The Worst Film Ever

Memorable, crazy movie

This movie was so-so. It had it's moments, but wasn't the greatest.

The best films of this genre always show a path and provide a takeaway for being a better person.

. . . (if that Shamu was wearing elevator shoes), says a Rebel soldier capturing John Wayne and struggling to lift the unconscious icon early in RIO LOBO. I remember seeing a TV miniseries about England's King Henry VIII, which showed how the geriatric monarch had to be winched up via a tripod hoist to attain a mounted horseback status in his declining fatso years. It's easy to picture a similar apparatus being commissioned for "Il Duce" as he insisted upon abusing horses and making Westerns well into his twilight years. Most NASCAR fans watch their "sport" primarily for the wrecks, and these people's grandparents probably flocked to the theaters for a similar reason in the mid-1900s, not realizing that Wayne's stumbles (whether from the saddle or as a pedestrian) would be edited out of his pictures through Hollywood trickery. The chicks in RIO LOBO treat this one-time singing cowboy like an old Saint Bernard, spooning with him in their long johns merely for nighttime warmth. Though THE LION IN WINTER was barely a blood relation to Henry VIII, Wayne--nicknamed after his childhood dog--proves to be more of an ordinary canine than a regal feline here in RIO LOBO, as in "Come out and see how Westerns have really gone to the dogs!"

Finally got a chance to see this classic! It was a 1st in many ways, Hawks final film, Peter Jason and Sandra Currie's film debut, the rare pairing of Wayne with Jorge Rivero.As always the larger-than-life John Wayne is the star. And he shines in his role of Col. Cord McNally. A little over-the-hill type of guy who's not comfortable with the word "comfortable"! For me it was a treat to see the great Jorge Rivero as the young and strong-looking, Capt. Pierre Cordona aka Frenchy. but as always Hollywood does it again as I have noticed in countless pictures, why is it that whenever a minority , in this case a Latino, who does not look like your typical minority because of great presence or muscularity or stature or color-eyes, has to be a mix?? Or half- breed per say?? Ever notice that? But because he can't be all white, he has to be mix with something, half-white or in this case, half-French. Just a observation... Anyways, Rivero did OK and held his own with The Duke but he was still young and had a lot to learn. I can't tell if that was his real voice or dubbed though.The beautiful Jennifer O'Neill fared a little better as the feisty and tough Shasta Delaney but not for one minute did I buy the so-called 'love' that blossomed between her and Rivero. She actually came on like a snobbish witch to me but it was what the role demanded I guess. I wish the Duke would have just flung her over his knees and given her a good spanking! It was what she deserved.The ever reliable, dependable Jack Elam stole the picture for me. He came on quite late but once he did, he made every scene count. And man he had me laughing with his crazed, loony, punch-drunk Phillips. You could tell the Duke was just holding back from laughing as well in the scenes with Elam.Christopher Mitchum did pretty good as Rivero's partner in crime,Sgt. Tuscarora Phillips. I liked the interplay between him and the Duke.The late Victor French as Ketcham (boss of Rio Lobo) did OK. He really didn't have much to do but be at the mercy of The Duke and Elam and be held hostage.The lovely Susana Dosamantes did the typical ethnic role of María Carmen. But she handle it well I believe. It's interesting to know that she and Rivero later co-starred in so many Spanish-speaking films later on.In a weird bit of casting but in a good sexy way, Shelly Lansing oozed a bit of sexiness in a scene with Rivero, her being half-naked and all, as the lovely but doomed Amelita. Their scene, which was brief, was more believable in terms of chemistry than O'Neill's and Rivero's.The great David Huddleston as Dr. Ivor Jones the Rio Lobo dentist, was also a treat as was Elam's. The scene of Jones with the Duke faking a pulled tooth was a hoot.The imposing Mike Henry had an OK role as the Rio Lobo Sheriff 'Blue Tom' Hendricks. I wish he and The Duke would have had a fist-fight or something but it didn't happen. Rumor has it that Wayne was not doing well health wise when filming this picture. Even Hawks says that was the reason he felt the picture did not do well in the box office or with the critics.The late Jim Davis as a Rio Lobo Deputy was way too short and I felt he was wasted in a minor role.I didn't even see the late George Plimpton or hear the famous one-line which was the basis for a TV special.The great Peter Jason made quite a debut as Lt. Forsythe the gold train detail officer! Being stung by hornets and jumping off a train and subsequently breaks his neck and dies! And the beautiful Sondra Currie made a super brief uncredited debut as a Blackthorne Prostitute with one line that Rivero kicks out of his room to make room for a fainted O'Neill.The late great Bob Steele makes a uncredited bit as a Rio Lobo Deputy.The late great Hank Worden does also a uncredited bit as Hank, a Hotel Clerk.And last but not least, The Duke had one of his sons, Ethan Wayne, in a uncredited cameo bit. (I didn't see him) :(

The final film is Howard Hawks The good guys vs bad guys trilogy(as i like to call it)is set during the closing days of the civil war and involves military secrets being sold the other side,a robbery in gold,and one mans quest for vengeance and justice.First of all,this is one of the greatest westerns ever made,it got brilliant acting,perfect storyline and excellently staged,fast paced action scenes.John Wayne is again reprising his role as a Man on a Mission,and he's brilliant at it(in one scene he turns the tables on his captors which results in them being sent to a POW camp),other good performances come from Mike Henry who plays the sadistic town sheriff,Jack Elam is really funny as the bitter old man who helps the duke on his quest and David Huddleston is great as the town dentist,some of the scenes in this movie are nearly the same as El Dorado(food being brought to the sheriffs office which is under siege).The storyline is excellent as it focuses a lot on betrayal and revenge,the dukes friend is killed in a train robbery and he sets out intent on finding those responsible,the idea of military secrets falling into the wrong hands was great and it gives the movie the feel of a spy thriller.There's plenty of good old western action to enjoy,including a train robbery,a house being raided and an epic shootout to climax the film,during which many a man is shot and dynamite is tossed around and a building is blown up(it quite similar to the shootout at the end of Rio Bravo),the action is very loud and it's really exciting.This is a gem of a movie,i recommend it to all John Wayne and western fans.

The basic problem with "Rio Lobo" is the script. It's dreadful. Set during the Civil War, the plot begins with a Confederate Rebel train robbery of a Union gold shipment. This twenty minute sequence is a long, tedious, drawn-out affair. Then, the plot shifts to a different focus, as character motivations make a dramatic U-turn, and we move from a Civil War setting to a Western setting.Except for Cord McNally (John Wayne), Pierre Cordona (Jorge Rivero), and Tuscarora (Chris Mitchum), characters in the last third of the film bear no relation to characters in the first third of the film. Indeed, the entire plot seems put together with loose strands that barely connect.Once we get to the Western town of Rio Lobo, at least the daytime visuals look good, with convincing production design and costumes, even if the reason we're here is unclear and confusing. Yet, though the daytime images look fine, nighttime scenes look fake owing to the use of camera filters.Casting is dubious. John Wayne looks too old for the role he plays. Rivero and Mitchum seem too inexperienced. Acting trends below average; I'm not sure any of the actors took their roles seriously. Given McNally's motivation, Wayne plays the role too sweetly and amiably, hardly the tough and intense character we would expect.The best that can be said for "Rio Lobo" is that some of the daytime camera shots are quite pleasing, in that they convey images that romanticize the Old West. Apart from that, the production is far from ideal. But the most serious weakness is a script that needed a complete rewrite.