Robert Mitchum finds a memorable role in Raider of the Rio Grande, that of a gunslinger disillusioned and exhausted by the violence of his world. A feature film that the actor absolutely wanted to shoot, and which meant a lot to him.
The Rio Grande Adventurer: an atypical western
A somewhat forgotten director, having collaborated on many occasions with John Ford as an editor, Robert Parrish has also signed several great feature films. Among them are war films The Crimson Flame and tropical Hellas well as westerns Free as the wind and The Rio Grande Adventurer. Adapted from Tom Lea’s novel and worn by the excellent Robert Mitchum, this 1959 work tells the story of Martin Brady.
After killing his father’s killer, Brady fled the United States for Mexico, where he serves as a “gunslinger” to the Castro brothers, one of whom rules the province that borders the Rio Grande. But when he hurts his leg, the hero is forced to stay two months in a US army fort. It was there that he met Major Stark Colton (Gary Merrill) and his partner Ellen (Julie London).
The Rio Grande Adventurer ©Sidonis Calysta
While the soldier tries to hire him, in particular, to try to find out more about the intentions of the Castro brothers, Martin Brady falls madly in love with his wife. While he thinks of settling permanently in Texas, the gunslinger has no choice but to return to Mexico after committing a murder in self-defense.
Western humanist, which questions both the notion of border and that of happiness – as its original title suggests The Wonderful Country, The Rio Grande Adventurer presents a deeply touching character, romantic and exhausted by the violence he tries to flee.
An unforgettable role for Robert Mitchum
After the refusals of Gregory Peck and Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum expressed his interest in the film to Robert Parrish, who therefore entrusted him with the role of Martin Brady. Extremely attached to the project, the actor also takes on the role of executive producer. Yes, The Rio Grande Adventurer is so close to his heart, maybe it’s because the protagonist he plays looks a lot like him as Bertrand Tavernier explains in the Blu-Ray bonuses:
It is a role which, practically, sticks to his personality. This disenchantment, this difficulty… (…) It fits with this moment when America wondered about its roots: “Where should I live? What is the country where I could find happiness?” It fits wonderfully with Mitchum.
During a meeting with the actor, Bertrand Tavernier and his friend Pierre Rissient tell him of their passion for some of his major films, such as The hunter’s night and The Rio Grande Adventurer. And when he hears these titles, the actor completely changes his attitude. The filmmaker, who also co-directed the documentary Mississippi Blues with Robert Parrish, recalls:
Immediately, already, Mitchum was interested. Don’t talk to him about Marilyn Monroe, but talk to him about The hunter’s nightlet’s talk to him about The Valley of Fear by Raoul Walsh… There were five or six films that he liked a lot, a lot, a lot and of which he was proud. He who was doing a big number of the guy who doesn’t care, at that time, he wasn’t doing this number at all. And this film, he had produced it Mitchum, this film…
During his career, Robert Mitchum has only produced two other feature films: Thunder Road and The Night Fighters. This says a lot about the importance of The Rio Grande Adventurer to his eyes…
