Red River was a defining film. It was a landmark western, with an established director. Howard Hawks was involved in making movies for over twenty years, when he made this picture. The only thing was, he never directed a western. It is a testament to his skills, that he made this landmark film. He gets great shots, of a cattledrive, among many. He managed with this film, to establish the careers of two actors. Montgomery Clift, had his first screen appearance, as Matt Garth. Clift manages to give a terrific performance opposite John Wayne, playing Thomas Dunson. John Wayne was so good as the imperious cattle rancher, that it changed how his acting was seen. John Ford, said to Hawks, “I didn’t know the big S.O.B. could act.”
Red River is the story of loss and gain. Thomas Dunson decides to leave a wagon train, and head to Texas. He is accompanied on the journey by Nadine Groot. He is played by Walter Brennan, who was for many years, one of the best supporting actors in Hollywood. Brennan has, in this role, gone from sidekick, to strong willed character. Dunson has told his sweetheart, Fen, (Coleen Gray), that he’ll come back for her. You see the long shot of her when Dunson leaves. The lovers are not meant to rendezvous. She is killed in an Indian attack on the wagon train. Dunson and Nadine are later attacked, but fend it off. Tom Dunson encounters the warrior who killed his love, and dispatches him. He then recovers the bracelet, that he gave her. It is after this that Dunson finds a boy named Matt Garth. He was also on the wagon train, but got away, with a cow. Dunson, Nadine and Matt ride away to Texas.
Fourteen years go by, and Tom Dunson, has achieved his dream of being a cattle rancher. Unfortunately, The Civil War, has cost him and everyone else dearly. He doesn’t have any money, and must find a revenue source. He decides to drive his cattle to market, in Missouri. Matt Garth has just returned home from the war, and wants to go. Nadine also goes, as a cook. He gets a group together and heads to Missouri. The start of the drive is shown with Hawks panning across and showing the large herd of cattle. Some of the men are shown in closeup, showing their excitement. The drive proceeds but there are problems. There is the weather, and human frailties. One of the men, likes eating sugar. He sneaks some during the night. Unfortunately, the noise he makes, startles the cattle; starting a stampede. Hawks filming of this gives a realism to the movie. The stampede, causes the death of a well liked cowboy. This incident, causes the loss of many cattle. It also shows Dunson reacting very harshly. He wants to whip the man responsible. Dunson shoots him, when he draws on him. Matt shows compassion for him; giving him supplies and a horse. This incident hardens Dunson. The men begin reaching their breaking point, when supplies run low. Three of the men tell Dunson they are leaving. He tells them they aren’t. This ends with all three of the men being killed in a shootout. Later, men steal from Dunson, and he says he’s going to hang them. Matt has had enough. He says he won’t let Dunson do it. Dunson goes for his gun, but Matt shoots his hand, injuring him.
Matt tells Dunson he’s taking over the drive, and going through Abilene. Tom Dunson’s behavior even causes Nadine to abandon him. Tom Dunson says that when he catches up to Matt, he’ll kill him. The drive proceeds, and along the way, there is a wagon train under attack. During the attack, Matt meets Tess Millay. She is played by Joanne Dru. Tess is wounded during the attack, and Matt tends to her. Matt leaves before the two can express their feelings. The drive is completed at Abilene, and Matt makes a deal to sell his cattle to Mr. Melville,(Harry Carey). He is impressed that a young man could complete such an impossible job.
The job is done, but Tom Dunson has caught up with Matt. He is determined to kill him. This is after Tess: who has also come to Abilene, pleads with Dunson, to leave. It is to no avail. Dunson is so determined, that even a gunshot wound from Cherry, (John Ireland) -Matt’s friend won’t stop him. He confronts Matt, and the two brawl, in the fashion of most John Wayne westerns. It ends, in a way the audience wouldn’t expect.
John Wayne carved an acting identity for himself, with Tom Dunson. This character, was as the saying goes, A Man of the West. He is able to carve out an empire, but this doesn’t allow him to have great human relations. He sees things his way, and no other. John Wayne was happy to play a role that was less than heroic. It was turned down, by another famous actor, Gary Cooper. He didn’t want to play a western character, who was an anti-hero. This role, would enable John Wayne to play various roles. This included his academy award nomination as Sgt. John M. Stryker, in Sands of Iwo Jima in 1949.
One of the sad things about being a Hollywood legend, is that you may not get deserved recognition. This is the case with Howard Hawks. He never received an academy award, and was nominated once, for Sergeant York. Red River shows this was a great oversight by the academy. He was able to get great shots. In one, while crossing the river, he shows the audience what Nadine sees in the wagon. Another one shows a far away shot of Abilene, from Matt’s perspective, when the drive is ready to come into town. During the attack on Dunson and Nadine, there are close shots, that give their perspective. A man who was a driving force during Hollywood’s golden age, finally received his due. In 1974, The Academy finally gave Hawks an honorary Oscar.
Red River was a breakthrough western. It had as its main character, Tom Dunson. He was atypical then, but later, this type of character, was common in the western. The central conflict between Dunson and Matt shows two people working for the same goal, with different approaches. Its theme was later copied into many genres. A western, if made well, tells a good story. This was a story written by Borden Chase, and adapted to the screen by him and Charles Schnee. The story is enough, but the character development makes Red River, a stand alone western.