Overly long for its straightforward plot. Wonderful photography along the trail. Wayne and Clift superb. Disliked narrative intrusions and disjointed feel of scenes hurried or missing. But loved the undercurrent of sexual roles, where the girl is really on the outside despite what she wants. Gay character of Cherry (that's his name!) was fascinating, scenes where he admires Clift's beautiful gun and eventually dies defending him. Cherry didn't stand a chance of having Matt (Clift) once Tom (Wayne) was back on the scene! As the girl said, they (Matt and Tom) should marry each other!

Wayne was great, a flawed hero, and the way they aged him and he acted made it so convincing he was supposed to be around 60 by the movie's end. Clift was great, too. But that ending - yikes!!!! Totally unconvincing!! Clift and Wayne grinning at each other minutes after almost killing each other, with no concern for Cherry, whom Wayne just shot??? Bizarre!!! But otherwise great film. I have given this film more thought, and this is how I would have made it. I would still have Wayne livid when Clift takes over the drive, but NOT threaten to kill him. I would have Wayne tell Clift he was going to show up and confront him some day, leaving it as a veiled threat of some type of retribution. But when Wayne shows up at the end, I would let the surprise be that Wayne realized Clift did the right thing and - like when Jacob and Esau meet in the Bible - they make up. I would just have Wayne shoot Cherry's gun out of his hand and not really hurt him. Then I'd have Wayne make a dramatic speech to the effect that "it takes a big man to admit when he's wrong and I'm a big man" and then show Clift how the brand will be changed to include him with the M.

Red River is an epic but flawed western which loses focus when it introduces a love interest in the last third of the film which leaves it with an odd and almost absurd ending.John Wayne (Dunson) plays a driven man who has built up a cattle empire in Texas and not through entirely legal means. He has taken land, cattle and killed for it.Montgomery Clift (Garth) plays his adopted son who Dunson took in as a boy. Dunson is in financial trouble, to get the best price for his cattle he embarks on an epic cattle drive to Missouri. The trouble is Dunson is driven to the edge of insanity in his quest, he falls out with his men over the best route, his strict rules and his cruel punishment for rule breakers and deserters.At one point Garth rebels against stubborn Dunson and relives of his herd and drives them successfully to Kansas, on route Garth and his men repel an Indian attack on a wagon train where he meets and falls in love with Tess Millay (Joanne Dru). All the time Garth knows Dunson is following and will want vengeance.John Wayne plays a ruthless man, with a dark underbelly. It is hard to root for him when he his driving his men to question his abilities.Clift in an early film role matches Wayne in his Oedipal struggle to supplant the father figure, get the herd into town and pay off his remaining men. The film should had got to a showdown between Wayne and Clift but it gets rather sidetracked.

RED RIVER is a dramatic and tense film based on a comparison of a successful rancher and his adopted son. This is without any doubt one of the best films of the cattle prods on the "wild west". A real treat for all fans of westerns.The beautiful scenery and landscape of open plains to the west makes this movie even better. The river is a symbol and her appearance in the film was a turning point in the story. The herds of cattle are life and work. The heavy, tense and challenging. A man in such circumstances often stumbles. However strong will and circumstances give choice.The conflict between the main character is realistic and justified. Smokers on the verge of patience act credibly. The story is full of understanding and meaningful humor. The atmosphere is such that at the moment can feel the dust and blood or a stampede of cattle. John Wayne as Thomas Dunson was a successful rancher whom are at the very beginning deducted love. Character who wants to finish the job at any cost. The price of human life? Dunson from the start act defeated. Fortunately at the end of the realization that must and can be different. Regardless of the nature of the role, John Wayne is more than dominant. Montgomery Clift as Matthew "Matt" Garth, character who will probably all crawl under the skin. Unspoiled, charming and very successful in his task.Joanne Dru as Tess Millay, A woman in western is almost always glamorous and beautiful. This woman will change the character of the story. Love for one cowboy, understanding for the other cowboy. Walter Brennan as Nadine Groot is an old grouch, without which the story can not be told. The voice of reason and an oasis of humor.The film ends happily with messages of love and understanding. I'm expecting a relentless duel. Fortunately, I was wrong.