Dean Martin, Rio Bravo, and “My Rifle, My Pony and Me”

Dean Martin, the man who had it all

Dean Martin is a naturally good looking man who could sing whatever they put in front of him. His acting skill is equally outstanding with his singing prowess. He can deliver any line effectively like the words were his. All in all, he did not have to try hard at anything, he is a natural artist.

In the entertainment industry, Dean Martin is one of the multi-talented subjects. He is singer, recording artist, actor, comedian, and film producer. Martin was nicknamed the “King of Cool,” which came from his seemingly effortless charisma and self-assurance. At the peak of his career, he formed the immensely popular duo titled, Martin and Lewis.  Martin served as the straight man to Lewis’ slapstick hijinks. The film industry was attracted with his distinct characteristic as an artist. He beacame a star in concert stages, nightclubs, recordings, motion pictures and television.  aAso, he was also a member of the “Rat Pack”.

“My Rifle, My Pony and Me”

Rio Bravo

Dean Martin’s silver screen high point credits with the movie, Rio Bravo. Alongside with John Wayne, they starred on this 1959 American western film that is based on B.H. McCampbell’s novel. the movie centers on a sheriff of Rio Bravo, Texas, who arrests the brother of a powerful local rancher to help his drunken deputy friend. And with the help of crippled, young gunfighter, they held off the rancher’s gang.

“My Rifle, My Pony and Me” is featured in the movie. The actors rendered their singing skills in one scene. Although it is a song about comin’ home to his sweetheart darlin’ you get the sense from his phrasing and where he puts the emphasis that he’s more at home alone in the canyon with his three good companions, his rifle and pony “and me”.

At one level it is throwaway filler (like Elvis’ Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce in Girl Happy) and yet it is also emblematic of Dino’s loner persona, the man who not only needed very little but couldn’t have cared less about the rest. Or even that.

In 2014, Rio Bravo was deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.

We have more interesting articles to offer at Country Thang Daily. Seize the day fellas!