Red River
Movie, 1948, The '50s and before, Set in A cattle drive
Red River is #3 of 34 in release order and #3 of 34 in chronological order in the Westerns.
The story
Following the Civil War, headstrong rancher Thomas Dunson decides to lead a perilous cattle drive from Texas to Missouri. During the exhausting journey, his persistence becomes tyrannical in the eyes of Matthew Garth, his adopted son and protégé.
Red River recap
Red River (1948) follows Thomas Dunson, a Texas rancher who drives his herd north after the Civil War and turns on the young man he raised. Howard Hawks directs. In 1851 Dunson (John Wayne) leaves a wagon train to start a ranch, and the woman he loves is killed in a raid behind him. He takes in Matthew Garth, a boy who survived another attack, and with his trail partner Nadine Groot (Walter Brennan) claims land south of the Red River. Fourteen years later the war has left Texas without buyers, so Dunson starts a drive of about ten thousand head to Sedalia, Missouri, with the grown Matt (Montgomery Clift) and a hired gun, Cherry Valance (John Ireland). Short on food and sleep, Dunson grows tyrannical, shooting men who quit and threatening to hang others. Matt takes the herd from him, leaves him on the trail and heads for Abilene, Kansas, on a newer route. Dunson swears to kill him. The film stands alone.
Red River ending explained
Red River ends with Dunson catching Matt in Abilene and the two fighting until Tess Millay (Joanne Dru) stops them. Matt has sold the herd at a good price and met Tess on the way. Dunson walks through the cattle, shoots Cherry and draws on Matt, who refuses to fire. Their fistfight ends when Tess fires a gun and tells them they love each other. Dunson agrees to add an M to the ranch's brand. In Borden Chase's source story Dunson dies; the film keeps him alive.
Post-credits scenes
No. There is no post-credits scene.
Where to watch Red River
Red River is streaming on YouTube (free), Plex, Fawesome, and Tubi in the US. You can rent or buy it on Amazon, Apple TV, and Google Play.
Ratings
IMDb 7.7/10, Rotten Tomatoes 100%
Where it fits
- Release order: after My Darling Clementine, before High Noon.
- Chronological order: after My Darling Clementine, before High Noon.
Cast
- John Wayne as Thomas Dunson
- Montgomery Clift as Matthew Garth
- Joanne Dru as Tess Millay
- Walter Brennan as 'Groot' Nadine
- Coleen Gray as Fen
- Harry Carey as Mr. Melville
- John Ireland as Cherry Valance
- Noah Beery Jr. as Buster McGee
- Harry Carey Jr. as Dan Latimer
- Chief Yowlachie as Quo
- Paul Fix as Teeler Yacey
- Hank Worden as Simms Reeves
Directed by Howard Hawks.