WAGONMASTER

US, 1950, 80 minutes, Black and white.
Ben Johnson, Joanne Dru, Harry Carey Jr, Ward Bond, Alan Mowbray, Jane Darwell, Russell Simpson, James Arness.
Directed by John Ford.

Wagonmaster is not the most spectacular of John Ford’s westerns. Rather, it is more of an atmospheric piece. It came out at the same time as Rio Grande and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon.

Ben Johnson, more of a character actor (an Oscar winner in 1971 for The Last Picture Show), has an opportunity as a lead. Joanne Dru also appeared in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon. Other stalwarts from Ford films include Harry Carey, Ward Bond and Jane Darwell who won an Oscar for The Grapes of Wrath.

The film is spectacular in its black and white photography, a focus on the way of life of the wagon trains of the pioneer west. The film was written by Frank S. Nugent who contributed greatly to Ford’s westerns, writing screenplays for: Ford Apache, Three Godfathers, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, The Quiet Man, The Searchers, The Rising of the Moon, The Last Hurrah, Two Rode Together, Donovan’s Reef.

1. The quality of this Western? John Ford and his Westerns? Enjoyment and interest?

2. What basic conventions were used, how well?

3. The title the basic theme of the wagon train and the wagon master, the conventions of the wagon Western?

4. Comment on the techniques of the fifties, black and white photography, character studies, conventional situations and audience response? The cowboys, the Indians, the pioneers?

5. The contribution of the songs and the pioneering American heritage? Atmosphere?

6. The significance of the opening, the atmosphere of the shoot-up, suspense?

7. Themes of frontiers the country being opened up, the courage of the people who went, the types who were in the wagon trains? The tribute to them?

8. The tribute to the Mormons: their personalities, style, beliefs? The incidents in which they were involved, the variety of characters. the courage? The portrayal of the dancers, the meals, the orders, arms?

9. The portrayal of the wagon masters and their skill? Their characters. background from the initial shoot-up, their relationships amongst themselves, with the group? Edifying cowboys?

10. The criminals, their use cruelty guns, vengeance?

11. The portrayal of the Indians? How fairly? The change, the encounter?

12. Themes of love and relationships? Men and women?

13. The humour in the portrayal of the doctor and his boy? His involvement in the wagon train?

14. The heroine and the strength of her contribution?

15. The achievement of the film? Its portrayal of an American achievement? How important is a film like this for showing an basic American history of the West?