Howard Hawks, scene 5

The first scene I chose for my Hawks selection was a musical scene from Only Angels Have Wings (1939). Today I have also chosen a music scene, from Rio Bravo, made 20 years later, and just as clear an expression of Hawksian ideas and values.

This is a lovely scene, and Dean Martin is ever so cool, lying there. I especially like when he gesticulates to Ricky Nelson to take over. There are many scenes such as these in Hawks's films, where group solidarity is built and expressed by and through music, by singing together. And I like that. The hierarchy between the men is also clearly established, from John Wayne to Dean Martin to Ricky Nelson to Walter Brennan.