Posts from ethanedwards in thread „Wagon Master (1950)“

Thanks for the updates everyone

Quote from Hawkswill

I am a Ward Bond freak. KP KEITH

I have also copied the related posts about Ward to
Pals of the Saddle- Ward Bond

Just to bump John Ford's more well known movies to Page 1 of the reviews

Wagon Master is a 1950 Western film about a Mormon pioneer wagon train
to the San Juan River in Utah.
The film was conceived, produced, and directed by John Ford, who is often listed
among the greatest film directors.
The film stars Ben Johnson, Harry Carey Jr., Joanne Dru, and Ward Bond.

Wagon Master inspired the US television series Wagon Train (1957–1965),
which starred Ward Bond until his death in 1960.
The film was a personal favorite of Ford himself, who told Peter Bogdanovich in 1967
that "Along with The Fugitive and The Sun Shines Bright, Wagon Master came closest to being what I wanted to achieve."[

While the critical and audience response to Wagon Master was lukewarm on its release,
over the years several critics have come to view it as one of Ford's masterpieces

Thanks to our member Paula for her knowledge of Ben Johnson.
and as a result
Pals Of The Saddle- Ben Johnson
is currently one of our most popular threads.

Wagon Master is one of the movies that not only starred Ben,
but also one where he conducted all his own stunts.

The film is a who's who of the
John Ford Stock Company
for all the well known gang, including Ford's son. daughter
and brother- in-law.

I really enjoyed this film for it's cast of well known Pals of Duke,
Joanne Dru, Harry Carey Jr. and Ward Bond as Elder Wiggs,
were all suited to their parts.
I have also included the stuntmen, which included
a few familiar names, Chick Hayward and Cliff Lyons,
who was second unit director and played a bit part!.

The television series Wagon Train
starring first Ward Bond and then John McIntire,
was inspired by the film. (Ford directed one episode, but was otherwise not involved with it.)

Information From IMDb

Plot Summary
A group of Mormons hoping to found a new colony in the trackless San Juan River country hire horse traders Travis and Sandy as wagonmaster and guide. One attraction for Sandy is "redheaded gal" Prudence. Soon they're joined by Doc Hall's broken down medicine show, with "scarlet women" Denver and Fleuretty. Then the Clegg boys, slightly psycho outlaws, decide a Mormon wagon train will make ideal camouflage.
Written by Rod Crawford

The plot takes us to 1849 Utah Territory, where two young horse traders are hired by a Mormon elder to guide a small party of Mormon families westward through the Utah desert. The wagon train is plagued by a series of events. Serious meaning a band of savage Indians, A dry desert and no water, and a band of crazy outlaws, who use the train as a disguise. A must see adventure!!
Written by Maire0142

Full Cast
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 Ledeyard
Ruth Clifford ... Fleuretty Phyffe
Russell Simpson ... Adam Perkins
Kathleen O'Malley ... Prudence Perkins
James Arness ... Floyd Clegg
Francis Ford ... Mr. Peachtree
Fred Libby ... Reese Clegg
Jim Thorpe ... Navajo
Mickey Simpson ... Jesse Clegg
Cliff Lyons ... Marshall of Crystal City
Hank Worden ... Luke Clegg
Don Summers ... Sam Jenkins
Movita ... Young Navajo Indian (as Movita Castaneda)
Danny Borzage ... Accordionist (uncredited)
Chuck Hayward ... Jackson (uncredited)
Frank McGrath ... Posse Member (uncredited)

Produced
Lowell J. Farrell .... associate producer (as Lowell Farrell)
Merian C. Cooper .... executive producer (uncredited)
John Ford .... executive producer (uncredited)

Writing Credits
Frank S. Nugent (written by) (as Frank Nugent) and
Patrick Ford (written by)
John Ford (story) uncredited

Original Music
Richard Hageman (musical score)

Cinematography
Bert Glennon (director of photography)

Film Editing
Jack Murray
Barbara Ford (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Wingate Smith .... assistant director
Cliff Lyons .... second unit director (uncredited)

