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: Prudence arrives after Wiggs and Adam, and stands behind them, in front of Sandy on the fence. Between shots she appears near Sandy, with her back to him.

Quotes:

Travis Blue: Sure hope that I see you again, Miss Denver.
Denver: Thanks, but don't plan on it, We move around. The medicine show has to, to stay healthy.
Travis Blue: We move around alot trading horses. Good thing about it, though, you get to see a lot of pretty country, like the valley I got in mind. A man can make an awfully nice little cattle ranch in that valley. If he doesn't mind being lonesome.
Denver: [pauses] Good luck, fellow.
[She runs away, blinded by tears]

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Last Picture Show (1971)

Soundtrack:

SONG OF THE WAGON MASTER

One of Ford's two favorite films.

Together with the even more underrated , The Sun Shines Bright, Wagon Master was one of Ford's favorite films. It is a western of exceptional beauty and narrative purity, well acted by members of Ford's 'stock company', including Jane Darwell, Alan Mowbray, Ward Bond,and Harry Carey, Jr.Like almost all of Ford's films,it is a meditation on freedom and community. It is also noteworthy for a much more positive portrayal of Indians than in most of Ford's movies. Ford, for all his faults, remains the supreme poet of American Democracy.