Wagon Master

John Ford's 1950 Western presents a classic Ford theme—the creation of a community in the West—through an often lighthearted tale of a pair of wandering horse traders (Ben Johnson and Harry Carey Jr.) who are hired by a worldly Mormon elder (Ward Bond) to lead his wagon train to the promised land of Utah. Along the way, they pick up a caravan of show people stranded in the desert, who are tentatively embraced by the sheltered Mormon folk, and they come across a vicious outlaw gang on the run—a warped family lead by Uncle Shiloh Clegg (Charles Kemper), who hides his ruthlessness under a pose of paternal concern. Joanne Dru is tough and sexy as a showgirl warmed by the welcome and attracted to the strong and silent Johnson, Alan Mowbray is the silky but ultimately honorable snake-oil salesman leader of the gypsy caravan, and Ford regulars Jane Darwell, Russell Simpson, James Arness, Hank Worden, and Francis Ford have supporting roles. Shot on location against the distinctive landscapes of Moab, UT, and Monument Valley, AZ, with folk songs performed by Sons of the Pioneers, this low-key tale of outcasts who face their prejudices and learn to work together against threats by genuinely bad folk is as gentle and warm a film as Ford ever made and was one of the director's personal favorites. Extras include archival commentary by Harry Carey Jr. and historian/filmmaker Peter Bogdanovich (with audio clips of Ford). An underrated classic, this is highly recommended. (S. Axmaker)