Mary in Kentucky, I know what you MEAN, even though I loved the movie. My cinephile friend, hearing me extol(l?) this one, decided that just from hearing me describe what I'd liked, KNEW he'd hate the movie. He agrees with you, that it would be manipulative and so on. Which it was - I just didn't mind being manipulated into feeling good, I guess, but I can totally see how you'd not like being manipulated.

And woe betide anyone who disses the Late Great John Wayne. He tried to act, really he did - remember El Dorado, which is basically the same movie as Rio Bravo? Sidekick named for a state and everything... well, John Wayne wanted to play the drunk this time, and the director basically said No, sorry, you're playing John Wayne... True story!