‘Masterpiece’ John Wayne Western described as ‘majestic’ is available to watch for free
One of John Wayne’s most beloved Western films will be available to stream for free from today
This classic Western film starring John Wayne will be available to stream completely free of charge from this afternoon (Monday, 3rd November).
A must-watch for fans of the Hollywood legend, it was originally released in 1950 and directed by master filmmaker John Ford.
Director Orson Welles called it a “masterpiece”, though it’s often forgotten by cinephiles as it’s the last in a trilogy of great Westerns by Ford, beginning with Fort Apache and followed by She Wore a Yellow Ribbon.
In Rio Grande, Wayne portrays Cavalry commander Lt. Col. Kirby Yorke who is posted on the Texas frontier to protect settlers from attacks by the Apache Native Americans.
As he gains an advantage by capturing the Apache’s leader, the film delves into Yorke’s troubled past, including his estrangement from his wife Kathleen (Maureen O'Hara) and son Trooper Jefferson Yorke (Claude Jarman Jr).
Rio Grande will be airing at 12:55pm on Film4 today and will subsequently be available for free on Channel 4’s streaming service for a limited time.
One Letterboxd user called it “visually stunning and emotionally impactful”.
They continued: “The chemistry between Wayne and O’Hara is electric, and the film’s quiet emotional core makes it far more than just another western — it’s a story about love, pride, and redemption.”
Another claimed Rio Grande could feature the leading man’s “best performance”, penning: “I think this was the perfect role for Wayne. Chemistry between Wayne and O’Hara off the charts.
“The group’s camaraderie is tight. We quickly feel a closeness not only between the characters but also with them ourselves.”
Another five-star review said: “It’s hard to judge yesterday’s films by today’s standards and Rio Grande has a much more complex and rich narrative than you’d come to expect from a 50s western.
“And to top it all off it has some of Ford’s best action set pieces and sequences. I mean, f***, Ben Johnson could ride the hell out of a horse.
“And for anyone who has said John Wayne wasn’t a good actor (including John Ford) get a load of the closeups on him in this film. He didn’t have to say a word. His face spoke volumes.”
And Cine Outsider called it an “enthralling and majestic western from one of giants of the genre”, though warned some aspects of the story feel quite dated.
“Its honest portrait of a broken family and of a man who has put his career above his loved ones and pays the emotional price feels ahead of its time,” the review went on, “the performances are terrific across the board, the night-time Apache hit-and-run raid on the camp is thrillingly staged, and the strength of its drama is balanced, as ever, by a delightful line in character-based comedy.”
Will you be taking a ride through the Wild West with John Wayne this week?
Rio Grande airs at 12:55pm on Film4 and will be available to stream on Channel 4.