Wagon train had an epic run of adventures that spanned eight seasons. To survive, a band of mormons traveling across the vast utah desert must learn to collaborate with the people they meet on the trail. Theres not much action forthcoming especially for a western, and there is barely a story. One of the few films john ford directed from his own story, wagon master uses many of the plot elements the trekking mormons challenged by indians and threatened by violent white nonbelievers from brigham young a decade earlier. Happening upon horse traders travis blue ben johnson and sandy harry carey jr. The lord moves in mysterious ways and so does the movie, which begins before it begins that is, before the opening credits and ends a few luminous seconds after the end has come and gone. Wagon master 1950 cast and crew 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. The series format attracted bigname guest stars who. Stories of the journeys of a wagon train as it leaves postcivil war missouri on its way to california through the plains, deserts, and rocky mountains.
In 1863, six convicts led by john payne escape from a salt lake prison and take over a wagon train headed to california across the desert. We custom ordered trailers from wagon master trailers built by freedom trailer. Since the classic silent epic the covered wagon in 1923, some western stories have been based in the american movement westward that began in earnest on the oregon trail in the 1840s. Lee library auditorium at brigham young university. Wagon train first aired on september 18, 1957, and would eventually place the tv show in the number one spot in the nielsen ratings. It was the worlds first true sport utility vehicle, but more than that, it became a way of life. Roxanne is a spoiled easterner who has never worked or done anything but live off her father who spoiled her. Apr 25, 2011 wagon master is as much a musical as a western. Wagon master is a 1950 western film produced and directed by john ford and starring ben johnson, harry carey jr.
The arrival at the river cues wagon masters supreme musical set piece, jones infectious dance tune chuckwalla swing. Wagon masterward bond, ben johnson, joanne dru, harry carey, jr. The film inspired the us television series wagon train 19571965, which starred ward bond until his death in 1960. It is a story of seth and roxanne annie as they make their way to california via wagon train. Even lesser john ford westerns, like this and 3 godfathers, are better than average westerns. Wagon master 1950 john ford synopsis, characteristics. In that time, fans got to know multiple wagon masters and scouts, and witnessed everything wild about the west, from smallpox epidemics to buffalo stampedes. That means careful character development and movement, spiced with high spots of action, good drama and leavening. Wagon trail the complete western movie full length starring harry ca. Watch wagon master 1950 movie trailer instantly, no need to login. Wagonmaster john ford, 1950 sandy y travis youtube.
Steven spielberg on watching john ford films duration. Wagonmaster trailers wagon master truck and trailer. With frank mcgrath, terry wilson, robert horton, john mcintire. Robert horton as scout flint mccullough 195762, seasons 15. 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. What little plot exists is secondary to the movies real concern. With the fading of the fur trade, some mountain men became scouts for wagon trains kit carson, the way west groups like the mormons brigham young, bad bascomb, wagon. Wagon train is an american western series that aired on the nbc television network national broadcasting company, 19571962 and then on the american broadcasting company abc, 19621965. Watch hundreds of free western movies and tv show episodes online on westerns on the web. What little plot exists is secondary to the movie s real concern. With luxury features and a distinctive design, it became an instant classic. With no wayne, fonda or stewart wagon master is a john ford western without a star name, but its smallscale delights are many and this story of a mormon wagon train is a poem to the old west. As a big fan of westerns and bmovies, when i saw this movies poster i knew i needed to watch it. The subtlety of the love story and the faith of the people to get where theyre going is.
Feb 23, 2019 sign in to like videos, comment, and subscribe. The screenplay concerns a mormon pioneer wagon train to the san juan river in utah. In that time, fans got to know multiple wagon masters and scouts, and witnessed everything wild about. Our passion for these unique machines runs deep, and our goal is to share the joys of this iconic automobile with as many people as were able. And yet wagon master is one of the most poetic narrative films ever made. The john ford stock company is well in evidence and the film is a real ensemble piece. For a modest little movie, this still has all the solid storytelling and visual majesty of fords classic works. Ward bond as wagon master major seth adams 195761, seasons 14. The sharp and clean blackandwhite images let us appreciate how ford made these dustcovered characters come alive and turned his longlensed landscape scenes into visions of.
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. The film is the outwardly simple tale of a mormon wagon train headed for utah. Home quizzes youre a wagon master if you can get 810 on this wagon train quiz. Wagon master had virtually disappeared for decades, so its a treat to have this underrated classic back and available in a newly restored edition fitted out with extras. The subtlety of the love story and the faith of the people to get where theyre going is so understated yet always in the forefront. 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. For over 25 years, wagonmaster has rebuilt, restored, and resold jeep wagoneers with an attention to detail unmatched in the industry. Wagon master definition of wagon master by merriamwebster. Bond died of a heart attack in the middle of the fourth season, and was replaced by john mcintire as wagon master. Wagon master 1950 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.
John ford the title of this movie is sometimes written in one word, but in the movie titles its two. Dec 26, 2014 robert taylor is the wagon master taking a train full of women to california to find new lives and new husbands in this surprisingly good western. Classiclady the songs are kind of corny but the action is great. The title of this movie is sometimes written in one word, but in the movie titles its two. Wagon trail complete western movie full length starring. So if you want to watch a good bmovie spaghetti western with horrible dubbing, a out of this world story and an overthetop goofy yet very enjoyable villain. Theres no doubt, though, that this lyrical contemplation of the hardships suffered by a group of mormon settlers as they trek. Santa cruz castaneda was the wagonmaster, an oldtimer even in those days, and the veteran of many indian fights.
A transcendent allegory of the opening of the frontier, wagon master follows no conventional, linear itinerary. Wagon master is a good outdoor action film, done in the best john ford manner. John fords lusty successor to fort apache and she wore a yellow ribbon. Youre a wagon master if you can get 810 on this wagon. The groups splenetic leader, elder wiggs ward bond, later the conductor of tvs wagon train, hires two horse traders, travis and sandy.
533 1430 654 341 745 1178 305 893 1454 562 391 1349 315 1322 1672 707 571 541 463 1066 1439 648 587 1076 421 1349 53 459 721