# Red River (1948)

> A monumental cattle-drive western turns a self-made rancher's tyrannical authority into a volatile test of loyalty, inheritance, and frontier leadership.

Canonical page: https://ember.film/movie/2041

## Facts

- Runtime: 133 min
- Genres: Western
- Director: Howard Hawks
- Cast: John Wayne, Montgomery Clift, Joanne Dru, Walter Brennan, Coleen Gray, Harry Carey, John Ireland, Noah Beery Jr.
- TMDB rating: 7.3/10
- IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040724/

## Ember's analysis

- Pacing: measured
- Intensity: strong
- Complexity: layered
- Violence: moderate
- Mood: rugged, sweeping, tense, classic western night, cinephile viewing

## Synopsis

A cattle drive turns into a battle of wills as a father and son clash over power and loyalty.

## Movies like Red River

- [The Cowboys (1972)](https://ember.film/movie/9317)
- [Rio Grande (1950)](https://ember.film/movie/6580)
- [Wagon Master (1950)](https://ember.film/movie/23326)
- [The Searchers (1956)](https://ember.film/movie/2063)
- [The Big Trail (1930)](https://ember.film/movie/27610)
- [The Unforgiven (1960)](https://ember.film/movie/3636)
- [Cheyenne Autumn (1964)](https://ember.film/movie/25865)
- [The Big Country (1958)](https://ember.film/movie/7146)
- [Big Jake (1971)](https://ember.film/movie/13031)
- [The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)](https://ember.film/movie/6656)

---

Site overview: https://ember.film/llms.txt