The Fugitive (1947)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

John Ford
(more)

Writers:

Graham Greene (novel)
Dudley Nichols (writer)

Release Date:

3 November 1947 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Based of the Graham Greene novel about a revolutionary priest in Central America. A priest who is The...

Plot Keywords:

Priest | Religion | Betrayal | Based On Novel

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Henry Fonda	...	A Fugitive
Dolores del Rio	...	An Indian Woman
Pedro Armendáriz	...	A Lieutenant of Police (as Pedro Armendariz)
J. Carrol Naish	...	A Police Informer
Leo Carrillo	...	Chief of Police
Ward Bond	...	James Calvert, aka 'El Gringo'
Robert Armstrong	...	Police sergeant
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)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Rodolfo Acosta	...	Man (uncredited)
Mel Ferrer	...	Father Serra (uncredited)
Jack Pennick	...	Man (uncredited)
José Torvay	...	Mexican (uncredited)

Directed by
John Ford
Emilio Fernández		(uncredited)

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Graham Greene		novel "The Power and The Glory"
Dudley Nichols		writer

Produced by
Merian C. Cooper	....	producer
Emilio Fernández	....	associate producer (as Emilio Fernandez)
John Ford	....	producer

Original Music by
Richard Hageman

Cinematography by
Gabriel Figueroa

Film Editing by
Jack Murray

Art Direction by
Alfred Ybarra

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jesse Hibbs	....	assistant director
Zacarías Gómez Urquiza	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Manuel Parra	....	properties

Sound Department
José B. Carles	....	sound (as Jose B. Carles)
Galdino R. Samperio	....	sound (as Galdino Samperio)

Music Department
Lucien Cailliet	....	orchestrator
Richard Hageman	....	musical director

Other crew
Merian C. Cooper	....	presenter
Mel Ferrer	....	directorial assistant (as Melchor Ferrer)
John Ford	....	presenter
Jack Pennick	....	executive assistant

Production Companies

• Argosy Pictures
• Productora Mex. Desconcida

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (USA) (theatrical)
• RKO Radio Pictures (1950) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• C&C Television Corporation (1955) (USA) (TV)
• RKO Radio Pictures (1948) (France) (theatrical)

Also Known As:

El fugitivo (Mexico)

Runtime:

104 min

Country:

Mexico | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:PG | Portugal:M/12 | West Germany:12 (f) | Finland:K-16 | USA:Approved

Filming Locations:

Mexico

Company:

Argosy Pictures

Trivia:

Mel Ferrer's first film.

Movie Connections:

Version of The Power and the Glory (1961) (TV)

Bleak and brooding story of a fugitive priest...

It's easy to see why THE FUGITIVE was a critical and commercial box-office failure. For some reason, none of Graham Greene's novels transfer well to the screen. The somber stories are all too melodramatic and heavy-handed, and this is no exception. Furthermore, in the role of the fugitive priest south of the border, HENRY FONDA looks decidedly uncomfortable throughout.

This time John Ford struck out. The story is drab, downbeat and depressing--and both HENRY FONDA and DOLORES del RIO seem to be acting for the camera in a style that approaches silent screen acting in the worst possible way--especially during the opening scene. Del Rio is so artificial, she seems to be posing dramatically for every close-up.

Even PEDRO ARMENDARIZ overdoes the villainous swagger and sneer and J. CARROL NAISH overacts in the role of an informant. Between acting styles and the extravagant use of symbolism, this is a film of many flaws, most of them in the direction and heavy-handed script.

A critical failure at the time, it is in no way the masterpiece some are calling it among the user comments here.

No Ford film would be complete without WARD BOND turning up as "El Gringo". At least he gives the film a touch of grim realism. The busy background score by Richard Hageman is no help at all and seems more appropriate for the score of a silent film.