![RIO LOBO [1970] | Horror Cult Movies](https://horrorcultfilms.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/EKA70606_RioLobo_3D_pack_500px.jpg "RIO LOBO [1970] | Horror Cult Movies")
Quentin Tarantino cited Rio Lobo as one of many causes he needed to have a brief directing profession: “probably the most cutting-edge artist, the best guys, the hippest dudes, they’re those that keep on the occasion too lengthy. They’re those that make these final two or three motion pictures which are utterly out of contact and don’t understand the world has turned on them … I don’t need to make Rio Lobo“. Typically I agree with Tarantino, typically I don’t. and typically it’s a combination of each. I definitely perceive what he means right here, and it’s true that some filmmakers go on making motion pictures for too lengthy, however I don’t suppose Rio Lobo is horrible. Iit’s nonetheless a strong, easy-going Western that comprises a lot to take pleasure in. Nonetheless, it pales significantly compared to the 2 earlier movies by its once-great director Howard Hawks which it’s usually thought-about to be a remake of, although to be sincere I don’t actually agree with that. El Dorado was definitely a variant on Rio Bravo, although I don’t suppose it could actually actually be classed as a remake, whereas Rio Lobo takes bits from each however the story it tells is usually completely different. Whereas there’s no scarcity of incident, Rio Lobo does really feel a bit lazy, as if Hawks wasn’t that invested within the materials, and there isn’t a lot of the terrific character interaction which was as notable a component within the different two movies because the motion. Nonetheless, some trademark Hawksian dialogue can nonetheless be heard, if sadly principally spoken by a supporting forged that’s typically moderately weak, whereas the Duke provides a kind of late performances the place he’s principally taking part in John Wayne, going by means of the motions as a type of caricature of himself.
It was meant to be shot in Durango, Mexico, on a price range of $5 million, however taking pictures on the film Lawman took up amenities there, so Hawks and Cinema Heart needed to spend an additional $1 million to permit filming at Previous Tucson Studios in Arizona, Cuernavaca within the Mexican state of Morelos and close to Los Angeles Hawks requested Robert Mitchum to reprise his El Dorado function as a drunken sheriff, however Mitchum claimed he was now retired. Wayne responded, “Mitch has been retiring ever for the reason that first day I met him”. Wayne was sick having had a cancerous lung eliminated just some years earlier, and having torn a ligament in his shoulder whereas filming The Undefeated the earlier 12 months. He regularly had nice problem getting on and off of his horse. Throughout a break in filming, Wayne collected his Greatest Actor Oscar for taking part in the one-eyed sheriff Rooster Cogburn in True Grit from Barbra Streisand at The forty second Annual Academy Awards. When he returned, each member of the forged was sporting a watch patch, together with his horse. The script by Burton Wohl and Leigh Brackett had components rewritten by Hawks himself throughout filming, which was really nothing new for a Hawks film. Hawks was himself injured whereas filming the railway scene, requiring 4 stitches. Second unit director Yakima Canutt took over route of this sequence, following Hawks’s directions. Sherry Lansing, who performed Amelia, went on to turned president of twentieth Century-Fox and, later, chairman of Paramount Footage. Hawks was sad with Jennifer O’ Neill’s efficiency as Shasta, and lower a few of her materials out – although to be honest she claims he wasn’t good to her, from punching her exhausting within the abdomen so she would scream and her vocal cords would decrease her voice, to treating her harshly as a result of she wouldn’t join two extra movies. Rio Lobo drew mediocre enterprise and opinions.
