Wagon Master
"John Ford's lusty successor to "Fort Apache" and "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon""
Synopsis
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.
Principal Cast8

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 Ledyard

Ruth Clifford
Fleuretty Phyffe
Media17
Backdrops
Posters
Director

John Ford
Director →
Trailer
Certification
NRKeywords
Where to Watch
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External Links
Reviews1
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.
Dec 27, 2022

































