3 Godfathers (1948)
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82% of critics liked it
(11 reviews) -
77% of users liked it
(2,163 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… 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
- Directed By
- John Ford
- Written By
- Laurence Stallings, Frank S. Nugent
- Genres
- Western, Drama, Classics
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Dec 1, 1948 Wide
- Studio
- WARNER BROTHERS PICTURES
Critic Reviews
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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.
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Bosley Crowther, New York Times
There are humor and honest tear-jerking in this visually beautiful film.
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Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
John Ford, who had shot this popular tale as a silent, remade it with John Wayne, emphasizing even more the religious symbolism.
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
A wonderful, sentimental western.
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Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan
Reworking of the 3 wise men story out west is very good Ford.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
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Cast
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John Wayne
as Robert Marmaduke Hightower
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Harry Carey Jr.
as William Kearney "The Abilene Kid"
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Ward Bond
as Perley "Buck" Sweet
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Mae Marsh
as Mrs. Perley Sweet
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Mildred Natwick
as Mother
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Jane Darwell
as Miss Florie
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Guy Kibbee
as Judge
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Dorothy Ford
as Ruby Latham
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Ben Johnson
as Patrolman
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Pedro Armendáriz
as Pedro "Pete" Roca Fuerte
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Ruth Clifford
as Woman in Bar
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Charles Halton
as Mr. Latham
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Fred Libby
as Deputy Sheriff "Curly"
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Cliff Lyons
as Guard at Mojave Tanks
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Don Summers
as Patrolman
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Hank Worden
as Deputy Sheriff
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Michael Dugan
as Patrolman
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Francis Ford
as Drunken Old-Timer at Bar
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Richard Hageman
as Saloon Pianist
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Jack Pennick
as Luke