The primary quarter of Rio Lobo is definitely the most effective quarter, proper from the title sequence the place we zoom out from three strings to disclose the entrance of a guitar, the credit consisting of photographs of this and one other guitar taking part in the good Jerry Goldsmith-composed piece that we hear. A prepare arrives at a station the place a crate is loaded onto one of many carriages and a few Union troopers to protect it. Cl John Wayne – oh sorry Twine McNally receives a message from his good friend Ned Forsythe, with whom he’s spent a lot of the Civil Conflict with, which asks what he ought to do. “Inform the lieutenant to get in that automotive, shut up and keep there until I knock on the door” is McNally’s reply, one thing that he’s very quickly going to remorse saying. Because the prepare leaves, our robbers are ready, then, after one in every of their quantity has heard it coming by “listening to the rail” [does that actually work?], arrange a great deal of rope obstacles, smear an space of the observe with some sticky stuff and get out a bag of hornets. The guaranteeing theft utilises all these items, the troopers compelled to leap off the prepare due to the bugs and some getting injured, together with Forsythe, although these bandits don’t need to kill anybody. As they take the loot from the now halted prepare, McNally has been main a staff of troopers upon listening to of the assault and finds Forsythe dying; he’s considerably blase about this however then I suppose that is only a mark of his toughness, with little room for sentimentality. Nevertheless it’s all been moderately good thus far, and for a bit issues keep it up this trend, as McNally’s group amusingly will get unfold thinner and thinner – his orders make sense however he’s additionally making himself an increasing number of weak. And naturally he’s then captured by Captain Pierre Cordona and Sergeant Tuscarora Phillips, however tips them by main them to a Union camp and elevating the alarm; Cordona and Tuscarora are themselves captured.
In fact McNally’s major curiosity is in studying the names of the 2 traitors who let the robbers know particulars concerning the gold cargo, one thing that they’ve accomplished a number of occasions. Cordona and Tuscarora gained’t say something, however after the warfare McNally visits them as they’re being launched. They’re shocked that McNally doesn’t hate them, however McNally explains that he respects the distinction between a good battle and treachery. The previous Confederates are solely capable of present him with bodily descriptions, nevertheless it’s a begin, and they comply with contact McNally in the event that they see both of the 2 males once more. A while later, McNally is contacted by his good friend Sheriff Pat Cronin of Blackthorne, Texas, who tells him that Cordona is staying on the native lodge and desires to speak to him. Upon arriving in Blackthorne, he witnesses a girl named Shasta Delaney reporting the homicide of her employer, a touring medication salesman, by a deputy of Rio Lobo’s sheriff, “Blue Tom” Hendricks, although Cronin doesn’t appear . Then s posse from Rio Lobo arrives and tries to take Shasta away, led by the killer “Whitey” – and you could want that that they had, as a result of O’ Neill offers the worst efficiency of the movie, hopelessly stilted when it’s not copying Kim Hunter in True Grit. Actually – it’s horrible – and that is coming from someone who appreciates that she may very well be good in the fitting function i.e. The Psychic. A shootout ensures with Cordona aiding, who additionally lets it recognized that Whitey is without doubt one of the traitors. He tells McNally that Tuscarora wants assist; his father and different ranchers are having land stolen by a wealthy man named Ketcham, who had the earlier sheriff killed and put in Hendricks in his place.
There’s a variety of sneaking out and in of locations punctuated by gunplay and occasional different bits of motion. Issues are a tad rougher than earlier Wayne Westerns, with hornet facial stinging, a muzzle exploding in a face, some bloody bullet hits, and a face slicing which admittedly happens off display screen however completely scars one of many three feminine characters. Motion is definitely plentiful however issues nonetheless really feel a bit under-powered and under-focused till after over an hour after we meet Previous Man Ned, performed by the fantastic Jack Elam. He’s the lovable previous coot who loves the bottle that we’ve seen a number of occasions earlier than, however an nearly always grinning Elam with a twinkle in his eye appears like he’s having a lot enjoyable and provides a variety of a lot wanted power. Maybe his greatest second is when he simply gained’t cease taking part in on a Jew’s harp – properly, until he will get a drink. There are undoubtedly another chucklesome moments, my favorite being when McNally has to faux seeing a dentist as a result of he advised a few of the dangerous guys that he was on the town due to a nasty tooth and so they’re maintaining their eye on him; it climaxes with the dentist giving him an aneasthetic and responding to his objection by saying, “properly if you happen to’d been a ok actor I wouldn’t have had to make use of it”. I very a lot doubt that this was meant as self mockery however it could actually’t assist however come throughout this fashion. Jorge Rivero as Cordona and O’ Neill are given some fairly sparkly dialogue which remembers the fabulous chat in Hawks movies of previous with out ever getting nearly as good, although with higher actors their rising attraction would have actually come off. Susana Dosamentes is okay as Maria, however she has to play the boyfriend of Christopher Mitchum as Tuscarora, who has none of his dad’s easy coolness and charisma. The villains, who embody a Tarzan, Mike Henry, are uninteresting too.
