DVD Corner

Rio Bravo 4K UHD Review

“Rio Bravo” remains a classic of the western genre.

Written by Leigh Brackett and Jules Furthman and based on the short story of the same name, 1959’s “Rio Bravo” is a simple story about a Sheriff (John T. Chance), his aging Deputy (Stumpy), and a drunken former Deputy (Dude) who try to uphold the law by keeping a murderer (Joe Burdette) in jail. Joe’s wealthy land baron brother Nathan and his minions attempt to break his brother out by any means necessary. 

Clocking in at 141 minutes, “Rio Bravo” is one of those westerns where all the stars align. You’ve got one of the most celebrated directors in cinema history with Howard Hawks at the top of his game. You’ve got mega western movie star John Wayne delivering one of his very best performances as the Sheriff. You’ve got Dean Martin as Dude who also gives one of his best big screen performances. You’ve got a supporting cast that is as good as it gets with Angie Dickinson as Feathers, Ward Bond as Pat Wheeler, Walter Brennan as Stumpy (one of the all-time great western actors), and, yes, even pop star Ricky Nelson who is at his cinematic finest as the gunslinger Colorado Ryan. 

The story itself may be simplistic, but it doesn’t matter in this movie. The slow burn to the impending showdown works wonders thanks to one heck of a climactic shootout, but more than that, the movie delivers first rate characterization. “Rio Bravo” has a very lived in feel as you get to know the townspeople and the central characters. This isn’t an overly serious western despite a rather serious story as there’s plenty of lighthearted humor and banter here throughout particularly with Wayne, Brennan and Martin. 

There’s a reason this movie has been so influential to everything from “Assault On Precinct 13” to “The Hateful Eight.” It’s simply that good.

Video/Audio:

Presentation: 1.85:1 2160p. How does it look? The Blu-ray transfer was splendid, but the 4K disc provides even richer colors.

Audio Track: 2.0 DTS-HD MA. How does it sound? The lossless track is satisfactory, but the action and dialogue is lacking a bit of oomph for my taste.

Extras include a Digital copy and a commentary by director John Carpenter and film critic Richard Schickel.

July 30, 2023 - Posted by nicklyons1 | 4K UHD Review | Dean Martin, Howard Hawks, John Wayne, Rio Bravo 4K UHD Review, western