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Wagon Master

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6.7/10 • 134

1950-04-221h 26m

AdventureWestern

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

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.

Directors
John Ford
Editors
Barbara Ford

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Ben Johnson

    Ben Johnson

    Travis Blue

  2. Joanne Dru

    Joanne Dru

    Denver

  3. Harry Carey, Jr.

    Harry Carey, Jr.

    Sandy

  4. Ward Bond

    Ward Bond

    Elder Wiggs

  5. Charles Kemper

    Charles Kemper

    Uncle Shiloh Clegg

  6. Alan Mowbray

    Alan Mowbray

    Dr. A. Locksley Hall

  7. Jane Darwell

    Jane Darwell

    Sister Ledyard

  8. Ruth Clifford

    Ruth Clifford

    Fleuretty Phyffe

  9. Russell Simpson

    Russell Simpson

    Adam Perkins

Reviews1

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Dec 27, 2022

6/10

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.

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
--
Keywords
native americancaravanmigrationmedicine showattempted rapecrime familycovered wagoncowboymormonescortriver crossingwagon traincriminal gangwhippinghorse and wagonsan juana valleyamerican westhorse tradertrail guidemigrantsmormon pioneerprovidencesettlers of american westmigration to promised land