Howard Hawks' Western Trilogy

Rio Bravo, the first film of Hawks' western trilogy was released in 1959. Howard Hawks and John Wayne wanted it to be the opposite to High Noon. Whereas in High Noon the sheriff asked for help from his fellow citizens and did not get it, County Sheriff John T. Chance, played by John Wayne, is surrounded by people who want to help him. He turns down anyone whom he thinks is not capable of helping him.

The story:
John T. Chance arrests a killer and drags him to the local jail. Nathan Burdette, the killer's brother and a powerful rancher tries to get him out of jail with his men. In the end he fails.

El Dorado was released in 1967. In some ways the film is a remake of Rio Bravo; there are some important differences though. Cole Thornton, played by John Wayne, is not a sheriff but a rather (in)famous gun slinger, who decides to fight for the "good Guys". Two thirds of the film he has to deal with the consequences of having been shot in the back: he falls of his horse, can't use his right arm anymore and ends up shooting with a shotgun.
His friend, the sheriff-gone-drunkard J.P. Harrah (Robert Mitchum) gets shot at as well and hops around on crutches.
The third man on his side, a young man called Mississippi, fights with his knife because he cannot shoot.
Whereas the men are shown with deficits, the women are strong, especially a young woman who rides and shoots like a man.

Rio Lobo was released in 1970 and is Howard Hawk's last film. It also focuses on crime and corruption in a small western town, and of course John Wayne as Cord McNally fights against it.
Whereas in Rio Bravo and El Dorado well known actors like Dean Martin and Robert Mitchum had accompanied John Wayne, Rio Lobo was without additional famous actors. The film received mostly negative reviews.