For all those critics who believe John Wayne can't act, the movie legend entertains a line of dialog that's written at his own expense. When the dentist, Dr. Ivor Jones (David Huddleston) purposely causes Cord McNally (Wayne) to yell out in pain using one of his instruments, Jones says to him - "Well if you'd been a good enough actor, I wouldn't have used it!" To his credit, Wayne actually looked stunned when he heard that.Well, like a handful of other Western fans here, I was pretty sure I saw this picture before when it was called "Rio Bravo" and "El Dorado". No drunken sheriff this time around though, so you had to deal with Tarzan actor Mike Henry as the bad guy lawman under the thumb of Rio Lobo town boss Ketcham. I guess I've seen Victor French in too many episodes of 'Highway to Heaven' to picture him as an outlaw, but he did look leaner and meaner here.The head scratcher for me in the picture was the presence of Mexican actor Jorge Rivero; maybe the idea here was to give him a push in American films but I had to wonder why they couldn't have come up with a more recognizable name to complement Wayne in the picture. Rivero, along with the rest of the 'younger' cast didn't really help the story once the movie got under way. Ricky Nelson could at least sing when there was a lull in the action.But the train hijacking was a pretty clever affair, not ever having seen the old greased tracks/bag o' hornets trick before. The other interesting point for me was Colonel McNally's sense of justice in seeking out the Yankee traitor. For him, battling it out with Cordona (Rivero) and Tuscarora (Christopher Mitchum) fell under principles of warfare, but Ketcham's role in supplying information to the Rebs was an act of treason. You know the Duke couldn't stand for that.

First, those other reviews that slam the different facets of this movie are probably made by others who have nothing better to do with their time. This flick is really interesting from beginning to end. Starting with the great train robbery and ending with the shoot-out at the ranch, this movie never lets up. The dialogue amongst the actors is typically basic, like a lot of westerns, but it is to the point like most westerns as well. The set designs are also very western and entertaining-looking to the point that I wish I was actually a part of it and enjoying it. The romance between the two actors is funny and very real in a way in terms of a silly but serious man trying to court an almost hysterical but serious woman. The supporting actresses all do a very good job in their roles and are all unusually beautiful but are all rather calm and know how to handle their situations in their worlds on the set. Even the lead bad guy, the new sheriff, doesn't "look" like a typical western bad dude, however he portrays himself as a true leader and seems to be in full control of all the other dudes in his posse. Jack Elam, of course, is the wacky guy, but really knows how to kick ass if pushed, which is the type we need any more these days in our world. But, for a "wacky" dude, he seems to be also a type that is worthy of deep respect in his own right, and that may be because he seems to know what is right for the world and will stand up for it no matter what. I can go on about this flick, but my point in this review is that one needs to just simply watch the movie with your own eyes and just relax and enjoy it for all that it is worth.

Civil War veteran John Wayne (as Cord McNally), former Confederate foe Jorge Rivero (Pierre "Frenchy" Cordona), and super-model Jennifer O'Neill (Shasta Delaney) ride into "Rio Lobo" to stir residents into action. Also in town are Robert's son Christopher Mitchum (as Tuscarora Phillips) and his pa Jack Elam (as "Old Man" Phillips). Proving the law of diminishing returns for his last film, herein, director Howard Hawks re-visits "El Dorado" (1966) which had re-visited "Rio Bravo" (1959). Ms. O'Neill's line, "I was running out of things to say" may apply. She is very beautiful, but needed to go over lines with her co-stars (or, maybe she did). The script seems to poke fun at Mr. Wayne's age, weight ("He's heavier than a baby whale."), and acting ("If you'd been a good enough actor.") with good-natured humor. It only helps a little.**** Rio Lobo (12/17/70) Howard Hawks ~ John Wayne, Jorge Rivero, Jennifer O'Neill, Jack Elam

Yeah, who cares if it's all the same? This isn't a movie, it's a good time and it feels. Not so much as in Rio Bravo or, even better, El Dorado but still, it's there and the heist in the beginning is rather well carried through, in spite of all the nonsense.Just the stubbornness of doing the same film for the third time with almost the same locations is so downright disrespectful that it deserves extra praise just that. Who does he think that he is, Howard Hawks? He doesn't care and cares even less than a flying fart what you think of him. Well if that isn't charming, what is? What I'm really saying with this review is that Howard Hawks shows us how little a story really means and how many different things can be said without changing the story.