3 Godfathers (1948)

Three outlaws on the run risk their freedom and their lives to return a newborn to civilization.

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 Sangster Hightower
Pedro Armendáriz	...	Pedro 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

Fugitive bank robbers Robert (John Wayne), William (Harry Carey Jr.) and Pedro (Pedro Armendáriz) stand at a desert grave. Caring for the newborn infant of the woman they just buried will ruin any chance of escape. But they won't go back on their promise to her. They won't abandon little Robert William Pedro. Director John Ford's Western retelling of the Biblical Three Wise Men tale remains a scenic and thematic masterpiece. Ford adds color to his feature-film palette, capturing stunning vistas via cinematographer Winton C. Hoch, who would win two of his three Academy Awards for Ford films. Again, populist-minded Ford asserts that even men of dissolute character can follow that inner star of Bethlehem to their own redemption.

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Plot Keywords:

arizona | arizona territory | territory | christmas | newborn | 

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Taglines:

JOHN WAYNE'S Greatest Role!

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Genres:

Drama | Western

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

This film was first telecast in Minneapolis Wednesday 3 April 1957 on KMGM (Channel 9), followed by Chicago 14 April 1957 on WBBM (Channel 2), by Hartford CT 23 April 1957 on WHCT (Channel 18), by Philadelphia 3 May 1957 on WFIL (Channel 6), by New Haven CT 10 May 1957 on WNHC (Channel 8), by Tucson 23 May 1957 on KVOA (Channel 4), by Norfolk VA 19 July 1957 on WTAR (Channel 13), by Phoenix 25 July 1957 on KPHO (Channel 5), by Honolulu 8 August 1957 on KHVH (Channel 13), by New York City 4 September 1957 on WCBS (Channel 2), by Syracuse 13 September 1957 on WHEN (Channel 8), by Miami 19 October 1957 on WCKT (Channel 7), by Altoona PA 16 November 1957 on WFBG (Channel 10), by Binghamton NY 30 November 1957 on WNBF (Channel 12), by Los Angeles 20 December 1957 on KTTV (Channel 11) and, finally, by San Francisco 9 May 1958 on Channel 7 (KGO). At this time, color broadcasting was in its infancy, limited to only a small number of high rated programs, primarily on NBC and NBC affiliated stations, so these film showings were all still in B&W. Viewers were not offered the opportunity to see these films in their original Technicolor until several years later.

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Goofs

When Ben Johnston is standing in the buckboard when the sheriff and 3 deputies use it to chase the 3 bank robbers out of town, he has one leg behind him bracing himself to stay standing while the horses gallop. There is a strap secured to the tray of the buckboard and he has the toe of his boot wedged in it to help keep his balance.

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Quotes

Pedro "Pete' Roca Fuerte: [dying] Hey, Bob... I just remembered what tomorrow is. Feliz Navidad.

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Connections

Referenced in Variety Lights (1950)

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Soundtracks

Beautiful River (Shall We Gather at the River)
(uncredited)
Written by Robert Lowry and Charles Ives
Performed by Harry Carey Jr.

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.

Details

Official Sites:

HBOMAX TCM

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish

Release Date:

13 January 1949 (USA)

Also Known As:

Three Godfathers

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,243,000 (estimated)

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