Rio Bravo (BFI Film Classics) - Softcover

This volume is a study of the classic western film "Rio Bravo", which, according to the author, remains "beyond politics, as an argument as to why we should all want to go on living".

Rio Bravo forms a loose trilogy with "Only Angels Have Wings" (1939) and "To Have and Have Not" (1944), which treats key Hawks themes of self-respect and friendship with exquisite subtlety, comedy and tenderness. "Rio Bravo", however, is the definitive rendition of these themes. For Robin Wood, it may be the greatest American film, the epitome of the collaborative art of the studio system, characterized by marvellous performances from Hollywood legends and relative newcomers alike; and by Hawks's complete understanding of classical filmmaking techniques.