Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

Wagon Master

  • 19501950
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 26m
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
4.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Joanne Dru and Ben Johnson in Wagon Master (1950)
  • Western
Two young drifters guide a Mormon wagon train to the San Juan Valley and encounter cutthroats, Indians, geography, and moral challenges on the journey.Two young drifters guide a Mormon wagon train to the San Juan Valley and encounter cutthroats, Indians, geography, and moral challenges on the journey.Two young drifters guide a Mormon wagon train to the San Juan Valley and encounter cutthroats, Indians, geography, and moral challenges on the journey.
IMDb RATING
7.1/10
4.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • John Ford
  • Writers
    • Frank S. Nugent
    • Patrick Ford
    • John Ford(story)
  • Stars
    • Ben Johnson
    • Joanne Dru
    • Harry Carey Jr.
Top credits
  • Director
    • John Ford
  • Writers
    • Frank S. Nugent
    • Patrick Ford
    • John Ford(story)
  • Stars
    • Ben Johnson
    • Joanne Dru
    • Harry Carey Jr.
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 59User reviews
    • 44Critic reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos109

    Ward Bond, Jane Darwell, Francis Ford, and Russell Simpson in Wagon Master (1950)
    Wagon Master (1950)
    Wagon Master (1950)
    Joanne Dru and Ben Johnson in Wagon Master (1950)
    Joanne Dru and Ben Johnson in Wagon Master (1950)
    Ward Bond and Ben Johnson in Wagon Master (1950)
    Ward Bond and Ben Johnson in Wagon Master (1950)
    Ward Bond, Kathleen O'Malley, and Russell Simpson in Wagon Master (1950)
    Harry Carey Jr. and Ben Johnson in Wagon Master (1950)
    Kathleen O'Malley in Wagon Master (1950)
    Ward Bond, Harry Carey Jr., Ben Johnson, Kathleen O'Malley, and Russell Simpson in Wagon Master (1950)
    Ward Bond, Harry Carey Jr., Kathleen O'Malley, and Russell Simpson in Wagon Master (1950)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Ben Johnson
    Ben Johnson
    • Travis Blueas Travis Blue
    Joanne Dru
    Joanne Dru
    • Denveras Denver
    Harry Carey Jr.
    Harry Carey Jr.
    • Sandyas Sandy
    Ward Bond
    Ward Bond
    • Elder Wiggsas Elder Wiggs
    Charles Kemper
    Charles Kemper
    • Uncle Shiloh Cleggas Uncle Shiloh Clegg
    Alan Mowbray
    Alan Mowbray
    • Dr. A. Locksley Hallas Dr. A. Locksley Hall
    Jane Darwell
    Jane Darwell
    • Sister Ledyardas Sister Ledyard
    Ruth Clifford
    Ruth Clifford
    • Fleuretty Phyffeas Fleuretty Phyffe
    Russell Simpson
    Russell Simpson
    • Adam Perkinsas Adam Perkins
    Kathleen O'Malley
    Kathleen O'Malley
    • Prudence Perkinsas Prudence Perkins
    James Arness
    James Arness
    • Floyd Cleggas Floyd Clegg
    Francis Ford
    Francis Ford
    • Mr. Peachtreeas Mr. Peachtree
    Fred Libby
    • Reese Cleggas Reese Clegg
    Jim Thorpe
    Jim Thorpe
    • Navajo Indianas Navajo Indian
    Mickey Simpson
    Mickey Simpson
    • Jesse Cleggas Jesse Clegg
    Cliff Lyons
    Cliff Lyons
    • Marshal of Crystal Cityas Marshal of Crystal City
    Hank Worden
    Hank Worden
    • Luke Cleggas Luke Clegg
    Don Summers
    • Sam Jenkinsas Sam Jenkins
    • Director
      • John Ford
    • Writers
      • Frank S. Nugent
      • Patrick Ford
      • John Ford(story) (uncredited)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    More like this

    She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
    7.2
    She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
    Two Rode Together
    6.7
    Two Rode Together
    Fort Apache
    7.4
    Fort Apache
    3 Godfathers
    7.1
    3 Godfathers
    The Sun Shines Bright
    6.9
    The Sun Shines Bright
    Rio Grande
    7.0
    Rio Grande
    Sergeant Rutledge
    7.4
    Sergeant Rutledge
    7 Women
    6.7
    7 Women
    Young Mr. Lincoln
    7.5
    Young Mr. Lincoln
    Cheyenne Autumn
    6.7
    Cheyenne Autumn
    The Long Gray Line
    7.1
    The Long Gray Line
    Drums Along the Mohawk
    7.0
    Drums Along the Mohawk

