracts? Rebellion, achievement? The cook? Dan being killed? What were the qualities for survival in this kind of west?

12. The portrayal of the women? Fenn and her farewell? The pathos of her death? The talk and the intervening time? The influence of Tess on both men? What kind of women could survive in this west?

13. The portrayal of the cattle drive? The visual impact? The stampede? Cattle as giving meaning to these men's life and survival?

14. The sense of achievement in opening up the west? American pride and heritage? The values in the portrayal of this heritage?