Ryan L "Red River"

Howard Hawk's 1948 film Red River begins with the typical alpha male cowboy in John Wayne's character Tom Dunson, but as the film continues, the sidekick is developed into a second alpha male. Until Matt Garth is able to stand up to Dunson, he is his loyal sidekick and cannot be considered as an alpha male cowboy. Garth came up just short of being an alpha male prior to this, because although he fulfills the ability with a gun and has a good command of other people, he unquestionably follows Dunson, despite his better judgment. Furthermore, he fulfills the typical sidekick according to Sue Matheson, in her article The West-Hardboiled, "Wayne's student is a quick study, however, whatever the gender, she or he becomes 'masculine'"(904). Garth develops his masculinity throughout the film. Although it is unseen, Dunson raises his sidekick into the man he wants him to become. Furthermore, he is a quick study. He readily admits he is skilled with a gun, and yet yields the top spot to Dunson still. This forfeit of recognition demonstrates that he still considers himself inferior, which is something an alpha male wouldn't do.

After he stands up to Dunson, and takes control of the group, Garth becomes an alpha male. He demonstrates that he no longer takes backseat to Dunson. Because of this, he becomes the strong silent type, or the alpha male. Although Garth becomes an alpha male, he doesn't replace Dunson, because throughout the remaining part of the film, their is a sense of fear that Dunson will catch them. Thus, there are two alpha males in the film, from this point on. This is typified by the final fight between Dunson and Garth. As opposed to speaking to eachother, and reasoning why they did what they did, they begin fighting, and act as though they plan on killing one another. Garth's girl exemplifies the difference between the alpha male and women when she accuses them of rather killing eachother than speaking to one another. This is in line with Jane Tompkins belief from her book West of Everything, when she makes this same assertion, "They cannot communicate, therefore, they will kill each other someday. Their silence signals their seriousness, their dignity and reality, and the inevitability of their conflict. Silence is a sign of mastery, and goes along with a gun in the hand. They would rather die than settle the argument by talking to each other" (64). Thus, because the two battle and become silent, they are both alpha male cowboys, by the end of the film.