No Western star commands the screen like John Wayne, with his unmatched presence and unparalleled charisma. Sure, there are other great Western heroes out there, but there’s something about the Duke that just screams “classic.” But of all the leading ladies to be paired with Wayne, one stands out as having worked with the Hollywood heavy on three separate pictures. No, we’re not talking about Maureen O’Hara (whose chemistry with Wayne was simply iconic), but rather Angie Dickinson, his on-screen partner in I Married a Woman, Cast a Giant Shadow, and the Western powerhouse Rio Bravo. Not only was Rio Bravo the best Wayne and Dickinson collaboration by far, but it’s a phenomenal horse opera that stands tall against the test of time.
The Duke and Angie Dickinson Are At Their Best in ‘Rio Bravo’
As inspirational a Western as you’ve ever seen, Rio Bravo features John Wayne as Sheriff John T. Chance, a headstrong man with good sensibilities and a fierce loyalty to both his friends and the law. Always keeping his eyes on the prize that is justice, Chance is torn from his usual duties when Angie Dickinson’s Feathers — a pioneer of the Western genre — saunters into town. The pair have an instant connection, from the first time Chance erroneously calls Feathers out for cheating at cards until their final scene together. The pair play well off each other, with Chance initially unsure of her before the pair develop a quick kinship. After Feathers helps save his life, Chance reveals his feelings in true Duke fashion. The film ends with the spark of real romance — what comes next is left to the imagination. Still, Wayne and Dickinson sell every moment flawlessly.
Even in the moments where we can see the characters want to give in to each other fully, there is palpable restraint on display. And in the moments where one is angry with the other, a deeper love simmers underneath. It’s no wonder that the Duke sang his co-star’s praises in the aftermath. “She was one of the best actresses I ever worked with,” Wayne once said, per Michael Munn‘s John Wayne: The Man Behind the Myth, noting that the film was “damn lucky” to have her. Wayne praised Dickinson’s professionalism on set, and emphasized her unique combination of “beauty, sex appeal, and brains.” This, of course, was common in many Howard Hawks-directed pictures. So much so that “Hawksian women” became a term best used to describe the character archetype that the director often employed. Few did it better than Angie Dickinson here, pairing just perfectly with the strong-and-sturdy lawman that Wayne embodied so well.
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‘Rio Bravo’ Remains at the Top of John Wayne’s Filmography
Rio Bravo is great for other reasons too. Beyond the couple’s clear-cut chemistry, the picture is one of the best Westerns that the Duke ever made (and certainly among Hawks’ finest films as well). With a stellar cast that also includes Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Walter Brennan, and Wagon Train star Ward Bond, the film is peak Hawks. This picture expertly blends a more comedic approach to the Western without ever feeling slapstick. It masterfully emphasizes gunplay, romance, and heavy drama, all while never going overboard with any aspect. There are even musical elements as Martin and Nelson perform a duet of “My Rifle, My Pony, and Me,” — a charming showcase of talent and a perfectly timed morale boost. While Rio Bravo was made in response to High Noon, they are fundamentally different pictures with different strengths that make them special.
Additionally, Rio Bravo thrives because of the film’s screenplay, penned by Jules Furthman and Leigh Brackett (yes, of The Empire Strikes Back fame). The dialogue is crisp, yes, but it’s the character arcs — mainly concerning Martin’s “Dude” — that are truly remarkable. Though we like Dude from the start, his journey toward redemption is what makes the film so compelling. Ironically, Scott Erman‘s biography of Wayne, John Wayne: The Life and Legend, notes that the Duke wasn’t too sure of Martin’s casting in the film. The Western star was a bit worried that his character was “the hub of the wheel,” with nothing to do but tie things together. This couldn’t be further from the truth, however, as Chance is a vital character in the film. Without him, there would be no place for Feathers, and Dude may never have regained his sobriety. Beyond that, Chance is the picture’s moral compass. Without him, the Burdette brothers win every time.
Frankly, there are a lot of things to love about Rio Bravo. There’s plenty of action, drama, suspense, and relief here to whet your classic Western appetite. With a stellar on-screen romance between Wayne and Dickinson, this is a horse opera with endless rewatchability appeal.
