Rio Bravo was Wayne's retort to High Noon, with the star detesting the politics of that 1952 Western. Hawks and Wayne liked the basic premise of Rio Bravo so much that they remixed its characters and themes twice more with El Dorado and Rio Lobo. The latter proved to be Hawks' final film, and despite some spirited performances - especially from a scene-stealing Jack Elam - it's easily the weakest of the three.
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Why El Dorado Was A Great John Wayne & Robert Mitchum Western
Or as El Dorado's trailer puts it: "The Big Two in The Big One!"
While maybe not on par with the likes of Wayne or James Stewart, Robert Mitchum was something of a Western icon himself. This includes outings like Blood on the Moon and The Way West, co-starring Kirk Douglas. Wayne and Mitchum finally united onscreen for El Dorado, with Wayne's gunfighter Cole being the best pal of Mitchum's alcoholic Sheriff Harrah. The role of the cocky young gunfighter - or in this case, knife thrower - went to James Caan as "Mississippi" while Ed Asner plays the villain of the piece.
Rio Bravo is the better movie, but El Dorado is still a lot of fun thanks to it's leading man. Wayne and Mitchum share great chemistry and actually could pass for old friends who still get on each other's nerves at times. The film is also faster-paced and more action-packed than Rio Bravo, but it still recaptures the hangout vibes of that film. The themes of friendship and flawed men working together to defeat a bigger threat recur throughout Hawks' trilogy too.
John Wayne went on to work with Mitchum's son Christopher on a few projects like Big Jake , but El Dorado marks the only time he and Robert Mitchum shared the screen.
If nothing else, El Dorado is worth watching for the sheer novelty of seeing Mitchum and Wayne together. John Wayne went on to work with Mitchum's son Christopher on a few projects like Big Jake, but El Dorado marks the only time he and Robert Mitchum shared the screen. Putting two huge movie stars together can be a tricky business - especially if one wants to outshine the other. Instead, El Dorado sees Wayne and Mitchum having a blast together, and creating a fun, proto-buddy cop relationship.
John Wayne & Robert Mitchum Were In The Same Movie Previously, But Not Together
Practically every living actor appeared in The Longest Day
El Dorado marks the sole time Wayne and Mitchum acted together - but it wasn't the only film they appeared in. Both actors starred in the World War 2 ensemble The Longest Day, which covered the D-Day landings from both the Allied and German perspectives. The film is a true epic; it has a three-hour runtime and an endless cast of superstars, including Henry Fonda, Sean Connery, Richard Burton, and many, many more.
Rio Bravo (1959) | 96% |
El Dorado (1967) | 96% |
Rio Lobo (1970) | 70% |
As the sprawling cast and scope of The Longest Day might imply, many characters don't get to interact at all. This includes Wayne's Lieutenant Col. Vandervoort and Mitchum's Brigadier Gen. Cota, who never share any scenes. Wayne was actually a replacement for Charlton Heston, who was forced to drop out due to other commitments.
John Carpenter paid homage to the final shot of John Wayne and Robert Mitchum's characters walking together in El Dorado with the ending to Ghosts of Mars .
John Wayne Actually Replaced Robert Mitchum In Another Movie
Mitchum was fired from this 1954 period adventure
The Longest Day wasn't the first instance of Wayne crossing paths with Mitchum. Wayne was drafted in as a last-minute replacement for Mitchum in 1954's Blood Alley, where a Merchant Marine captain is held prisoner in China after his ship is taken, and he is aided in his escape by local villagers. According to Classic Movie Hub, Wayne was all but blackmailed into taking over the lead in Blood Alley, after other major stars like Gregory Peck passed.
Robert Mitchum was reportedly approached about re-teaming with Wayne once again for Rio Lobo but was uninterested in basically remaking El Dorado.
Had Wayne not signed on, Warner Bros threatened to pull their distribution deal with his production company Batjac. Mitchum himself clashed with director William A. Wellman during production, and after he pushed the film's transport manager into San Francisco Bay, Robert Mitchum was promptly fired from Blood Alley. Despite all the offscreen drama, the film wasn't much of a success critically or commercially when it arrived.
Mitchum was reportedly approached about re-teaming with Wayne once again for Rio Lobo but was uninterested in basically remaking El Dorado. Mitchum's appearance in Rio Lobo certainly would have injected that drab 1970 "Oater" with some extra life, but it's doubtful reuniting Wayne with Mitchum would have resulted in a great film either.
Source: Rotten Tomatoes, Classic Movies Hub
In "El Dorado," veteran gunslinger Cole Thornton is summoned by a wealthy rancher, Bart Jason, to assist in a land dispute. However, upon arriving in the town of El Dorado, Thornton discovers from his old friend, Sheriff J.P. Harrah, that Jason's true motives are far from just. Determined to prevent unnecessary violence, Thornton joins forces with the sheriff and a young, eager deputy named Mississippi to protect the besieged MacDonald family.
Director Howard Hawks
Release Date June 7, 1967
Distributor(s) Paramount Pictures
Runtime 126 Minutes
Budget $4.6 Million
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English (US) ·