Stunts
Chuck Hayward .... stunts (uncredited)
Bryan 'Slim' Hightower .... stunts (uncredited)
Billy Jones .... stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Juaregui .... stunts (uncredited)
Fred Kennedy .... stunts (uncredited)
Cliff Lyons .... stunts (uncredited)
Frank McGrath .... stunts (uncredited)
Post Park .... stunts (uncredited)
Gil Perkins .... stunts (uncredited)
Ray Thomas .... stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Archie Stout .... second unit photography

Trivia
When Elder Wiggs breaks up the fight between Sandy and Jackson, a dog joins in and tears one of the legs of his pants. This was not in the script. It just happened on the set, and John Ford had liked it so much he kept it in the film.

Ben Johnson did all his own stunts.

In this film Harry Carey Jr. rode his own horse called "Mormon" and Ben Johnson rode a famous movie horse called "Steel" that was owned by his father in law "Fat Jones" who ran the most well known horse renting stable in Hollywood. In the galloping scenes Ben Johnston rode Steel's stunt double Bingo and was quoted as saying he was just a passenger as "Bingo" thundered down the hills. According to Harry Carey Jr "Steel" and "Mormon" became very attached and ruined quite a number of scenes by calling out to each other.

In the scene where Sandy and the Mormon fight, the fight is broken up by Ward Bond's character. Ward Bond has ripped pants as he separates the fighters and you can hear a dog barking in the background. This happened because director John Ford wanted to use two dogs that had been ruining every scene in the film by fighting, in the background as the men fought, hoping the dogs would start fighting as a contrast to the men fighting. Instead of fighting however one of the dogs ran away and the other attacked Ward Bond and ripped his pants. John Ford could barely contain his laughter but kept filming. Afterwords however he became quite concerned and said they needed to find the dog in case it had bitten Ward Bond, not just ripped his pants. Ford was worried the dog might have needed a tetanus shot.

In the scene where Travis gets bucked off his horse after Denver throws water on it, Ben Johnson did his own stunts. They used a genuine rodeo bucking horse and John Ford promised Johnston if he rode the horse he would not have to do anymore dialogue for the day. which apparently pleased Johnston. Johnston lasted 4 bucks and came off so hard he was almost knocked out. Unfortunately the shot was ruined by one of the wranglers running out to him and asking if he was all right as he lay on the ground. Ben Johnston had to get up and ride the horse again. This time he lasted ten bucks before he bailed off and Ford got his shot.

According to Harry Carey Jr., Joanne Dru's husband, John Ireland, stayed in town during the shooting and avoided the set, but did organize the company into a performance of "The Shooting of Dan McGrew" in the evening.

Goofs
* Crew or equipment visible: As the camera pans along the wagon train moving through Moab, Utah, it passes by a boulder, on which you see the shadows of the camera crew and director John Ford.

* Continuity: In the beginning of the film, when Travis on the horse talks to the marshal, he folds his right leg leaning it on the saddle horn. In the next shot he is with his right leg hanging unfolded.

* Continuity: When the marshal mounts the horse and Sandy whistles, he is sitting on the fence, on the right side of Travis. Soon after, when the Mormons arrive, Sandy is sitting on the left side of Travis

* Continuity: Prudence arrives after Wiggs and Adam, and stands behind them, in front of Sandy on the fence. Between shots she appears near Sandy, with her back to him.

* Continuity: During the dance, when done going around in a circle, Travis has his hand on Denver's waist, in the next shot it is on her shoulder.

* Continuity: After Denver throws the bucket of water on Travis and he falls in the dirt, his arms and back are covered in dirt, in the next shot there is hardly any dirt on him, and he did not have time to brush it off.

Memorable Quotes

Filming Locations
Colorado River, Moab, Utah, USA
Hittle Bottom, Moab, Utah, USA
Moab, Utah, USA
Monument Valley, Utah, USAProfessor Valley, Moab, Utah, USA
Spanish Valley, Utah, USA