MovieChat Forums > Red River (1948) Discussion > Who plays John Wayne's girlfriend at the...

Who plays John Wayne's girlfriend at the beginning?

posted 16 years ago by heywoodfloyd
4 replies | jump to latest

The actress John Wayne leaves behind at the beginning of the movie looks a lot like Joanne Dru. Did she play both parts?

Thanks.

[–] Phillip Marlowe 16 years ago

No, the actress is Colleen Gray. I believe she also filmed additional scenes of the wagon train that were cut. She was around quite a while subsequently (and is still alive), but rarely in anything major. Her best known role is probably as Tyrone Power's wife and partner in the excellent noir Nightmare Alley. She is listed in the IMDB cast list, but I don't think her character name (Fen) is ever mentioned in the movie.

[–] funkyfry 16 years ago

yeah, I liked her in this movie as well as in "Nightmare Alley" a lot. I wish she had played the role that Joanne Dru played so we could have seen more of her in the film.

Did I not love him, Cooch? MY OWN FLESH I DIDN'T LOVE BETTER!!! But he had to say 'Nooooooooo'

[–] Captain_Augustus_McCrae 15 years ago

I thought that actress was an absolute knock-out! I could NEVER have left her.

[–] wtl471629 14 years ago

I agree ahope. I see this movie every few years and I always hope and almost yell at the screen for Wayne to take her. It wouldn't have changed the movie that much and they both could have adopted Cliff and she would have stayed at the ranch when they left for the cattle drive. But alas! He never takes her.