Howard Hawks's Rio Bravo is by far his finest film. After a nail-biting, dialogue-free introduction, it instantly sets up a tense waiting game in the vein of High Noon that keeps you glued to the screen until the magnificent, explosive finale. This western is the perfect blend of drama, comedy, and romance. It's the movie version of Firefly, with a lot less space and a little more noir. The plot follows a recently-jailed hoodlum/murderer whose brother attempts to free him. The lawmen trying to make sure justice is served include the Sheriff John T. Chance (John Wayne), the reformed drunkard Dude (Dean Martin), the young gunslinger Colorado Ryan (Ricky Nelson), and the aged cripple Stumpy (Walter Brennan). While the main character is Chance, the most thematically interesting one is Dude, who must come to terms with his addiction and his worth as a human being.The dialogue is at once humorous and charged. The acting works surprisingly well with the unique characters and involving story. The music starts off overbearing and overly melodramatic but quickly turns into a stellar companion of mood and atmosphere. I was underwhelmed by the somewhat plain and uninteresting cinematography, but that is to be expected in a Hawks film. The editing--specifically the pacing and plot progression--is superb. The technical aspects all work to make the already wonderful movie that much more appealing. Rio Bravo is an utter joy to watch.
IMDb link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053221/