Dean Martin - My rifle, my pony and me

In the John Wayne western, “Rio Bravo,” Dean Martin sings a song, “My Rifle, My Pony and Me.” I was just watching the 1948 John Wayne western “Red River.” The music in the background in a couple of scenes in this movie is the same melody.

Dimitri Tiomkin, who scored “Red River” and “Rio Bravo,” used the music in both films. It was the theme song for “Red River,” although it was called “Settle Down.” You can hear it when the opening credits roll.

When Wayne and Howard Hawks, who made “Red River,” teamed again for “Rio Bravo,” Tiomkin reworked the theme to create “My Rifle, My Pony and Me.” It ended up a hit for Dean Martin and led him toward western music for a bit.