"Rio Bravo" Japanese Poster

Yesterday marked 65 years since the release of Rio Bravo (1959) starring John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Angie Dickenson and Ward Bond. It was directed by Howard Hawks.

The movie was filmed in Old Tucson, Arizona.

Here is a Japanese poster for the movie's release in Japan:

 

"Duke! The Films of John Wayne"

Above, the case of Duke! The Films of John Wayne. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Another CD set of John Wayne movie music arrived in today's mail. I haven't listened to it yet, but the set is called, Duke! The Films of John Wayne.

The set is straightforward and self-explanatory. It features soundtrack main titles and themes of Duke's movies from Stagecoach (1939) to How The West Was Won (1962), 35 of them.

This set, like the Rio Bravo set that arrived yesterday, will be welcome additions to my RV stack of music for those long road trips.

This issue is from Jasmine Records this year.

UPDATE:

I listened to the CD and all tracks are originals from the movies. Some are in mono and some are in stereo. Enjoyable!

"Rio Bravo" Soundtrack CD

Above, the Rio Bravo CD set. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

In 1959, the classic Howard Hawks/John Wayne western was released.

From Wikipedia:

Rio Bravo is a 1959 American Western film produced and directed by Howard Hawks and starring John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Angie Dickinson, Walter Brennan, and Ward Bond. 

Roger Ebert called Rio Bravo Hawks's "masterpiece". While that may be the case, it was aided by a great soundtrack by Dimitri Tiomkin.

I went on a little CD-buying spree last week and the first one arrived today. It is the two-disc Rio Bravo soundtrack album. This was perfect timing for me as it has been raining today and this gave me something new to listen to (maybe I'll watch the movie while having dinner tonight).

This will come in handy on long RV drives in The Beast during camping/travel season.

As I mentioned, this is a two-disc set and there's lots to enjoy. Disc One has most, if not all, music cues along with the main theme. On the case, it is listed as "The Score Part 1".

Disc 2 is a lot more enjoyable. It is listed as "The Score Part 2" with more music cues. Then it goes into the "Original Soundtrack" and "Bonus Tracks".

It is on Disc 2 that various version of "My Rifle, My Pony and Me" are presented, including the version with Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson and Walter Brennan. There's also studio versions featuring Martin alone (man, he had a smooth voice and style). There's also "Cindy" from the movie and studio versions by Nelson. And, there's a recording of Nelson singing "Restless Kid".

Also, in Disc 2, is an introduction by John Wayne of Dean Martin and Ricky Nelson.

I'd say Disc 2 is worth the purchase price alone! And, there's also a 16-page booklet!

If one is a western movie fan or just a fan of movie soundtracks, I highly recommend the Rio Bravo CD set.

My grade: A+.

"El Dorado"

"I'm paid to risk my neck. I'll decide where and when I'll do it. This isn't it."

Three weeks ago, I ordered two John Wayne/Howard Hawks westerns, Rio Bravo and El Dorado at the same time.

Rio Bravo arrived about a week after ordering it. El Dorado arrived last Saturday, but I only picked it up from the post office yesterday. I watched it last night.

Many say that El Dorado is a remake of Rio Bravo. Well there's a lot of similarities, but I wouldn't call it a remake.

It had been years (decades, actually) since I last viewed El Dorado, so it was almost like watching a new movie. I was thoroughly entertained by it. Wayne and co-star Robert Mitchum had a good buddy chemistry. Wayne looked good in this movie. It was produced in late-1965, but not released until almost two years later. It was made after Wayne's lung cancer surgery. He dropped some pounds during that time. He made The Sons of Katie Elder earlier that same year, immediately following his surgery, and looked haggard in it.

A young James Caan was also a co-star and his role was more comedic. It is hard to believe that he's the same actor who played Santino "Sonny" Corleone in The Godfather six years later.

Jim Davis (Jock Ewing in television's Dallas) was hardly recognizable with a big mustache. Mitchum's brother John played a bartender. John Mitchum is probably best known as detective Frank DiGeorgio in the first three Dirty Harry movies.

Michele Carey, who played hottie Joey MacDonald, recently passed away at 75.

The paintings used during the opening credits were done by Olaf Wieghorst, who also had a bit part as a gunsmith.

Rotten Tomatoes gave El Dorado a 100% positive rating.

"Rio Bravo" and Old Tucson

My Blu-ray of the 1959 John Wayne western, Rio Bravo, arrived today.

It had been years since I last saw it and it seemed like rediscovering a movie. Along with the Duke, Rio Bravo starred Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Walter Brennan and Angie Dickinson. Of all the leads, only Angie Dickinson is still with us. It was directed by Howard Hawks.

The movie was filmed at Old Tuscon Studios, just west of Tucson, Arizona. Old Tucson is still a working movie studio and it is open to the public. The Blu-ray has a featurette on Old Tucson as one of the extras.

About Old Tucson:

Old Tucson is one of Arizona’s top Wild West attractions, featuring live action stunt shows, musicals and live entertainment, vintage rides for the kids, genuine southwest BBQ and special events throughout the season. Step back in time as you make your way through town, walking the same streets made famous by movie legends such as John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Elizabeth Taylor, Steve Martin, Sharon Stone and Martin Short. 

Immortalized in more than 400 films and commercial productions, Old Tucson remains the region’s premiere film location. For more information about Old Tucson, call us at (520) 883-0100. Old Tucson is located at 201 S. Kinney Road, Tucson, Arizona  85735.

I'll have to find time to pay a visit to Old Tucson one of these days.

To view the Old Tucson website, go here.