Tonight on TV: You’ve probably never seen this Western masterpiece

In 1946, Howard Hawks bought the rights to the novel Chisholm Trail By Borden Chase. Taking liberties with the original work, La Rivière Rouge, two temporaries, tells the story of a young man’s rebellion against his adoptive father, who he finds too violent towards his cowboys.

Howard Hawks is considering Gary Cooper to play this unsympathetic character. But the latter is not ready to tarnish his image as a good American. Producer Charles K. Feldman then thinks of John Wayne. Rarely does anyone nicknamed “Duke” lend their qualities to such a tyrannical and despicable character.

red river In this way, two worlds are confronted: classic Hollywood, which embodies the holy monster that is John Wayne, the new generation, which is represented by Montgomery Clift, who will find here his first role in the cinema. Moreover, the two actors barely appreciate each other, which adds salt to their on-screen antagonism.

Next to them, secondary roles accustomed to the genre: Harry Carey father and son, Walter Brennan, Noah Beery Jr., Paul Fix, but also Joan Drew and Shelley Winters.

red river is Howard Hawks’ first western. La Captive aux Eyes Clairs, Rio Bravo, El Dorado and Rio Lobo would follow, forever enshrining the filmmaker in the legend of the American Western.

on AlloCine, red river Holds a solid viewer rating of 4/5 on average.

red river By Howard Hawks with John Wayne, Montgomery Clift, Joan Drew…

Tonight at Arte at 20:55.