The Silver Screen Oasis

1. RED RIVER
2. RIO BRAVO
3. THE SHOOTIST

Mongo, I do think the Duke had some of his funniest moments in North to Alaska.

I watched Rio Bravo last night (late)...and I have a question that has bothered me for the many times I've viewed this movie. Does anyone else get the feeling that Angie Dickinson's scenes "with" John Wayne were a bit odd? Almost every time she is in her room at the hotel, having a discussion with him, you never see the two of them together. She says something, he responds offscreen, then he says something, and she responds...offscreen. I've always had the impression they had to film her scenes at a later or earlier date, and insert them into the film. Was JW making some other film at the same time?

As much as I love the movie, it always shouts THIS IS A MOVIE when I see those scenes. The rest of the movie, I simply sink into it, and go along for the ride.

A hard question, but I'd have to go with Rio Bravo as well. Any movie that's such a part of your upbringing that you can vaguely recall reenacting it as a child, with the assistance of your brothers and a very large teddy bear*, has to maintain a strong hold of your mind and affections.

(*None of us wanted to play Dude, so poor teddy got stuck with a challenging dramatic role.)

RED RIVER (the movie, not the SSO poster).

ChiO wrote:RED RIVER (the movie, not the SSO poster).

THE SHOOTIST, all the way! A perfect swan song for the Duke, and great vignettes featuring superb character actors and sometimes-Wayne co-stars along the way (Harry Morgan and Richard Boone in particular are a hoot). Not only my favorite Western but probably my favorirte movie, period.

No arguing with "The Shootist" or any other selection for that matter but two of mine (and any mentioned work as well) are "The Sons of Katie Elder" and "Tall In The Saddle." Both being solid westerns there is a factor of fun about them that adds to their being enjoyable for me.

One things has bothered me about "The Shootist" and I can't put my finger on it but it has something to do with the way it looks. There is almost more of a look of TV than film to it. It's weird and it certainly doesn't detract from the story or Wayne and Bacall. It's not that so many of the rest of the cast were more TV people by then than anything but just the "look" of it.

I totally understand that "look" thing, I can see what you are talking about. It doesn't bother me, but I can see how it might.

Angel and the Badman is probably my favorite of his non-Ford westerns. It has a good supporting cast led by the great Harry Carey, and it really builds up, the suspense, the love story. And it has Gail Russell at her best. It's super. Always did like a good bad man.

Tall in the Saddle and Red River and The Shootist, wow, all great movies, they would be my runners up.

RED RIVER (the movie, not the SSO poster).

Excuse me? It goes without saying, this is my favorite in the non-Ford category. I also like the other great Hawks western, RIO BRAVO. It's too long and too cute (Thank God Wayne wasn't a singer!). But boy, is it fun! I'm glad some have mentioned the exciting HONDO, a galloping adventure by a filmmaker whose work I should know better: John Farrow.

The Shootist
Red River
Angel and the Badmen
Rio Bravo
Tall in the Saddle


in that order ... 1 to 5.

You know, Chris, you're totally right: THE SHOOTIST does have a kind of TV-movie look to it -- though it doesn't detract from my utter enjoyment upon repeated viewings. But that's a very good and sound observation.