My ranking of the 5 Howard Hawks/John Wayne films
by s007davis | created - 02 Oct 2014 | updated - 02 Oct 2014 | PublicMy ranking from best to worst of the 5 John Wayne films directed by Howard Hawks
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1. Rio Bravo (1959)
Passed | 141 min | Western
A small-town sheriff in the American West enlists the help of a disabled man, a drunk, and a young gunfighter in his efforts to hold in jail the brother of the local bad guy.
Director: Howard Hawks | Stars: John Wayne, Dean Martin, Ricky Nelson, Angie Dickinson
Votes: 68,043 | Gross: $12.54M
The definitive Howard Hawks color film
2. Red River (1948)
Passed | 133 min | Drama, Western
Dunson leads a cattle drive, the culmination of over 14 years of work, to its destination in Missouri. But his tyrannical behavior along the way causes a mutiny, led by his adopted son.
Directors: Howard Hawks, Arthur Rosson | Stars: John Wayne, Montgomery Clift, Joanne Dru, Walter Brennan
Votes: 34,364
"Mutiny on the Bounty" on a cattle drive. A true western classic.
3. El Dorado (1966)
Passed | 126 min | Drama, Romance, Western
Cole Thornton, a gunfighter for hire, joins forces with old friend, Sheriff J.P. Hara. Together with an old Indian fighter and a gambler, they help a rancher and his family fight a rival rancher who's trying to steal their water.
Director: Howard Hawks | Stars: John Wayne, Robert Mitchum, James Caan, Charlene Holt
Votes: 30,416
Hawks and Wayne's first redo of their earlier "Rio Bravo" hit with Robert Mitchum in the Dean Martin role, James Caan in the Ricky Nelson role, Charlene Holt in the Angie Dickinson role and John Wayne in the, well, John Wayne role. Great support from Michele Carey as Joey('part girl, part wildcat!' as the trailer described her character).
4. Hatari! (1962)
Approved | 157 min | Action, Adventure, Comedy
A group of men trap wild animals in Africa and sell them to zoos before the arrival of a female wildlife photographer threatens to change their ways.
Director: Howard Hawks | Stars: John Wayne, Elsa Martinelli, Hardy Krüger, Red Buttons
Votes: 14,237 | Gross: $14.00M
Essentially, an updating of Hawks' earlier classic "Only Angels Have Wings" involving big game hunters instead of mail pilots and set in Africa instead of South America. Wayne plays the Cary Grant role while Elsa Martinelli plays the Jean Arthur role.
5. Rio Lobo (1970)
G | 114 min | Drama, War, Western
After the Civil War, Cord McNally searches for the two traitors whose treachery caused the defeat of McNally's unit and the loss of a close friend.
Director: Howard Hawks | Stars: John Wayne, Jorge Rivero, Jennifer O'Neill, Jack Elam
Votes: 13,659 | Gross: $9.27M
Hawks and Wayne's second recycling of "Rio Bravo" isn't as strong as the first 2 times around. Jennifer O'Neill though is gorgeous as the last Hawksian heroine this being his last film.
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