The Fugitive (1947)

Anti-Catholic and anti-cleric policies in the Mexican state of Tabasco lead the revolutionary government to persecute the state's last remaining priest.

Directors:

John Ford, Emilio Fernández (uncredited)

Writers:

Dudley Nichols (screen play), Graham Greene (novel)

Stars:

Henry Fonda, Dolores del Rio, Pedro Armendáriz

1 win & 2 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Henry Fonda	...	A Fugitive
Dolores del Rio	...	An Indian Woman (as Dolores Del Rio)
Pedro Armendáriz	...	A Lieutenant of Police (as Pedro Armendariz)
J. Carrol Naish	...	A Police Informer
Leo Carrillo	...	A Chief of Police
Ward Bond	...	El Gringo
Robert Armstrong	...	A Sergeant of Police
John Qualen	...	A Refugee Doctor
Fortunio Bonanova	...	The Governor's Cousin
Chris-Pin Martin	...	An Organ-Grinder (as Cris-Pin Martin)
Miguel Inclán	...	A Hostage (as Miguel Inclan)
Fernando Fernández	...	A Singer (as Fernando Fernandez)

Storyline

Based of the Graham Greene novel about a revolutionary priest in Central America. A priest who is The Fugitive is trying to getaway from the authorities who have denounced Christianity and want anyone linked to it dead. The Fugitive finds shelter with an Indian Woman (The Woman), a faithful parishioner, who gives the priest directions to Puerto Grande, where he could then board a ship and sail to freedom in America. On his journey to Puerto Grande, he meets up with a man who says he will protect him. In reality, he is the Police Informer and once The Fugitive realizes this, he is back on the run, but the Police Informer is never far behind along with the authorities.

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Plot Keywords:

priest | marxist | socialist | catholic church | catholicism | 

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Taglines:

Peril-Laden adventure ... of a man's desperate plight !

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Genres:

Drama | History

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of director John Ford's personal favorite of his films.

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Goofs

When the Priest and young boy approach the organ grinder; there are is a couple dancing to the music. On the next cut, the organ grinder stops playing the music and packs his instrument however the couple continues to dance although there is no music playing. A few more seconds later after the organ grinder leaves, they then act as if the music has stopped abruptly.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Opening Narrator: [voice over] The following photoplay is timeless. The story is a true story. It's also a very old story that was first told in the Bible. It is timeless and topical, and is still being played in many parts of the world. This picture was entirely made in our neighboring Republic, Mexico, at the kind invitation of the Mexican government and of the Mexican motion picture industry. It's locale is fictional. It is merely a small state a thousand miles north or south of the Equator - who ...

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Connections

Referenced in Observations Under the Volcano (1984)

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Soundtracks

Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie
("The Dying Cowboy") (uncredited)
American folk ballad based on an older sea song (1932)
Variation heard as theme for the Gringo (Ward Bond)

User Reviews

Gripping adaptation of Graham Greene's Treatise

John Ford's adaptation of Graham Greene's "The Power And The Glory" captures perfectly the potential for the seven deadly sins in all of us. It is an incredibly and understatedly raw and emotional and downright earthy movie. The entire supporting cast is brilliant, and Fonda, of course, is excellent, if not precisely ideal. This is in all senses, a quintessential study in soul-searching.

Details

Country:

Mexico USA

Language:

English Spanish Latin Italian

Release Date:

27 March 1948 (Mexico)

Also Known As:

The Labyrinthine Ways

Filming Locations:

Mexico

Box Office

Budget:

$1,500,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Argosy Pictures, Productora Mex. Desconcida

Technical Specs

Runtime:

104 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1