Rio Grande

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Rio Grande

1950

1h 45m

Western

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Popcornmeter

73%

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15 Reviews

70%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

Lieutenant Colonel Kirby Yorke (John Wayne) heads a cavalry post on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, defending settlers against Apaches launching raids from the Mexican side of the river. When Yorke's 16-year-old son, Jeff (Claude Jarman Jr.) -- who he has not seen since he was a baby -- shows up at the post as one of the new recruits, he treats him more harshly than the others. Things are further complicated when Yorke's estranged wife, Kathleen (Maureen O'Hara), returns to take her son home.

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Yasser Medina

Cinefilia

Aug 13, 2021

6/10

It's a forgettable Ford western. [Full review in Spanish]

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James Kendrick

Q Network Film Desk

Mar 8, 2021

2.5/4

despite all that talent behind the camera, Rio Grande still strikes one primarily as a film that Ford just wanted to get done

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Michael J. Casey

Boulder Weekly

Jan 8, 2021

4/5

Popular entertainment from a complicated time made by strong personalities with contradictory beliefs.

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Kevin Wight

The Wee Review

Apr 4, 2020

3

While nowhere near an essential showcase for Ford or Wayne, and a complete waste of O'Hara, Rio Grande is still a generally enjoyable conveyor-belt western.

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Cole Smithey

ColeSmithey.com

Feb 22, 2008

4/5

Jeffrey M. Anderson

Combustible Celluloid

Jan 3, 2008

I like it better than the problematic Fort Apache; it's far simpler and more effective.

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Robert P

@Superbad 15 hrs ago

Rio Grande is a *3.5* star Movie!

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Daulton C

@DaultonC Mar 5, 2026

Lot of meat left on the bone. Run of the mill Western that falls a bit short of Wayne & Ford’s potential.

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Leaburn O

@RT35452347 Feb 2, 2026

Has its moments but for the most part an unremarkable traditional cowboy v nasty Indians yarn. John Wayne plays John Wayne in another forgettable performance. Some of the horse riding at the beginning is the real highlight. Mad skills. Watched on DVD.

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thiago s

@Thiagostone Dec 22, 2025

Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são mais ou menos, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom.

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Neil P

@RT30842889 Nov 30, 2025

Probably the weakest of the Ford/Wayne trilogy. Recycling of the previous 2, Victor McCaglen in a bigger funny man role, lot more singing and such. There's still Monument Valley, Apaches and fight g though. Still a great film.

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Kyle M

@RT77296778 Jun 30, 2025

John Wayne stood front and center on a lesser stance with signature conviction in this routinely uneventful territorial formula with a mere gist of underlying family drama that doesn’t engage as much as the riveting third act. (B)

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John Ford

Director

John Wayne

Lt. Col. Kirby York

Maureen O'Hara

Mrs. Kathleen York

Ben Johnson

Trooper Travis Tyree

Harry Carey Jr.

Trooper Daniel "Sandy" Boone

Victor McLaglen

Sgt. Maj. Timothy Quincannon

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Synopsis

Lieutenant Colonel Kirby Yorke (John Wayne) heads a cavalry post on the Texas side of the Rio Grande, defending settlers against Apaches launching raids from the Mexican side of the river. When Yorke's 16-year-old son, Jeff (Claude Jarman Jr.) -- who he has not seen since he was a baby -- shows up at the post as one of the new recruits, he treats him more harshly than the others. Things are further complicated when Yorke's estranged wife, Kathleen (Maureen O'Hara), returns to take her son home.

Director: John Ford
Producer: Merian C. Cooper, John Ford, Herbert J. Yates
Screenwriter: James Warner Bellah, James Kevin McGuinness
Production Co: Argosy Pictures, Republic Pictures Corporation
Genre: Western
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 15, 1950, Original
Release Date (Streaming): May 1, 2012
Runtime: 1h 45m
Sound Mix: Mono
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.37:1)

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