Probably john fords most underrated film, wagon master plays less like a western and more like a visual poem thats interrupted by different events. Lee library auditorium at brigham young university. Jul 24, 20 wagon master is one of the warmest, most charming films john ford ever made, and its certainly among the best westerns ever made by anyone. Ward bond played wagon master major seth adams on wagon train 1957 from 19571961 his death, even though he passed away in november 1960, some episodes did not air until 1961.
For those that dont follow golden age westerns, the movie was a bit of an oddity. John ford, iconic american film director, best known today for his westerns, though none of the four films that won him oscars were of this genre. Theres almost a languorous quality to the film that you dont normally associate with a john ford movie. How is it that john fords greatest film remains largely unknown. The special collections motion picture archives film series will present the 1950 production wagon master, which acclaimed director john ford often cited as his favorite film, friday, nov. Want to behold the glory that is wagon master in the comfort of your own home.
John ford monument valley in the movies pictures cbs news. Masterful film director john ford was stepping in to direct an episode of wagon train, the colter craven story. Happening upon horse traders travis blue ben johnson and sandy harry carey jr. The film is the outwardly simple tale of a mormon wagon train headed for utah. Two young drifters guide a mormon wagon train to the san juan valley and encounter cutthroats, indians, geography, and.
John ford said that wagon master was his favorite of all his films, and its easy to see why. One of ford s very best movies as ive said again and again on here. Aug 03, 2018 theres almost a languorous quality to the film that you dont normally associate with a john ford movie. That means careful character development and movement, spiced with high spots of action, good drama and leavening. Wagon master by john ford ben johnson, harry carey jr. Two young drifters guide a mormon wagon train to the san juan valley and encounter cutthroats, indians, geography, and moral challenges on the journey. The fact that john fords 1950 western wagon master lacked a leading man of the stature of john wayne, and was released the same year as rio grande and one year after she wore a yellow ribbon, might go some way to explaining why its often overlooked these days. Ben johnson and ward bond starred in john ford s wagon master 1950, about a wagon train of mormon settlers heading west. Tasked with leading a caravan of mormons across the country en route to utah territory, a church elder bond recruits a pair of horse traders johnson and carey jr. John ford said of this film, wagon master came closest to what i hoped to achieve.
Because of their popularity and his skill, fords films had a powerful influence on americans conception of their own history and values. The imagery is stunning and at times even hypnotic. The story, characters and production design come pretty close to what. After all, the hit western series was based on his movie wagon master, which he cited as his personal favorite of all his works. Mother nature can be overcome, but human nature remains deadly and unpredictable. Wagon master monument valley in the movies pictures. Wagonmaster john ford, 1950 sandy y travis youtube. Wagon master 1950 stream and watch online moviefone. Wagon master is a 1950 western film produced and directed by john ford and starring ben johnson, harry carey jr. John fords wagon master 1950 is a beautiful yet also very odd western, coming in the midst of the directors cavalry trilogy with rio grande to be filmed and released later the same year and the sentimental sagebrush fable three godfathers. Tweetemail tweetemail great news for fans of director john ford. Directors john ford a list of 24 titles created 15 aug 20 john ford a list of 29 titles created 4 months ago best to worst. The episode even recycled some footage from wagon master. Its not just one of my favorite westerns, its one of my favorite movies.
His 1950 classic wagon master is now available on bluray from warner archive. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing wagon master near you. John ford february 1, 1894 august 31, 1973 was an american film director. They have to forge a trail across unknown territory and face many hardships along the way. Wagon master is a simple and heartfelt cowboys n settlers story with a gentle touch. Travis blue ben johnson and sandy owens harry carey, jr. Apr 04, 2014 elder wiggs goes west, ben johnson, joanne dru and others too. Wagon master 1950 cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. He is renowned both for westerns such as stagecoach 1939, the searchers 1956, and the man who shot liberty valance 1962, as well as adaptations of classic 20thcentury american novels such as the grapes of wrath 1940. John fords wagon master a generous sampling of john fords early career at 20th century fox can be found in ford at fox, the superb 2007 box set that remains the gold standard for. Download wagon master yts yify movies torrents download. Sep 02, 2019 wagon master is known as being one of john fords personal favorites. Dec 17, 20 wagon masterward bond, ben johnson, joanne dru, harry carey, jr.
Its principal stars were ben johnson, joanne dru, harry carey. Theres no doubt, though, that this lyrical contemplation of the hardships suffered by a group of mormon settlers as they trek. Mar 12, 2015 wagonmaster john ford, 1950 sandy y travis juan gorostidi. Ben johnson and ward bond starred in john fords wagon master 1950, about a wagon train of mormon settlers heading west. If its true that the director would on occasion make one film for the studio and the next one just to please himself, id say wagon master most definitely falls into the latter category. His 1950 classic wagon master is now available on bluray from warner archive the rivers are wide and rapid.
