I think this has to be without a doubt John Wayne's best movie. Rio Bravo really seemed to have the charm possessed in most John Wayne movies, the action was good, and there was even some comic relief. If you think The Searchers was a good movie - I would agree whole heartedly. I did not consider it a real "John Wayne" however, because he did not seem to play the same character role.
shareThese are my top 10
1. Red River
2. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
3. The Searchers
4. The Shootist
5. Rio Bravo
6. El Dorado
7. Angel & the Badman
8. Hondo
9. Son's of Katie Elder
10 True Grit
Rio Bravo, The Searchers and She Wore A Yellow Ribbon are his three best performances. True Grit is certainly right up there as well.
shareRio Bravo is a great movie, but you can't seriously discuss Wayne's best work without at least mentioning "Red River" and the cavalry trilogy; "Fort Apache" being my favorite of those.
For my money, "Red River" may well be the best western ever made.
Best Wishes,
Fitz
I liked Red River a lot.
Sons of Katie Elder is another very underrated great film.
Nobody mentioned Hatari. Am I the only one who thought it was a pretty good John Wayne movie?
You are right, and I had forgotten about Hatari. It was excellent, and we did get to see a little different part of Wayne.
Fitz
My top 3 would have to be.
1.Rio Bravo
2.The Comancheros
3.Sands of Iwo Jima
My top five Wayne films:
1. The Searchers
2. Rio Bravo
3. El Dorado
4. Fort Apache
5. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
I think that The Searchers is probably the greatest Western to date, but I don't like it as much as two Clint Eastwood films (High Plains Drifter, and [perhaps oddly] Pale Rider).
And for those critical of Rio Bravo: It isn't as smooth or as well-acted a movie as many of his other films, but it is a whole lot of fun.
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THE SEARCHERS is his best.
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Mulholland CineLog: http://mulhollandcinelog.wordpress.com/
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I would hardly call it a "rip-off". It's an "answer" to "High Noon" and was declaired such by the producers. A point of view contrary to the point of view of "High Noon", which is, after all, what art is all about.
shareI like Rio Bravo a lot, but is it Wayne's best movie? Not quite, but it is still a very, very good film. I personally prefer The Shootist, The Man who Shot Liberty Valence and Fort Apache, though I think Wayne's best performance is in The Searchers.
"Life after death is as improbable as sex after marriage"- Madeline Kahn(CLUE, 1985)
Songbird,
I agree, and would add Stagecoach and the Quiet Man to your list.
Another great Wayne film a bit less well known apparently is Rio Grande. Great performance by Wayne.