Using the Front Door

I guess they'll let you in the front door from now on."
— Sheriff John T. Chance (John Wayne)

"I'm back! I'm back in the saddle again! I'm baaaaaaaaaack!" OK, so it's Aerosmith and not a singing cowboy. But even cowboys like a little rock and roll. Chris LeDoux said so. I'm feeling surprisingly good, even after hell week at work and almost walking out for good.

Anyway.

We had a fun time over at Rusty Springs, you shoud've been there. A couple of us wound up at a friend's house and we watched Rio Bravo. I can't believe that I haven't seen that one before. John Wayne and Dean Martin sure worked together well. I'm sure glad I've seen it now. In fact, I stopped and bought a copy for myself. I really like this movie.

There are a couple of things in that movie that stood out for me, but I'm going to focus on a personal drama that is an undercurrent to the main story. Dean Martin is the town drunk (which fits in with the image that he created for himself over the years). They either call him "Dude", or the Spanish word for "drunk". That's cold. He also manages to become a deputy to Sheriff John T. Chance (John Wayne).

After a shooting in town, Dude and Chance are tracking the killer into a saloon. Dude says that he wants to go in the front door because they don't like it when he comes in that way (it's a town drunk thing). Chance agrees to go in the back way.

Dude has a badge now, since he's a deputy. He boldly strolls in and the men in the saloon turn and stare. They're on the team of bad guys, so I think they're a little surprised that he had the unmitigated gall to step up. Sheriff Chance slams the door in the back to make his presence — and his rifle — known. Dude talks in a no nonsense tone and disarms them ("Take your gun belts off one by one"). Then he's checking for muddy boots, one by one.

Nothing found. The bad guys taunt Dude about attempting to recover from alcoholism. One throws a silver dollar into a spittoon for Dude to fish out and buy a drink. Dude gets suspicious but does not show it. He asks for that drink. As the bartender is pouring, he whirls and shoots a man in the upstairs area who is holding a rifle. Chance keeps the others from trying anything.

Sheriff Chance then proceeds to tell the bad guys to get out of town and say some other stern sheriff stuff. He then asks Dude if he's finished yet. Dude says to the guy that threw the silver dollar into the spittoon, "Do you want it back? Do you know how to get it?" That meant, "Go get it". So the man reaches into the spittoon and pulls it back out.

I really like this scene. The sheriff lets the guy that's basically been at the bottom for a long time take charge. He helps him regain some of his dignity and self respect. Dude went for it and made the effort, and Chance was backing him.

After the scene is over, Chance says to Dude, "I guess they'll let you in the front door from now on."

I have more to say about Rio Bravo, but this is enough for today's installment. Oh, except for one thing. I thought I was done, and then I was pleasantly surprised to see this scene on YouTube. Take a look.