This one belongs in the same category as Ford's "Wagonmaster" (1950), sentimentalized corn pone about the Old West. Wish they'd distilled a little of that corn into likker, this film could use it. It quite clearly betrays its Saturday Evening Post origins.
At this point, we are well on the way towards the 1950s re-evaluation of the role of the Indian in the American cinema, so this film has no villain and, hence, no drama.
According to the enhanced video release of "The Quiet Man", Ford agreed to make "Rio Grande" as a quickie for Republic so the director and cast could do what they really wanted to do instead -- go to Ireland and make that superb Oirish emerald from 1952.
At this point, we are well on the way towards the 1950s re-evaluation of the role of the Indian in the American cinema, so this film has no villain and, hence, no drama.
According to the enhanced video release of "The Quiet Man", Ford agreed to make "Rio Grande" as a quickie for Republic so the director and cast could do what they really wanted to do instead -- go to Ireland and make that superb Oirish emerald from 1952.