Most people are going to enjoy this film. The story builds up well with some wonderful action set-pieces and montages, even though it could certainly benefit from further trimming. Coleen Gray making too much of her one scene would be twice as effective at half the length; and as for Joanne Dru, she doesn't belong in the film at all. True, she makes an extremely late entrance, but the story got along quite effectively without her. All she does is to slow down the pace and dissipate most of the tension.

Mind you, the plot has some gaping holes. For instance, Wayne claims that he's too poor to buy some sacks of flour and few pounds of beans, yet he has no trouble engaging a band of badmen and buying them ammunition! And what a neat co-incidence that one of the pursuing Indians was wearing that charm bracelet that belonged - of course - to Wayne's mother!

Wayne is his usual ruggedly roughshod self, Clift is less neurotic than usual, Brennan minus more teeth is more talkative than ever and even has an off-camera commentary as well!

A fascinating assembly of support players includes the Careys, father and son (though the two never meet),Tom Tyler (briefly glimpsed),Paul Fix as a whinger saved from a hanging and Chief Yowlachie surprisingly amusing as a comic relief assistant cook and bottlewasher!

This has been one of John Wayne's most beloved and critically acclaimed movies. And, for the first 95% of the film, I would agree. It's a great film about a stubborn man who eventually alienates everyone around him. The acting is excellent and the script is full of action and suspense until the really dumb ending. I'm actually very surprised that no one seemed to notice that one minute John Wayne was seeking revenge against Montgomery Clift and the next Wayne kills Clift's friend who tries to stop the maniacal Wayne--and then, only minutes later Wayne and Clift make up and live happily ever after--but what about Clift's dead friend?! I mean, only seconds before he was brutally murdered by Wayne!! This makes zero sense why this happened and then suddenly Wayne sees the error of his ways and all is forgiven. BUT, what about this murdered friend?! Clift doesn't seem to even remember this as the music fades!! Hello?! What about the dead guy? I know life was cheap in the Hollywood version of the old west, but this is ridiculous!

While I am not the biggest fan of westerns, though there are some I love(ie. High Noon) I on the whole really liked this movie. I for one do not think it is the perfect film, but it is very well made and directed. My only complaints are its length, for me it was too long by about 10 or so minutes, and the last fifteen/twenty minutes or so, which felt rushed and I didn't completely buy the all is forgiven lark.

Flaws aside, Red River is still very good. It looks great, with beautiful cinematography and magnificent scenery. The music by the ever reliable Dmitri Tiomkin is outstanding and enhances the drama, while the script is strong and the story and characters rich and compelling. Red River goes at a good pace, and is brilliantly directed by Howard Hawks, while the acting is very good. John Wayne gives one of his finest performances in one of his more meatier roles as the uncompromising cattle boss, while Montogomery Clift makes an excellent debut and Walter Brennan is wonderful.

To conclude, a very good film. With a tighter length and a less hectic ending, it would have been perfect, but I honestly would not mind seeing Red River again. 8/10 Bethany Cox