For Robin Wood, Rio Bravo 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
RioBravo forms a loose trilogy with Only Angels Have Wings (1939) and To Have and Have Not (1944), which treats key Howard Hawks themes of self-respect and friendship with exquisite subtlety, comedy and tenderness. RioBravo, 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.
