THE FUGITIVE

US, 1947, 104 minutes, Black and white.
Henry Fonda, Dolores del Rio, Pedro Armendariz, J. Carrol Naish. Leo Carrillo. Ward Bond, Robert Armstrong, John Qualen.
Directed by John Ford.

The Fugitive is based on Graham Greene’s novel The Power and the Glory, considered one of the great novels of the 20th century. It is set in Mexico, a land which Greene explored during the 1930s, looking at the rebel movements and the role of the Catholic church and persecution.

This film is a watered-down version, the presence of a whiskey priest on screen and his relationship with a woman was not considered suitable at that time. However, it has the essence of Greene’s exploration of Mexico and of the church.

Henry Fonda brings dignity and strength to the role of the priest. It was to be one of his last roles before absence from the screen for seven years while he worked on Broadway. Emerging in the 1930s as a top actor and star, he featured as one of the examples of the upright American – as Abraham Lincoln in The Young Mr Lincoln. He also made a number of films for John Ford during these years, especially after the war with My Darling Clementine and Fort Apache. Mexican star Dolores del Rio is the woman in relationship with the priest. A number of Hispanic actors take supporting roles.

The film was directed by John Ford who had a long history of action films, especially in the 1930s with such films as Hurricane and then, his breakthrough western, Stage Coach. He won the Oscar many times with The Informer, 1935, How Green Was My Valley, 1941, and The Quiet Man in 1952.

There was a remake for television starring Laurence Olivier as the priest in 1962 directed by Marc Daniels.

1. An interesting. entertaining film? A version of Grahame Greene's The Power and the Glory? The background of John Ford's westerns? The treatment of Mexico. religious themes in the 1940s cinema style? impact
Then, impact now?
2. The work of John Ford and his westerns? His understanding of frontier territory, frontier people. conflicts? The atmosphere of the West? The conventions? The types and the Mexican setting? The religious setting?

3. The location photography in Mexico? The tribute of the producers to Mexican co-operation in production? The use of locations: the countryside, the deserts, the forests, the towns and cities? The predominantly Mexican cast? The references to Mexican history in the early 20th century? From an American point of view?

4. Black and white photography? The importance of close-ups and profiles? Reliance on the traditions of religious iconography? The images of the western combined with religious imagery?

5. The impact of Grahame Greene's novel? Its reputation at the time? The screenplay's adaptation of the novel: the changes. the sanctifying of the priest? The novel's background of the sleazier atmosphere of Mexico. the whiskey priest. his relationship with the woman,, his child? Sinfulness and redemption? The present screenplay "sanctifying" the priest? His sin being pride and cowardice? The importance of the film's title, comparison with the original novel. comparisons with the American title "The Labyrinthine Way"? An appropriate version of Greene's novel? How well did it capture the essence of Greene's point of view?

6. The choice of Henry Fonda for the fugitive? Age, stature, presence? An American hero figure? His interpretation of the priest? As a man, as a minister of religion, as a potential martyr? Sinner, saint?

7. The atmosphere of the opening: the biblical references and the voiceover? The man on the donkey? The church on the hill? The shadow on the aisle of the church - arms outstretched and the indication of the priest as a Christ-figure? The status of the priest among the people ? Christ-figure? The image at the end with the new priest
arriving? The importance of the religious imagery for the presentation of the priest as Christ-figure? The administration of sacraments, baptism, the anointing of the sick, preparations for the wedding? The Mexican woman and her child? Maria and the echoes of the Virgin Mary? The betrayer referred to as a Judas-figure? The American bandit as a good thief?

8. The character of the priest: presented more as an icon and symbol rather than as a person? The atmosphere of the religious statue? Appearance, dress, arrival, his being received by the villagers, the baptisms and the celebrations, the baptising of Maria's child, the invitation to stay? The people rejoicing at his presence? The police search and the line-up? The hostages dying for him? His wanting to give himself up but the people restraining him? The gift of the money and the advice for him to escape? The Judas and the money? His almost being on the ship and escaping and the invitation to return to minister to the sick? The invitation for the wedding? His quest for wine and the difficulties of the law? The officials and their drinking of the wine? His arrest, the ugliness of the jail, the Judas in the jail? His escape? The death? The solemnity of his going to die? The background of his story, the sole priest in Mexico, his sin of pride? (The contrast with the characterisation of the priest in the novel?)

9. Mexico, government, the importance of the Catholic religion, faith, ceremonies and pomp, the need for the priest, sacramental life? The arrival of the next priest at the end of the film? The message of the impossibility of stamping out religion?

10. Maria and her child, arrival in the village, her welcoming the priest, supporting him, the relationship with the Captain and his fathering of the child? Collecting the money? Helping the priest, delaying his pursuers by her dancing? The Mary Magdalene imagery and the use of Dolores del Rio's profile, face and echoes of religious paintings?

11. The Captain and his intensity, his loss of faith, vigilance, pursuit, the line-up in the village, the pursuit of the thief, the Judas betraying the priest? The final meeting with the priest and his belief? The nature of atheism in a country like Mexico?

12. The Judas-figure, his finding of the priest, trying to rob him at night, the knife, the betrayal, jail, getting him to return? His reacting to the priest's death? Asking for forgiveness?

13. The American robber, the American presence in the West, his escape, the staying in the village and watching Maria dance, the decoy for the priest's escape, his being shot, the priest's return and his not repenting?

14. The background of the Mexicans, the Mexican way of life from the towns with the people welcoming the priest, the family needing the sacraments, the officials and their drinking the wine even though this was forbidden, the jailers, the military, bribery and corruption?

15. The theme of the Christ-figure, the saviour for his people, despite his unworthiness? The religious themes of persecution, victimisation, redemption? Grahame Greene's parable?