3 Godfathers (1949)

How sad is this?

best movie i've ever seen.

It’s an especially fun movie from a director and cast who are clearly having a good time allowing themselves to let loose.

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

. . . to its beloved hit, THE WIZARD OF OZ, most of the OZ cast was committed to other film projects. Undeterred, Ford plunged ahead by casting newcomer Harry Carey, Jr., as the Scarecrow, with Pedtro Armendariz filling the Tinman's shoes, and John Wayne swishing Bert Lahr's tail as the Cowardly Lion. Unlike OZ director Victor Fleming (or Ford's main rival, Frank Capra, who Helmed IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE shortly before 3 GODFATHERS came out), Mr. Ford was no cock-eyed optimist. As Hollywood's resident cynic, John Wayne's spiritual guru begins the real action of GODFATHERS by having Dorothy Gale die in childbirth, just after Re-meeting her trio of new-found friends, who--of course--promise to Bring up Baby. The Scarecrow, a.k.a., The Abilene Kid, takes charge first, reprising his wild, fresh-off-the-pole dance from OZ--before falling down dead! After this enduring Ford flourish, it's Tinman's turn to lug the baby while recreating Jack Haley's stumbles as "Pedro." And, wouldn't you know it, he too falls down--mortally injured. This leaves it up to the constantly belly-aching, Bible-tossing, threatening-to-fink-out Cowardly Lion to save the day. Can John Wayne rise to this task? Do pigs have wings?

Am currently reading "Company of Heroes: My Life as an Actor in the John Ford Stock Company" by Harry Carey, Jr. Chapter One deals with the ordeal of making "The Three Godfathers". This is "Dobe"'s first film made with "Uncle Jack" and quite a baptism by fire it proved to be. Not only was it actually filmed in the heat of Death Valley but it was directed by a sadistic bully of a man who loved to make all of his actors look and feel stupid when not actually on camera. Carey came to love John Ford but how ? I have no idea. All this aside. The Three Godfathers has an entertaining story. William, Robert and Pedro all do just fine as do Ward Bond, Ben Johnson (in a very tiny role) and all the other supporting players. Jane Darwell as a man-starved desert woman with an amazing laugh is terrific. Who is that lovely little woman playing Pearly Sweet's wife ? It is none other than MAE MARSH ... the "little sister" in Birth of a Nation ! The other reviews have pretty much said all that needs saying about the story, religious parallels, implausible and distracting staggering and falling but hey, they worked. I liked the ending of the silent version with Carey, Sr. better but this one was OK too. . I was surprised to note that "Ice Age" can be seen as remake but then, why not,it sort of is.Entertaining film and watching the support given by Wayne to his co-stars is great knowing what was happening, director wise.

Though 3 Godfathers doesn't get talked about as much as other classic John Ford/John Wayne collaborations such as The Searchers or The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, it's tale of desperate bank robbers Wayne, Pedro Armandariz, and Harry Carry Jr.'s redemption through an act of selflessness, is compelling entertainment made quite poignant by it's tragic, emotional final act.With Ford at the helm, you don't me to tell you that it looks fantastic too, with it's breathtaking scenery in gorgeous Technicolor and great performances all around. The only flaw is that it wasn't shot in Cinemascope.Unless you've got a heart of stone, you might find yourself getting misty-eyed near the end!

Having already made a version of the story in 1919 as Marked Men with Harry Carey, John Ford clearly had a kink for this delightful redemption parable. Opening with a touching tribute to his friend and mentor Carey, who had sadly passed away the previous year (and who also starred in the 1916 version of The Three Godfathers), it was also the first out and out Ford Western to be made in colour.The story tells of three outlaws - Robert Hightower (John Wayne), Pedro "Pete" Fuerte (Pedro Armendariz) and The Abilene Kid (Harry Carey Junior) - who after robbing a bank in the town of Welcome, are on the run from the law led posse. After hitting problems in a desert sandstorm, the men struggle on to Terrapin Tanks, where they happen across a woman in labour. Giving birth to her child, but sadly on her death bed, the woman begs the men to take care of her baby. They agree and embark on a perilous journey to get the child safely to "New Jerusalem"...It's an odd sort of Western, but in a good way. Backed up by the usual high standard of location work from Ford and the irrepressible Winton Hoch. And with customary staunch support work from Ward Bond as the Sheriff, 3 Godfathers is a must see in relation to the careers of John Ford and John Wayne. It has a mixed reputation from fans of the two Johns, which is understandable given the flighty nature of the picture, but one thing that is true about the piece is that once viewed, it's unlikely to be forgotten. 7/10