    Storyline

    Edit
    As Mormon settlers head to the promised land at the San Juan river in Utah, they hire horse traders Travis Blue and Sandy as wagon masters. They have to forge a trail across unknown territory and face many hardships along the way. They quickly come across some stranded travelers, a medicine show run by Dr. A. Locksley Hall which includes the attractive Denver. Along the way however, they are also joined by Shiloh Clegg and his murderous clan of robbers and thieves. An encounter with the Navajo leads to an invitation to their camp but after one of the Clegg boys gets a whipping for attacking one of the Navajo women, Uncle Shiloh plans his revenge. It's left to Sandy and Travis to protect the travelers and get them to their destination. —garykmcd
    • double gun holster
    • gun
    • holster
    • gun holster
    • two gun holster
    • 97 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • John Ford's lusty successor to "Fort Apache" and "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon"
    • Genre
      • Western
    • Certificate
      • Approved
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      In the scene where Sandy (Harry Carey, Jr.) and Jackson (Chuck Hayward) fight, the fight is broken up by Elder Wiggs (Ward Bond). Bond has ripped pants as he separates the fighters, and you can hear a dog barking in the background. This happened because Director John Ford wanted to use two dogs, that had been ruining every scene in the film by fighting, in the background as the men fought, hoping the dogs would start fighting as a contrast to the men fighting. Instead of fighting, however, one of the dogs ran away, and the other attacked Bond and ripped his pants. Ford could barely contain his laughter, but kept filming. Afterward, he became quite concerned and said they needed to find the dog, in case it had bitten Bond, not just ripped his pants. Ford was worried the dog might have needed a tetanus shot.
    • Goofs
      While the peaceful Mormon homesteaders may not have been carrying sidearms, that they would also not have rifles and shotguns (for hunting and protection from animals) seems unlikely. Certainly 19th century Mormons didn't have an aversion to firearms - one of the greatest gun designers in history, John M. Browning, was a practicing Mormon.
    • Quotes

      Sandy: By Golly, I bet it's going to be hotter then...

      Jackson: [Angrily] Mind your language!

      Sandy: I wasn't cussin'!

      Jackson: You were going to say Hell!

      Sandy: I was going to say Hades, but Hell ain't cussin', it's geography... It's the name of a place, like you might say Abilene or Salt Lake City.

      Jackson: [Taking offense] Don't you be going making any remarks about Salt Lake City!

      [Sandy turns away, but when he cinches his saddle, he purposesly bumps into Jackson, Jackson does it back, and they do it back and forth. Then they turn around and fight]

    • Connections
      Edited into Trail Guide (1952)
    • Soundtracks
      WAGONS WEST
      Words and Music by Stan Jones

      Recorded by Sons of the Pioneers (as The Sons of the Pioneers)

      Sung (behind credits) by the Sons of the Pioneers (uncredited)

    User reviews59

    Review
    Top review
    Underrated in the Ford Canon
    I never thought I'd be using a word like "charming" in connection with a Western. But the first half of Wagon Master strikes me as just that, charming. The colorful characters and set-ups blend together in shrewdly affable fashion. Of course, the opening hook features brief gunplay, but that's just to let the audience know that the movie will include traditional bad guys. Actually, there's much less gunplay than expected, though the second half is more tension filled than the first. Still, the eventual showdown is de-dramatized in atypical fashion.

    To me, Ben Johnson makes an excellent westerner. His regional accent is perfect. He may not be a John Wayne icon, but neither does he compete with the story. After all, the wagon train's success amounts to a collective effort and not that of a single heroic figure. Also, Carey Jr. makes a good headstrong sidekick, good for a chuckle or two. And, yes, that is a young,, naturally blond, James Arness as one of the Cleggs, even if without any dialog.

    Two things I really like about this Ford Western. The characters are colorful without becoming caricatures, plus the fact that it's filmed in b&w. Now, Technicolor would bring out the awesome beauty of the Moab locations, but also distract from the storyline. The b&w photography here is excellent, but has the important effect of bringing out the majesty of the surroundings without competing. It's a perfect setting for the movie's theme of a new land for a peaceable Mormon people. Note too, how the Navajo are treated with respect, and even acknowledged as victims of white men's thievery, but without piling it on. Note too that except for the opening scene the entire movie was shot on location. A real outdoor Western.

    All in all, Ford blends the many elements together beautifully. In my little book, the result should be more celebrated among his canon than it is. I know it's my favorite among the many Ford Westerns I've seen.
    helpful•6
    2
    • dougdoepke
    • May 4, 2016

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 22, 1950 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Navajo
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Wagonmaster
    • Filming locations
      • Colorado River, Moab, Utah, USA
    • Production company
      • Argosy Pictures
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $999,370 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 26 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.37 : 1

    Related news

    Tim McGraw on his character in ‘1883’: ‘James is running from a lot of demons in his past’
    Tim McGraw on his character in ‘1883’: ‘James is running from a lot of demons in his past’
    Mar 1Gold Derby
    NYC Weekend Watch: The Bong Show, To Save and Project, Audition & More
    Jan 9The Film Stage

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    Joanne Dru and Ben Johnson in Wagon Master (1950)
    Top Gap
    By what name was Wagon Master (1950) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    See the full list
    Image caption not available
    2:14
    The Most Anticipated Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    Watch the video

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.