This is the section for all our "FUN" Rio Grande information - please enjoy!
Did You Know?
… that Rio Grande premiered at the Majestic Theater in San Antonio on October 3, 1950.
… that the movie was based on a story called The Mission With No Record by James Warner Bellah.
... Rio Grande's screenplay was based on a short story called Mission With No Record written by James Warner Bellah and first published in The Saturday Evening Post in 1947. The story is included in the anthology Best of the West or you can read it here.
… that Rio Grande was also the motion picture debut of John Wayne's son Patrick Wayne who played one of the children who were captured by the Indians.
… that John Ford didn't want to make Rio Grande. Republic Pictures cajoled him into it by promising that if he made Rio Grande they would let him make his beloved project, The Quiet Man. To learn more visit our Tribute to The Quiet Man
… that Rio Grande also holds the distinction of being one of the very few movies in which John Wayne sported a mustache. This was so radical a concept at the time that the advertisements for the movie showed him clean-shaven because the Republic Pictures marketing department was afraid that the mustache would offend potential movie watchers.
... In the movie Maureen O'Hara's character is named Kathleen so of course when "The Regimental Singers" (The Sons of the Pioneers) come to offer a serenade they sing "I'll take you Home Again Kathleen " John Wayne very unromantically says he did not have anything to do with the song choice and she replies that she wishes that he did.
... You can listen to the main theme from the soundtrack of Rio Grande here
... The movie is loosely based on real history in 1873 the U. S. Army did cross the border into Mexico to put a stop to Apache raids. There is a colorful series of lectures on the Apache Indian Wars on Youtube.
Rio Grande On Location
John Wayne is just one of the many legendary celebrities to leave hand and footprints outside the famous Grauman's (now Mann's) Chinese Theater.
John Wayne Prints Mann's Chinese Theater
6925 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood, CA SEE MAP
Hollywood Walk of Fame Star
In the early 1960's, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce developed the idea of the "Hollywood Walk of Fame." The sidewalks of the most famous streets in the heart of Hollywood were lined with "stars" recognizing celebrities' life-long contributions to the entertainment industry. Receiving a star is still to this day considered a huge honor. Here's where you can find the stars of Rio Grande celebs John Wayne, Maureen O'Hara, Victor McLaglen and director John Ford:
John Wayne Walk of Fame Star (Motion Pictures)
1541 Vine St.
Hollywood, CA
Maureen O'Hara
Walk of Fame Star (Motion Pictures)
7004 Hollywood Blvd.
Hollywood, CA
Victor McLaglen Walk of Fame Star (Motion Pictures)
1735 Vine St.
Hollywood, CA
John Ford
Walk of Fame Star (Motion Pictures)
1640 Vine St.
Hollywood, CA
… that Rio Grande also holds the distinction of being one of the very few movies in which John Wayne sported a mustache. This was so radical a concept at the time that the advertisements for the movie showed him clean-shaven because the Republic Pictures marketing department was afraid that the mustache would offend potential movie watchers.
John Wayne Prints
John Wayne
Maureen O'Hara
Victor McLaglen
John Ford
