Rio Grande
Action, Adventure, Romance, Western
Republic Pictures  (1950) 105 mins Approved

7.3 (4,013 votes)
Part of a trilogy about the US Cavalry after the Civil War, this features the Apache wars, with Lt. Col. Kirby Yorke (John Wayne) in a remote post on the Rio Grande training raw troops to fight the Apaches, one of whom is his own son, Trooper Jeff Yorke (Claude Jarman Jr.). He’s been apart from the young man since he parted with his mother Kathleen (Maureen O’Hara) years before. Yorke is extra strict with Jeff to prevent seeming to display favoritism and their relationship is strained. The boy’s mother (and his estranged wife) arrives to try to keep her son safe, and the old romance between her and Yorke comes back to life as they struggle with what is best for their son. General Sheridan (J. Carrol Naish) arrives with a dangerous assignment for Yorke, an incursion across the Mexican border to attack the Apaches. Yorke could be court-martialed or cause an international incident whether h...

Play
Cast and Crew
John Wayne  ......  Lt. Col. Kirby Yorke
Maureen O'Hara  ......  Mrs. Kathleen Yorke
Ben Johnson  ......  Trooper Travis Tyree
Claude Jarman Jr.  ......  Trooper Jefferson Yorke
Harry Carey Jr.  ......  Trooper Daniel Boone
Chill Wills  ......  Dr. Wilkins
Director  .....  John Ford
Producer  .....  John Ford; Merian C. Cooper
Writer  .....  James Warner Bellah; James Kevin McGuinness
Notes
Goofs:
Continuity: On the covered wagon carrying Kathleen Yorke during the Indian attack, when the driver falls off the canvas behind Mrs Yorke is wide open. Later when another trooper jumps on to drive the wagon the canvas is closed tightly. (more)

Trivia:
In order to get approval for his film, The Quiet Man (1952), John Ford had to agree to first make this film starring both John Wayne and 'Maureen O'Hara'. The studio thought "The Quiet Man" would tank at the box office and thought a western would recoup any losses. (more)

Filming Locations:
Colorado River, Moab, Utah, USA (more)

Quotes:
Lt. Col. Kirby York: But he must learn that a man's word to anything, even his own destruction, is his honor. (more)

Awards:
1 nomination (more)