Three Godfathers (1948)
"3 Godfathers" (original title)

Three outlaws on the run discover a dying woman and her baby. They swear to bring the infant to safety across the desert, even at the risk of their own lives.

Director:

John Ford

Writers:

Laurence Stallings (screenplay), Frank S. Nugent (screenplay),

Stars:

John Wayne, Pedro Armendáriz, Harry Carey Jr.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
John Wayne	...	Robert Marmaduke Hightower
Pedro Armendáriz	...	Pedro 'Pete' Roca Fuerte (as Pedro Armendariz)
Harry Carey Jr.	...	William Kearney ('The Abilene Kid')
Ward Bond	...	Perley 'Buck' Sweet
Mae Marsh	...	Mrs. Perley Sweet
Mildred Natwick	...	The Mother
Jane Darwell	...	Miss Florie
Guy Kibbee	...	Judge
Dorothy Ford	...	Ruby Latham
Ben Johnson	...	Posse Man #1
Charles Halton	...	Oliver Latham
Hank Worden	...	Deputy Curly
Jack Pennick	...	Luke
Fred Libby	...	Deputy
Michael Dugan	...	Posse Man #2

Storyline

Three outlaws on the run discover a dying woman and her baby. They swear to bring the infant to safety across the desert, even at the risk of their own lives.

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Plot Keywords:

desert | birth | posse | baby | newborn | 

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Taglines:

John Ford's Legend of the Southwest!

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Genres:

Drama | Western

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

1 December 1948 (USA)

Also Known As:

Le fils du désert

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Argosy Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

106 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

John Wayne's character, Robert Marmaduke Hightower, was named by director John Ford after his favorite stuntman, Bryan 'Slim' Hightower, who also worked on this picture.

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Goofs

While Wayne is holding the baby at the wagon, Pete is asked if he got any information about looking after the baby from its dying mother. He is supposed to say "Do you think I was going to drive the lady crazy?" what he says is "Do you think I was going to drive the lazy crazy?"

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Quotes

Judge: [during sentencing] Robert Marmaduke Hightower...
Perley 'Buck' Sweet: Marmaduke? Haw, haw...
Robert Marmaduke Sangster Hightower: Perley!
[crowd laughs]

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Connections

Referenced in Ebert Presents: At the Movies: Episode #2.17 (2011)

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Soundtracks

"Silent Night"
(uncredited)
Composed by Franz Gruber and Joseph Mohr
(piano instrumental)

User Reviews

Superb

I'm surprised this one doesn't get more accolades. To me it's really one of the best westerns ever made. This is one of those films that proves that the western genre can produce true art. The filming, the performances -- this is one of Wayne's best … it's quite overlooked that this guy could act: The desperation, the confusion, the exhaustion, it's all just amazing.

It's more of a character study than anything else, with the characters facing desperate thirst, an aching empty land, relentless sun, and the movie shows how these men deal with it, all the while they are attempting to care for a child. Something they are ill equipped to do.

There are clear religious elements to the movie, and they make this all the more compelling -- these are not good men, but they have a sense of honor and faith, in their own way. They can't break their word to a dying woman, to care for her child. Their faith in each other is touching.

It's gritty, yet very tender, a strange juxtaposition, like the beauty and cruelty of the desert.

See the movie if you can.