Wagon Master

Watch: Wagon Master

Unrated

4/22/19501h 26m

Theatrical Release (US)

~ John Ford's lusty successor to "Fort Apache" and "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" ~

Overview:

Two young horse traders guide a Mormon wagon train to the San Juan Valley and encounter rugged terrain, the cutthroat Clegg gang, hospitable Navajo, and moral challenges on the journey.

Director:

John Ford

Status:

Released

Language:

English

Buget:

$0.00

Revenue:

$0.00

Key words:

native american
caravan
migration
medicine show
attempted rape
crime family
covered wagon
cowboy
mormon
escort
river crossing
wagon train
criminal gang
whipping
horse and wagon
san juana valley
american west
horse trader
trail guide
mormon pioneer
providence
settlers of american west
migration to promised land

Cast

Ben Johnson

~ as ~

Travis Blue

Joanne Dru

~ as ~

Denver

Harry Carey, Jr.

~ as ~

Sandy

Ward Bond

~ as ~

Elder Wiggs

Charles Kemper

~ as ~

Uncle Shiloh Clegg

Alan Mowbray

~ as ~

Dr. A. Locksley Hall

Jane Darwell

~ as ~

Sister Ledyard

Ruth Clifford

~ as ~

Fleuretty Phyffe

Russell Simpson

~ as ~

Adam Perkins

Kathleen O'Malley

~ as ~

Prudence Perkins

View full cast & crew

Reviews (1)

CinemaSerf
Written 2 year(s) ago
6
This is quite an unremarkable little pioneering yarn that sees two cowboys - Ben Johnson and Harry Carey Jr. guiding a Mormon caravan across the Wild West. En route they encounter a motley collection of folks with a medicine show - and the sultry Joanne Dru ("Miss Denver"); then a bunch of less savoury characters led by Charles Kemper ("Shiloh Clegg") before they are invited to join some Navajo at their camp - and that's where it all turns a bit sour with our two gallant lads left to try to protect the travellers from the vengeful "Cleggs". John Ford seems to have lost his way with this pretty fluffy amalgam of stories; there's way too much singing and not enough action - and it lacks an anchor; either a John Wayne or a Henry Fonda - someone just to inject some strength of character to it. Even the score drifts along aimlessly, too. Ward Bond and Hank Worden do their best to keep the "Rio Grande" spirit flowing, but it's all just a bit too tepid.