3 Godfathers (1948)

80% of critics liked it
(10 reviews)
77% of users liked it
(2,110 ratings)

John Ford had already directed one of the three previous film versions of Peter Kyne's novel under the title Marked Men (1919) with his mentor Harry Carey, a great cowboy star of the silent era who had recently died. It's not difficult to see how the story's sentimentality and Christian symbolism… More John Ford had already directed one of the three previous film versions of Peter Kyne's novel under the title Marked Men (1919) with his mentor Harry Carey, a great cowboy star of the silent era who had recently died. It's not difficult to see how the story's sentimentality and Christian symbolism might have appealed to the director's sensibility. John Wayne stars as Bob Hightower, the leader of a trio of thieves who rob a bank in Arizona and take off with the posse of Sheriff Buck Sweet (Ward Bond) in close pursuit. Although they need to stop to water their horses and care for the wounds of Abilene (Harry Carey Jr.), their accurate suspicion that the sheriff is laying an ambush for them at the Mohave water tank leads the gang toward the more distant Terrapin tanks. However, en route, they're waylaid by a terrible sandstorm which scatters their horses. Forced to go on foot, they come upon a lone woman (Mildred Natwick) in a covered wagon who is about to give birth. She dies in childbirth, but not before extracting a promise from the three to take care of her child. Under a blistering sun, they head for New Jerusalem. ~ Michael Costello, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 45 min.
Directed By: John Ford
Written By: Laurence Stallings, Frank S. Nugent
Genres: Western, Drama, Classics

In Theaters: Dec 1, 1948 Wide
On DVD: Jun 6, 2006

Critic Reviews

Bosley Crowther, New York Times
There are humor and honest tear-jerking in this visually beautiful film.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
A wonderful, sentimental western.
Tom Milne, Time Out
he last reel, with Wayne explicitly identified as the Prodigal Son and a general collapse into mawkishness, might almost have strayed in from another movie.
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Reworking of the 3 wise men story out west is very good Ford.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Wayne as the Prodigal Son delivering the Christ child seemed a bit of a stretch.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Gorgeously photographed Ford version of the often filmed story.
, Film4
It's phoney, it's bunk -- and it might just persuade you of a beautiful lie.

Read all 7 critic reviews

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Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Bruce B

Number 3 in the quest of 30 by Christmas. This one talks about Christmas but doesn't have a overall theme of Christmas till its end. The Duke John Wayne plays a bad guy in this film, something that was rare, after robbing a bank The Duke and his partners go across the desert to… More
Number 3 in the quest of 30 by Christmas. This one talks about Christmas but doesn't have a overall theme of Christmas till its end. The Duke John Wayne plays a bad guy in this film, something that was rare, after robbing a bank The Duke and his partners go across the desert to avoid the law, when they happen upon a women having a baby, before she dies she makes them the boys godfathers and promise to keep her baby alive, so sets the theme for this Mild Western. Found it on a list of Christmas movies, have never seen it on TV, again has a Christian theme and gospel singing, a rarity on TV these days. Today's Hollywood is based on the more smut the better even this time of the year. Its worth your time and 4 stars
Conner R

This is just a great movie that's both fun and well made. It must be the first John Wayne/John Ford movie in color and it's truly beautiful to look at. While it's a premise that certainly could have become corny, it doesn't and manages to have a great message. The… More
This is just a great movie that's both fun and well made. It must be the first John Wayne/John Ford movie in color and it's truly beautiful to look at. While it's a premise that certainly could have become corny, it doesn't and manages to have a great message. The chemistry between the three bank robbers is one of the many qualities it has, friendship is such a powerful theme in this. While it draws parallels with the three wisemen, it definitely doesn't steal and is extremely original and fresh.
Dean M

Director John Ford's second version of Peter B. Kyne's biblically oriented Western features John Wayne, Harry Carey Jr., and Pedro Armendaria as three good-hearted outlaws who discover a baby in the desert and dedicate themselves to saving its life. The three leads work well… More
Director John Ford's second version of Peter B. Kyne's biblically oriented Western features John Wayne, Harry Carey Jr., and Pedro Armendaria as three good-hearted outlaws who discover a baby in the desert and dedicate themselves to saving its life. The three leads work well together, and Ford's stock company adds grit to the sentimental story.