Book excerpt: Red River (1947) is one of Howard Hawks' near-perfect films. A sweeping, fast-moving Western, it's stunningly shot and stars John Wayne and Montgomery Clift in complex roles set off by typically fine ensemble acting. In her study, Suzanne Liandrat-Guigues explores the thematic complexity of 'Red River' as well as its historical resonances and its place in film history. She focuses particular attention on the actors' contributions and on 'Red River''s relationship to other Hawks classics.