Rio Grande

"Let's sit back and watch the movie together," invites Maureen O'Hara in her captivating commentary for the "Collector's Edition" of this 1950 western, the third film in John Ford's so-called cavalry trilogy, which included Fort Apache and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon. While not of the other films' caliber, Rio Grande was for Ford, O'Hara, and John Wayne fans, a film of great significance: not only was this the first onscreen pairing of Wayne and O'Hara (and their chemistry is palpable), but--as O'Hara informs us--the film was the quid pro quo that helped gain financing for The Quiet Man. The story--estranged son joins his father's command in battle against the Apaches--is standard issue, but Ford's artistry and his stock company of great character actors (each of whom is given their due by the gracious O'Hara) elevate the material. Sporting a handsome transfer and restored audio, the disc includes two featurettes about the making of the film that tend to overlap, except in one key area: on the 21-minute "The Making of Rio Grande," host Leonard Maltin calls the film "Rio Grand." The first point O'Hara makes in "Along the Rio Grande with Maureen O'Hara" is that the title should be pronounced "Rio Grandee." I'll cast my vote with O'Hara. Recommended. (K. Lee Benson)[Blu-ray Review—July 17, 2012—Olive, 105 min., not rated, $20.99—Making its first appearance on Blu-ray, 1950's Rio Grande sports a fine transfer and DTS-HD mono sound. Extras include a “making-of” featurette hosted by critic Leonard Maltin (21 min.), and trailers. Bottom line: a welcome Blu-ray debut for this solid Ford classic.]