Rio Lobo

This 1970 Wild West adventure is quite a late addition not only to the many Westerns John ‘The Duke’ Wayne appeared in, but marked the final film of director Howard Hawks (and his fifth collaboration with Wayne). It’s pretty much what you can expect from it though one can’t help getting the impression that it all was done before… and better.

The action takes place towards the tail end of the American Civil War and what a kick-off it is, what with a Union Army payroll train (we’re talking serious booty here!) rolling along the tracks though it’s meant to be a secret. Alas - shock horror - the Confederates are in the know but who spilled the beans? Suffice to say, the Rebs (that’s short for Confederates btw) come up with an elaborate plan involving ropes across the rail tracks and, wait for it, bagfuls of hornets! If you’re clueless (and why shouldn’t you be) how hornets contribute to a successful raid led by Confederates Captain ‘Frenchy’ Cordona (Jorge Rivero) and Sergeant Phillips (Christopher Mitchum, son of Robert Mitchum), well, you just have to watch the nail-biting opening. When Union Colonel McNally (John Wayne) gets wind that all is not well with the secret train, he and assorted Unionists ride to the rescue, alas too late. The train has been raided and in the process, McNally loses his close buddy, Lt. Forsythe (Peter Jason). This translates as McNally being mighty pissed off - not only because of the untimely demise of Forsythe but because he knows that a robbery as complex and daring as this means that someone among the Unionists must have informed the Rebs. Not one for throwing the towel easily, McNally, who finds himself captured by the Rebs but succeeds in leading them to a Union Army camp, which Cordona and Phillips come to realise too late. Despite the two Rebs being captured, they refuse to reveal who the grass is, naturally, although mutual respect between the three men prevents a punch-up. That said, both Cordona and Phillips give a physical description of the traitor (or was it more than one).

Some time later, just after the Civil War has come to an end, McNally witnesses the two Rebs being released from prison and each goes their own way, although they make a promise to McNally that they will be in touch again should they come across those former Unionists who tipped them off about the train. Things get a bit more complex if not convoluted altogether from then on, when McNally is approached by Texan Sheriff Cronin (Bill Williams) without hinting what it is about. Upon his arrival in Blackthorne, McNally makes the acquaintance of a young woman named Shasta Delaney (Jennifer O’Neill) who reveals a ghastly tale of murder most foul and in no time we get acquainted with another Sheriff, namely Rio Lobo’s very own Sheriff Hendricks (Mike Henry) who isn’t what he seems, for one, he wants Shasta out of the way and sends a posse to capture her but low and behold, she identifies their ringleader as Deputy ‘Whitey’ Carter (Robert Donner), the murderer in question. Hold on! Didn’t ex-Rebs Cordona and Phillips describe one of the traitors looking like someone whose appearance matches that of Whitey? Before he knows it (and in good old John Wayne fashion), Colonel McNally finds himself in the thick of it and it’s the usual game of good versus bad - or very bad in this case, if ruthless landowner Ketchum (Victor French) is taken aboard.

It’s all engaging enough and the acting, especially as Wayne is concerned, is satisfactory though overall, the cast list doesn’t exactly spill over with household names.
RIO LOBO has just been released on Blu-ray, in a strictly Limited Edition (2,000 copies) and it’s all presented in a O-card slipcase with collector’s booklet. Additional Bonus Material includes various audio options, interviews and original theatrical trailer.