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Rio Bravo
Hawksβ leisurely but surprisingly suspenseful chamber western mixes drama and comedy to create an unforgettable classic.
Director: Howard Hawks
Overview
Hawksβ acclaimed chamber western is at once defiantly idiosyncratic (complete with wordless prologue and musical interlude), leisurely in pace, and engrossing throughout, peppered with suspenseful set-pieces and an exhilarating finale. The story β about a sheriff helped by a motley band of misfits in defending his jail from a murderous gang β is less important than the generous characterisation and meticulous balancing of drama and comedy.
Ranked 101st in the 2022 Sight and Sound Greatest Films of All Time poll.
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