Rio Grande (1920)
A silent Western of divided loyalties, forbidden romance, and the turbulent borderlands between Texas and Mexico.
Rio Grande - Movie Information
- Release Year: 1920
- Directed by: Edwin Carewe
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Western
- Runtime: 1h 10m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: No Language
- Release Date (Theatrical): April 25, 1920 (United States)
- Production Companies: Edwin Carewe Productions
- Production Countries: United States of America
Rio Grande - Plot
Maria Lopez is the daughter of an American mother and a Mexican father, who is the head of a band of insurgents. As a child, she was kidnapped by her father and raised south of the border to hate gringos. She begins to like them a lot better when, during an escape from some Mexican "Rurals," she crosses the border and is captured by Texas Ranger Danny O'Neil. He lets her go, and they fall in love, but their romance is interrupted when she hears that her father has been captured by Americans.
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Rio Grande - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Edwin Carewe
Main Cast
- Rosemary Theby
- Allan Sears
- Georgie Stone
- Peaches Jackson
- Hector V. Sarno
- Adele Farrington
- Arthur Edmund Carewe
- Harry Duffield
Rio Grande - FAQs
What is Rio Grande (1920) about?
Rio Grande follows Maria Lopez, a young woman of mixed American and Mexican heritage who was raised south of the border to despise Americans. After fleeing Mexican Rurales, she crosses into Texas and is captured by Ranger Danny O'Neil. The two fall in love, but their romance is tested when her father is seized by American forces.
Who directed Rio Grande in 1920?
Rio Grande was directed by Edwin Carewe, a prolific silent-era filmmaker who also served as producer through his own production company. Carewe was known for his visually expressive style and his ability to blend action with emotional storytelling, both of which are evident in this border Western.
Who are the main actors in Rio Grande?
The cast features Rosemary Theby as Maria Inez and Allan Sears as Texas Ranger Danny O'Neil. Supporting roles are filled by Hector V. Sarno as Felipe Lopez, Adele Farrington as Alice Lopez, Arthur Edmund Carewe as Don Jose Alvarado, and Harry Duffield as Father O'Brien.
Is Rio Grande (1920) a lost film?
Yes, Rio Grande (1920) is considered a lost film. Like a significant portion of silent-era cinema, no known surviving print has been located. The loss of so many films from this period is largely attributed to the fragile and highly flammable nitrate film stock used at the time.
When was Rio Grande released?
Rio Grande had its theatrical release on April 25, 1920, in the United States. It was produced by Edwin Carewe Productions and stands as one of the early border Westerns to explore cross-cultural identity and romance against the backdrop of the Texas-Mexico frontier.
What genre is Rio Grande (1920)?
Rio Grande is a Western, specifically a silent-era border Western. It blends frontier action with a cross-cultural romance, centering on the tension between American and Mexican identities along the Rio Grande. The film reflects the genre conventions of early Hollywood Westerns while weaving in themes of heritage and belonging.
How long is the 1920 film Rio Grande?
Rio Grande has a runtime of approximately 70 minutes, which was a fairly standard length for feature films of the silent era. Given that it is now considered a lost film, this runtime figure is drawn from historical production records rather than a surviving print.
What are similar movies to Rio Grande (1920)?
If you enjoy Rio Grande, you might also like other early border and frontier Westerns such as Across the Border (1914), Justified (1915), and The Outlaw (1908). For more modern takes on similar themes, Jauja (2014) and Appaloosa (2008) offer compelling Western storytelling with rich character dynamics.
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