Wagon Master (1950)

Director:

John Ford

Writers:

Patrick Ford (written by)
Frank S. Nugent (written by)

Release Date:

19 April 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

A group of Mormons hoping to found a new colony in the trackless San Juan River country hire horse traders Travis and Sandy as wagonmaster and guide...

Plot Keywords:

Mormon | Wagon Train | Desert | Guide | Medicine Show

Cast

Ben Johnson	...	Travis Blue
Joanne Dru	...	Denver
Harry Carey Jr.	...	Sandy
Ward Bond	...	Elder Wiggs
Charles Kemper	...	Uncle Shiloh Clegg
Alan Mowbray	...	Dr. A. Locksley Hall
Jane Darwell	...	Sister Ledeyard
Ruth Clifford	...	Fleuretty Phyffe
Russell Simpson	...	Adam Perkins
Kathleen O'Malley	...	Prudence Perkins
James Arness	...	Floyd Clegg
Francis Ford	...	Mr. Peachtree
Fred Libby	...	Reese Clegg
Jim Thorpe	...	Navajo
Mickey Simpson	...	Jesse Clegg

Also Known As:

Wagonmaster (USA) (alternative spelling)

Runtime:

86 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | Navajo

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:K-12 (1964) | Finland:K-16 (1951) | UK:PG | UK:U (original rating) | Iceland:12 | West Germany:16 (f) | USA:Approved (PCA #14314) | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Colorado River, Moab, Utah, USA

Company:

Argosy Pictures

Trivia:

In this film Harry Carey Jr. rode his own horse called "Mormon" and Ben Johnson rode a famous movie horse called "Steel" that was owned by his father in law "Fat Jones" who ran the most well known horse renting stable in Hollywood. In the galloping scenes Ben Johnston rode Steel's stunt double Bingo and was quoted as saying he was just a passenger as "Bingo" thundered down the hills. According to Harry Carey Jr "Steel" and "Mormon" became very attached and ruined quite a number of scenes by calling out to each other.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the beginning of the film, when Travis on the horse talks to the marshal, he folds his right leg leaning it on the saddle horn. In the next shot he is with his right leg hanging unfolded.

Quotes:

Travis Blue: Feet hurt, ma'am?
Denver: Nope!
Travis Blue: Well here, try these on!
[Hands here a pair of walking shoes, she puts them on]
Denver: Did you get these from that... red-headed gal?
Travis Blue: You mean Miss Prudence?... yes ma'am.
Denver: Is she your wife?
Travis Blue: No ma'am... How do they feel?
Denver: Fine. A little large for me maybe, but fine. Thanks very much, and thank your lady friend.
[Denver arises, and starts to walk away, Travis looks after her]
[...]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Last Picture Show (1971)

Soundtrack:

SONG OF THE WAGON MASTER

My brief review of the film

Although Ford's movie only really starts halfway through, once the traveling folk and the outlaws meet, the second half of the film is strong enough that the lengthy roundabout beginning is almost forgotten. The outlaws are plain stereotypes, painted very similar to the Clantons in 'My Darling Clementine', but the intense interactions between them and the traveling folk are worth watching for. Oddly enough, the depth of the film does not lie in the happenings between them but rather in the singing and dancing featured. Song and dance is shown as a uniting force between very different cultures, and the songs of the film are very well suited to the Old West atmosphere. The film is a mix of different things: there is a typical predictable love interest, awkward bits of humour, and of course men slinging guns. Then there is the plot of outlaws against the good guys and the almost non-related deeper ideas about bonding between different people. The overall product is rather strange and certainly not one of John Ford's strongest efforts. That said, it is good viewing once it gets going, and Ford captures the vast western landscape as well as one would expect.