Wagon Master is a very different John Ford film. A simple western rather than an epic.
Two horse traders Travis (Ben Johnson) and Sandy (Harry Carey Jr) agree to lead a wagon train of a group of Mormons going over some uncharted territory to a town in Utah.
Members of a travelling medicine show join them for part of the journey. One night after some singing and dancing, a group of outlaws, the Cleggs who are on the run join them.
The Cleggs hope joining the wagon will not attract the attention of the posse chasing them. Travis knows that it is only a matter of time before the Cleggs turn against the Mormons.
The film concentrates on a community of pioneers seeking the promised land they hope to farm with the grain they are taking. There are a lot of musical songs, in truth it is there to pad the length of the movie.
Ford regarded this as one of his favourite westerns with his folksy vision. It is unusual as it does not contain his usual leads, John Wayne or Henry Fonda.
Two horse traders Travis (Ben Johnson) and Sandy (Harry Carey Jr) agree to lead a wagon train of a group of Mormons going over some uncharted territory to a town in Utah.
Members of a travelling medicine show join them for part of the journey. One night after some singing and dancing, a group of outlaws, the Cleggs who are on the run join them.
The Cleggs hope joining the wagon will not attract the attention of the posse chasing them. Travis knows that it is only a matter of time before the Cleggs turn against the Mormons.
The film concentrates on a community of pioneers seeking the promised land they hope to farm with the grain they are taking. There are a lot of musical songs, in truth it is there to pad the length of the movie.
Ford regarded this as one of his favourite westerns with his folksy vision. It is unusual as it does not contain his usual leads, John Wayne or Henry Fonda.