Its almost difficult for me to put into words all the things i love about this movie. Honestly, its bizarre to think of a nostalgia piece existing in 1950s. Wagon master is known as being one of john fords personal favorites. This time around you always notice more upon rewatching of his movies i began to appreciate the supposed. This film is not currently playing on mubi but 30 other great films are. John ford directs this classic blackandwhite western, which bears the honor of being his favorite of the genre. Along the way, the group, led by elder wiggs ward bond hook up with two horse traders travis blue ben johnson and sandy owens harry. Discovering a streaming service to buy, rent, download, or view the john forddirected movie via subscription can. Director john fords opening, unusual for both dramatic and idyllic qualities, from wagon master, 1950, starring ben johnson, harry carey jr. Ben johnson and ward bond starred in john fords wagon master 1950, about a wagon train of mormon settlers. The screenplay concerns a mormon pioneer wagon train to the san juan river in utah. It starred john wayne, who worked with pappy ford in 14 major films, as a confederate soldier who boasts that he never surrendered. Ill try to touch on a couple of things in this truly special movie. Heres where we find out what kind of film john ford makes when he has his way it turns out to be a simple story done in a style resembling a silent movie.
Wagon master is a film directed by john ford with ben johnson, joanne dru, harry carey jr. Wagon master directed by john ford available on vhs, blu. It says a lot about the kind of actors director john ford cast when his supporting players are as good at carrying a film as stars like john wayne. Wagon master is a 1950 western film about a mormon pioneer wagon train to the san juan river in utah. Ben johnson and ward bond starred in john ford s wagon master 1950, about a wagon train of mormon settlers.
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. Find art you love and shop highquality art prints, photographs, framed artworks and posters at. John fords paean to the great monument valley is a tireless, near flawless depiction of mormon pioneers in the old west, striving for acceptance in a hostile land. Definitely going to have to watch this again very soon with the audio commentary track on. His four academy awards for best director in 1935, 1940, 1941, and 1952 remain a record. John ford 18941973 was an american film director whose career spanned from 19 to 1971. The film is the outwardly simple tale of a mormon wagon train.
In the 1950 film wagon master, actors and stuntmen ben johnson and harry carey, jr. Aug 18, 2019 great news for fans of director john ford. Yet, the reliance on ford stock actors and a carefully selected soundtrack are designed to evoke that. Wagon master by john ford with ben johnson, 1950 photo. When a group of mormons are run out of town for their religious beliefs, elder wiggs ward bond searches for a wagon master to guide. Ford produced it himself and avoided having a big star so make the experience as pleasant as possible. They have to forge a trail across unknown territory and face. Wagon master is one of john fords lesser known westerns but reputed to be among his most satisfying pieces of work one in which he felt he had captured the very essence of the genre. Along the way, the group, led by elder wiggs ward bond hook up with two horse traders travis blue ben johnson and sandy owens harry carey jr, the members of a traveling medicine show and a. Born in maine, ford entered the filmmaking industry shortly after graduating from high school with the help of his older brother, francis ford, who had established himself as a leading man and director for universal studios. Discovering a streaming service to buy, rent, download, or view the john ford directed movie via subscription can.
Charles kemper classical mickey simpson world patrick ford blues viewers also bought see all. Wagon master is a 1950 western film that was conceived, produced, and directed by john ford. Might be one of the most underrated ford films ive ever seen thus far. Wagonmaster john ford, 1950 sandy y travis juan gorostidi. The movie was based on a novel by alan lemay and a script by fords soninlaw frank nugent, the onetime film critic who wrote 10 ford films, including she wore a yellow ribbon and wagon master. When a group of mormons are run out of town for their religious beliefs, elder wiggs ward bond searches for a wagon master to guide the outcasts to the san juan valley. Jan 23, 2016 wagon master 1950 wagon master is the standard john ford western in its raw and rugged form. The mormon wagon train led by elder wiggs ward bond finds common cause with the members of a bereft medicine show joanne dru, alan mowbray, ruth clifford, travis ben johnson and sister ledyard jane darwell adding opinions, in john ford s wagon master, 1950. A wagon train of mormons led by ward bond are heading off to a new life and persuade a. Find movie and film cast and crew information for wagon master 1950 john ford on allmovie.
Ive seen it countless times, and each time i appreciate it more. All right, lets not kick sand on the searchers, or the man who shot. Louis is a western film directed by john ford, released on april 19 of 1950 in the usa. Two young drifters guide a mormon wagon train to the san juan valley and encounter cutthroats, indians. John fords wagon master is one of the most exquisitely beautiful westerns ever filmed. The travelers are soon joined on the trail by a medicine show troupe, but danger strikes when the outlaw clegg family decides the caravan would serve as the perfect cover as they try to outrun a posse. They quickly come across some stranded travelers, a medicine show run by dr. Wagon master, splendidly directed by john ford, is a superlative western. And when the trail turns craggy, men use pickaxes to dig grooves for the wagon wheels. The film was conceived, produced, and directed by john ford, who is often listed among the greatest film directors. But no one plans for a series of mishaps that threaten to derail the journey. The film is actually a simple story, straightforward and formulaic.
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