Red River (1948) was not only an outstanding western (Howard Hawks' first), it was a landmark in John Wayne's career. New York Times film reviewer Bosley Crowther wrote "[Howard Hawks] has got several fine performances...topped off by a withering job of acting boss-wrangler done by Mr. Wayne. This consistently able portrayer of two-fisted two-gunned outdoor men surpasses himself in this picture."

Here are some of Duke Wayne's own comments about the picture:

"Stagecoach established me as a star. Red River established me as an actor. My problem after Stagecoach was I had to go back to Republic to make more standard western series for them. Then all the critics and know-it-alls jumped on my back and said Wayne was no good without Ford.

The character I played was a direct steal from Captain Bligh in Mutiny on the Bounty. But when I played that, I believed in my character, really believed everything he did was right. As a consequence he didn't come off really as a heavy. Originally the part was an old man who falls apart, crying and getting all scared and cowardly, then the kid takes over....Hawks wanted to make me a blustering coward in this role. 'You'll win an Academy Award,' he said....But I knew that as a man gains more strength of character and more position in life he gets straighter backed and carries himself with a sort of nobility. So I played it as a strong man who was scared. After all, as a man you can be scared, but you can't be a coward."

Mr. Wayne's affection for Red River was illustrated by his wearing a buckle with the Dunson brand whenever appropriate in his subsequent movies. The photo to the right was taken in 1965.

Red River (1948): The Great Trail Drive Western

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