Rio Grande (1950)

 

A cavalry officer posted on the Rio Grande is confronted with murderous raiding Apaches, a son who's a risk-taking recruit and his wife from whom he has been separated for many years.

Classic John Ford western Features in best manner many its director's hallmark features: a meandering plot, rollicking scenes alternating with solemn songs and lively action and all in beautiful blacl-and-white cinematography.

Halliwell*: "Thin Ford Western on his favourite theme, with too many pauses for song, too many studio sets, and too little plot. Aficiandos, however, will find much to admire."

Maltin***: "The last of  director Ford's Cavalry trilogy..., and the most underrated: a vivid look at the gentlemanly spirit of the Cavalry during post-Civil Ward days...Beautifully shot by Bert Glennon and Archie Stout..." 

McLintock! (1963)

Cattle baron George Washington McLintock fights his wife, his daughter, and political land-grabbers.

Another wildly entertaining John Wayne - Maureen O'Hara variation on The Taming of the Shrew. Not suitable for feminists.

On rewatching: Male-bonding festivity looks like they intended to have as much of fun as possible on set and imagined it would reflect onscreen - unfortunately it does.

Halliwell*: "Sub-Ford Western farce borrowed from The Taming of the Shrew, with much fist-fighting and mud-splattering, and rather too much chat in between."

Maltin***: "Rowdy slapstick seldom stops - a giant mud pit free-for-all and a public spanking for O'Hara are just a few of the stops along the way in this Western version of The Taming of the Shrew. Not recommended for feminists."