Ultimately there most likely wasn’t a lot that Hawks might do with such weak or erratic performers and one can solely think about how significantly better the movie would have been with a a lot improved supporting forged. Did he lose coronary heart whereas making Rio Lobo? For the second time on this evaluate, my reply is type of within the center. He most likely did his greatest for a lot of the time, however I additionally discover it exhausting to simply accept that Hawks would usually have accomplished one thing like filming a break-in scene involving taking pictures whereas folks actually subsequent door don’t hear something. After which there’s that odd scene the place a [discreetly] topless Amelia reveals sexual curiosity in Cordona; it simply feels proper out of a distinct movie, or a half-hearted try and recognise the liberal strategy to sexuality that cinema had adopted by 1970. However no less than it was determined that Wayne would have appeared pathetic romancing women half his age, so he and Amelia simply kind a bond, and there’s additionally a operating joke regarding McNally being “snug” for girls which really comes off excellent. Sure, he does do the same old “Duke” factor however isn’t required to look foolish; his one correct battle takes place partly off digicam. Rio Lobo will need to have appeared a little bit of an odd throwback in 1970 which definitely recalled previous glories however which appeared to take action in a considerably awkward, unaccomplished trend. It simply looks like much more so now. But regardless of its many flaws, it’s nonetheless an attention-grabbing movie to take a look at once more.
SPECIAL FEATURES
Restricted Version [2000 copies]
Restricted version O-card slipcase that includes new art work Colin Murdoch
Restricted version booklet that includes new writing on “Rio Lobo” by movie author and critic Richard Combs
1080p HD presentation from a restoration by Paramount Footage
It doesn’t say “new”, so we are able to surmise that Eureka are utilizing the 2011 Paramount restoration however have accomplished a brand new encode. The image has some notable dust and even some wobble within the title sequence; after that the latter stops although scratches, strains and many others are nonetheless extra plentiful than we anticipated even again in 2011. Grain at occasions appears scrubbed away, although luckily not leading to any waxiness or lack of element. Colors are positive and blacks are deep too. This isn’t actually as much as the requirements we’ve come to count on lately, however not each movie can get a brand new restoration. In comparison with DVD, that is nonetheless a suitable switch which shouldn’t restrict your enjoyment.
Unique English mono audio
Optionally available DTS HD-MA 5.1 audio
Optionally available English subtitles for the deaf and exhausting of listening to
Again to the Previous West – new interview on “Rio Lobo” with Western scholar Austin Fisher, creator of Radical Frontiers within the Spaghetti Western [10 mins]
Fisher factors out some notable issues concerning the movie, similar to its unrealistic angle to the Civil Conflict the place rivalry between the 2 sides is nice natured and politics are absent, Wayne’s character being primarily a melding of a number of Wayne personas, and the state of affairs within the city of Rio Lobo being very similar to ones in lots of Italian Westerns of the interval. You’ve acquired to snort at Wayne having stated “Excessive Midday is probably the most un-American factor I’ve ever seen”. This piece may very well be have been longer.
Directed and Produced by Howard Hawks – new interview with movie historian Sheldon Corridor on “Rio Lobo” and Hawksian cinema [13 mins]
Corridor will at all times keep in mind his introduction to Rio Lobo, which was interrupted on TV by information of the Iranian Embassy in London siege, then it restarted a lot later which means that he missed the start of One Eyed Jacks on one other channel! Whereas being sceptical concerning the auteur concept, he sees Hawks as one, his movies clearly being the work of the identical individual and that includes issues like overlapping dialogue and mutual dependency between characters. He additionally compares the “Rio trilogy”, noting for instance Rio Lobo‘s including of extra younger folks to the acquainted dynamic.
Unique theatrical trailer
