Film

DelArt Film Society: The Wild West presents Rio Bravo (1959)

Westerns once ruled Hollywood. The quintessential American film genre. A mythology rooted in our identity. Survival, betrayal, redemption, revenge. A raw view of the untamed west, romanticized, yet rugged. A symbol of freedom and the American dream.

Over time, the westerns started to fade. A cultural shift in the 60s/70s saw less black-and-white moral codes, and moral ambiguity which kept them alive for a little bit longer, before the Blockbuster era finished them off…but not forever.

A resurgence in the 90s/2000s followed by the genre-bending 2010s proved that Westerns can still thrive today. The DelArt Film Society dives into the Western, peels back the myths, and showcases four incredible films that span the history of the genre.

🚫 Outside food and drinks are not allowed, but feel free to bring a water bottle—there’s a refill station conveniently located near the auditorium.

Rio Bravo (1959)

A small-town sheriff in the American West enlists the help of a disabled man, a drunk, and a young gunfighter in his efforts to hold in jail the brother of the local bad guy.

Perhaps the best “hangout film” of all time, Howard Hawks is in fine form as he directs a stellar cast including John Wayne, Dean Martin, and Ricky Nelson in an unforgettable western.