Eposide 71 - Red River

Classic Movie Reviews

Red River released in 1948 by MGM tells the story of Thomas Dunson and his adopted son Matt Garth as they pull off an epic cattle drive from Texas to Kansas. It’s a story told on a grand scale but the best moments come from the personal interactions between the main characters, Thomas Dunson played by the incomparable John Wayne, Matt Garth played by the mesmerizing Montgomery Clift, Nadine Groot (love that name) played by the always entertaining Walter Brennan and the stunning Tess Milay played by the equally stunning Joanne Dru. The entire movie builds up to a climatic finale between Tess, Matt and Thomas. The music written by Dimitri Tiomkin pushes the film along with a perfect score for the wide open spaces of Texas and Kansas. And Howard Hawks directs the characters and action with a master's touch. Overall, a thoroughly enjoyable film.