Red River

In the beginning of the movie, we have one apparent alpha male: John Wayne, who in Red River goes by Tom Donson. Then we meet Matt, who seems like a sidekick initially, but he’s out there to prove to the Western world that he is more than that. They’re both able to pull off the clean-cut hero look with the alpha male status. They’re both fearless and good with the gun, and both are looked upon by the rest. To prove himself, Matt had to make the decision “for the individual rather than the collecting conscience” (Matheson 904) and assert his own John Wayne status (or at least he tries) by claiming his own leadership by taking the cattle and even keeping a gang of men to himself. All of a sudden, we have two distinctive alpha males – each with their own posse.

At first, Tom didn’t recognize both alpha male figures – so he went and tried to solve his problems like a true cowboy. Matt, however, is not naïve enough as to get in a gunfight with Tom Donson and refuses to withdraw the gun. Tom had to prove his manhood since “the hero is a man of few words who expresses himself through physical action” (Tompkins 39) – and so they engage in close combat. Additionally, both alpha male figures share the same woman who breaks down at some point and tries to settle them straight with an overdramatic speech, like Tompkins says, “when the crunch comes, women shatter into words”. In the end, Tom Donson surprisingly seems to recognize this alternate leader by splitting the land among the two of them. Of course, even after all this, John Wayne is still the ultimate alpha superstar – but Matt gets his share of the power too.