Red River (1948): The Last 10 Minutes

No matter how many times I see that movie, and I saw it again last night, the last scene always makes me cry.

The damn thing works – on a primal, almost physical level. My tears are not dependent upon surprise, or not knowing what is coming, or anything having to do with the intricacies of the plot. The tears have to do with the perfect expression of each moment … from moment to moment to moment to moment … in the last 10 minutes of the movie. We’ve got suspense, rage, defiance, an AWESOME fist fight – like, seriously, one of the all-time greats, and then a fantastic emotional monologue, panicked, and urgent, we’ve got a revelation, we’ve got some humor (like John Wayne is truly frightened by the little lady with the gun), we’ve got reconciliation – each thing fulfilled to its absolute maximum.

I so appreciate any art that works on that level. It seems to me to be rare.

Here he comes. Here he comes to claim what was his. Look out!

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3 Responses to Red River (1948): The Last 10 Minutes

  1. Su says:

    Thanks so much, Sheila, for making me feel not so alone once again…;-)
    I have a couple of those films as well, although I myself rarely cry -the catharsis manifests itself through freezing and staring at the screen, tense as if I hadn’t already seen it…well, MANY times.

    I love Red River, I love the ending (though, I do feel it cuts off very abruptly after the new brand is drawn in the sand) and I’m not ashamed to say I already saw it three times this year (Wayne’s 100th is such a treat TV-wise!).
    In fact, I remember back then it was the first time I truly appreciated John Wayne in a film (“But,he’s…brilliant!”).

    Also, it’s a shame so few people actually remember Monty Clift these days – such an extraordinary, intelligent, intense actor; I liked a lot what you wrote about him in your “Making of the Misfits”-piece(great in its entirety, BTW ;-)).
    So, thanks again…

  2. PatrickP says:

    Poor Montgomery Clift. He just breaks my heart.

  3. red says:

    It’s one of the saddest of all Hollywood stories. Breaks my heart, too.

    But to see him here – young, gorgeous, confident, wonderful actor … It’s odd, to think of what he became, and what a tortured life he led.

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