I'm writing like a madman on masculine issues related to the post-Classical era on Hollywood. Here's an excerpt from my paper on Rio Bravo:

Martin is not the only bruised male character of the film. Stumpy, played by Classical era Western star Walter Brennan, is Chance’s other deputy. Stumpy is literally crippled and spends much of the film being taunted and cursed by Change for his uselessness. Stumpy’s main role is to feed and hold a shotgun on Joe Burdette throughout the film. While Dude’s descent was the result of falling in love with the wrong women, Stumpy’s decent is the result of age. In addition to being crippled, Stumpy is no longer capable. In the middle of the film, he nearly kills Dude in an accident, proving himself dangerous to his companions. In the end, Stumpy finds a bit of redemption, using dynamite to the rescue of the group in a shootout with Burdette’s men. Despite the moment of redemption, Stumpy is old and decrepit, hardly the depiction of the strong, silent frontiersman. In the final line of the film, Stumpy questions Dude, “You think I’ll ever get chance to be sheriff?” after Feather’s stockings fall on his head. The humor of the line sugarcoats a serious concession of Stumpy’s character. The impossibility of Stumpy ever becoming a Sheriff, i.e. protector, is laughable because of his age and lack of competence. He mocks the idea of the male, i.e. himself, as a protector. But beyond that, the line is further suggestive. Dude’s descent early in the film is the result of a woman. Stumpy, by implication, is a virgin. “You think I’ll ever get a chance to be sheriff,” could be translated to, “Do you think I’ll ever have a chance to get laid?” The implication is that while the woman CAN be the cause or of male destruction – she is not a necessary component in the loss of masculinity. In short, male impotence/uselessness/relevance is inevitable.

This brings us to Wayne. There is no greater symbol of American male masculinity than John Wayne. How does one interpret the end of Rio Bravo, Wayne acknowledging his love for Angie Dickenson? Does this imply Wayne will also descend, as Martin has earlier in the film, because of a woman? There is certainly evidence to suggest as much. Martin, jokes to Wayne, about the parallel between their romantic encounters when Feathers refuses to leave town on the stagecoach. Dude recalls the advice Chance gave him, “I remember another time a woman came through on the stage and I remember you telling me she was no good. And it turned out you were right, so naturally I expected you were an expert on these matters.” Dude stops short of warning Chance against getting involved with Feathers, but the implication is enough to question whether Wayne himself will be emasculated.

Maybe I'll post the whole thing when it's done.