I think that "Rio Grande" is the best western ever made. I especially loved the music. Also, who could not love John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara? I thought Ben Johnson was such a naturally good actor with that real Texas accent. Ken Curtis' singing was absolutely wonderful! Anyone who could create the Festus character on "Gunsmoke" must have a lot of talent, and I think that he should have been given much more screen time than he had.
I wonder why that little cutie who played Margaret Mary got so much screen time. Her character didn't seem to have any parents, unless I missed something. She did a good job, but she seemed to be everywhere, even sitting on the dias at the end of the movie. Why? I would also like to give an orchid to Claude Jarman Jr. Claude was only fifteen years old when he was in that movie and did such a wonderful job of acting. I also read somewhere that he was successful on his very first try to ride "roman style" on two horses at once!
Claudette