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Rio Lobo is a 1970 Western film directed by Howard Hawks, starring John Wayne, Jorge Rivero, and Jennifer O'Neill. The movie is set in the aftermath of the Civil War and follows a Confederate soldier, Cord McNally (John Wayne), who seeks revenge against the traitorous officers who wronged him during the war. The story begins with Cord McNally leading his men in a Union Army raid to capture a Confederate gold shipment during the Civil War. However, he is betrayed by one of his co-commanders and his men are ambushed and slaughtered. McNally narrowly escapes and spends the rest of the war in Confederate prisons.

After the war, McNally is a bitter and hardened man returning to a changed America. He soon finds himself in Texas, where he meets his old friend and fellow former Confederate, Capt. Pierre Cordona (Jorge Rivero). The two men team up to track down the traitorous officers who wronged them during the war, including their old commander, Major Shattuck (the late Christopher Mitchum).

Their search leads them to Rio Lobo, a small Texas town where Shattuck has taken over the law enforcement and wreaks havoc on the local citizens, including a lovely young woman, Shasta Delaney (Jennifer O'Neill). McNally and Cordona team up with Shasta and the remaining townspeople to take down the corrupt and selfish Shattuck and his army of outlaws in a final showdown.

John Wayne is in top form as Cord McNally, the hard-boiled Confederate veteran who is looking for justice. His commanding presence and tough-guy demeanor are on full display as he takes on the corrupt leadership in Rio Lobo. Jorge Rivero is equally engaging as Pierre Cordona, the dashing and loyal friend who stands by McNally's side no matter what.

Jennifer O'Neill delivers a solid performance as Shasta, the beautiful and headstrong woman who gets mixed up in McNally's mission for vengeance. Her chemistry with Wayne is a highlight of the film, adding a touch of romance to the action-packed story.

Director Howard Hawks's propulsive direction keeps the film moving at a brisk pace. With a keen eye for action and a good sense of humor, Hawks delivers a thrilling Western that remains entertaining to this day. The film is full of exciting shootouts and horse chases that showcase the rugged beauty of Texas landscapes.

The film's story is typical of most Western movies set in the post-Civil War era. It follows the familiar tropes of the genre, including vengeance, justice, and the battle between the powerful and the oppressed. However, the performances of the cast and the direction of the film elevate it beyond its formulaic roots.

Rio Lobo is a classic Western that showcases the talents of John Wayne, Jorge Rivero, and Jennifer O'Neill. It's a must-see for fans of the genre and a great introduction for newcomers to the world of Western movies.

Rio Lobo is a 1970 western with a runtime of 1 hour and 54 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.7 and a MetaScore of 55.