THE SHEPHERD OF THE HILLS

US, 1941, 98 minutes, Colour.
John Wayne, Betty Field, Beulah Bondi, Hary Carey Jr, Marjorie Main, Ward Bond, John Qualen.
Directed by Henry Hathaway.


The Shepherd of the Hills is an excellent western of the early '40s. It was directed by Henry Hathaway who was emerging as a successful action director. He was to work with Wayne in many other films including The Sons of Katie Elder and his Oscar-winning True Grit.

The film is a John Wayne vehicle. Wayne had succeeded in Stagecoach, Dark Command and The Long Voyage Home. He was emerging as a strong star of the '40s. Here he has good support from Betty Field in a charming role. Strong character actors like Harry Carey, Beulah Bondi and Marjorie Main are in the supporting cast.

The film portrays feuding families in the Ozark mountains. It captures the atmosphere of the mountain families, their stances, interactions, violence. The film is attractive in colour (and had been filmed in silent versions in 1919 and 1927).

1. An entertaining western? Picture of mountain families? Feuds? A piece of Americana?

2. Colour photography, the location photography and its beauty? Action sequences? Musical score?

3. The title and its focus on The Shepherd? The stranger inhabiting the mountains? His consideration for people? The revelation that he was Matt's father?

4. The picture of the mountain families? Their homes? Way of life? Work? Flocks? The feuds? The authentic background to the characters and situations? Their credibility?

5. Young Matt and his place in the mountains? His place in the family? Aunt Molly? The love for Sammy Lane? His memories of his father? His mother? Keeping vengeance alive? His work and obsession? The encounter with The Shepherd of the Hills? Friendship? Shared experiences and dangers? The confrontation with The Shepherd? The realisation that he was his father? The Shepherd's explanation? The reconciliation?

6. Daniel Howitt and his life in the hills, his mysterious appearance, the recluse, his way of life, his helping the families, kindness, help in danger? A genial and calm figure? Matt's attraction towards him? Sammy’s attraction to him? His genial guidance of them? The help in the crises? The revelation that he was Matt's father? The years in prison and their effect? Confrontation to reconciliation? An interesting portrait of a saddened man? A reformed and good man?

7. Sammy and her work in the mountains, her love for Matt, her trying to calm his hot-headedness and vengeance? Interactions? Details of their encounter? Her attraction towards The Shepherd? Family life? The final reconciliation?

8. The picture of the mountain families: Aunt Molly, old Matt? The families and their way of life? Characters? Values?

9. Action sequences, confrontations? Genial family pictures? The climax and the reconciliation? A film of warmth and values?