Rio Lobo is the disappointing end of a trilogy of John Wayne Westerns, but it could have been saved by one of the star’s own suggestions. The Rio Bravo trilogy is an odd one, since none of the films are connected in terms of story. Instead, director Howard Hawks and leading man John Wayne made three films that remixed the same themes and characters. Considered one of its leading man’s best, Rio Bravo is a classic that is both John Carpenter’s and Quentin Tarantino’s favorite Western.
The first “sequel” El Dorado (which paired Wayne with Robert Mitchum) was also well-received, but Rio Lobo was labeled a “damn piece of junk” by Hawks himself (via Howard Hawks: Interviews). This 1970 Western was a critical and commercial dud, and just felt stale compared to the other “Oaters” produced during this time, like Once Upon a Time in the West. The film has its defenders, but it’s still one of Wayne’s lesser entries from this era; as Hawks himself would state, Wayne was also too old to play the lead convincingly.
John Wayne’s Idea To Play The Drunk In Rio Lobo Could Have Saved It
Wayne wanted the part previously played by Dean Martin and Robert Mitchum
Rio Lobo’s main character is Colonel Cord McNally, whose quest to find two traitors takes him to the titular town. Wayne is never less than a compelling screen presence, but McNally himself just isn’t that compelling a protagonist. There’s little depth or dimension to Cord, and it’s the type of straight arrow part Wayne played many times before. Things could have been different though, as when Wayne was first approached by Hawks about the film, he asked “Do I get to play the drunk this time?”
In Rio Bravo and El Dorado, Dean Martin and Robert Mitchum played the best pals of Wayne’s protagonists, who were saddled with drinking problems. Martin and Mitchum had the juicier roles, essentially, with the former giving arguably his best dramatic turn as the drunken deputy, Dude. According to the biography John Wayne: The Life and Legend, Wayne was slightly jealous of his co-star’s role, stating to Hawks that “Martin gets all the fireworks, doesn’t he?” Hawks convinced him this wouldn’t be an issue, and Wayne figured out how to make the dynamic work between them.
After two outings where other actors got the flashier parts, it was a missed opportunity Rio Lobo didn’t let Wayne play the drunken character. This would have given him a way more interesting part and allowed him to be both hammy and dramatic. There is even a scene where Cord gets tipsy drinking whiskey before he goes to sleep that hints at what his take could have been – and it’s the most animated Cord gets in the entire film.
Wayne Felt His Rio Bravo Co-Stars Dean Martin & Robert Mitchum Had The Better Roles
John Wayne was typecast as, well, John Wayne
Wayne fronted dozens of Westerns during his career, and was very much typecast in the genre; considering he loved them though, this wasn’t a big problem. That said, many of his Western heroes blend together since there isn’t much to set them apart. The same could be said of his Rio Bravo trilogy protagonists, who are all riffs on the same role. While Wayne wasn’t wrong about Martin or Mitchum overshadowing him, it’s not like they completely blew him off the screen either.
… it would have been real intriguing to see Wayne step into the drunken role for the final entry.
Still, Martin’s character Dude, and Mitchum’s Sheriff J.P. are inherently more complex characters. They are good men who have been overwhelmed by their addictions and traumas and struggle to rise to the occasion. Wayne’s character dispenses tough love to both his friends, but it would have been real intriguing to see him step into the role for the final entry.
Why Rio Lobo Is The Worst Of The Rio Bravo Trilogy
The Western convinced Quentin Tarantino to retire early
Tarantino’s love of Rio Bravo is well-documented, with the director once claiming that if he showed it to a prospective new girlfriend and she didn’t like it, the romance was off. Conversely, Tarantino claims Rio Lobo inspired his upcoming retirement. He says the Western is a prime example of a director sticking around too long and making something that felt tired compared to their earlier work. A harsh assessment, but it can’t be denied that Rio Lobo is a long way from Hawks’ best.
There are myriad issues with the film, including Wayne’s co-star Jorge Rivero lacking the screen presence of stars like Martin or Mitchum. Outside of a well-staged train robbery, Rio Lobo has no strong setpieces. Compared to Rio Bravo and El Dorado, this trilogy capper lacks the same energy and humor, though again, there’s still fun to be had with it. Had Wayne got to add some color to his character by playing the drunk, this would have injected some much-needed energy too.