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Three Godfathers Overview:

Three Godfathers (1948) was a Western - Drama Film directed by John Ford and produced by John Ford and Merian C. Cooper.

SYNOPSIS

Ford's first color feature is the last, and best, version of this story that had been filmed four times previously (once in the silent days by Ford). Three outlaws risk their lives and freedom by rescuing and taking care of a small child that they discover in the desert. Wayne survives the brutal heat of Death Valley to fulfill his pledge to the child's dying mother (Natwick). This film was dedicated to Harry Carey, Sr., who participated in Ford's first attempt at this story, 1919's Marked Men. Touching and sweet.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

Three Godfathers BlogHub Articles:

THREE GODFATHERS (1936)

By Dan Day, Jr. on Mar 31, 2024 From The Hitless Wonder Movie Blog

The Warner Archive Collection has released John Ford's 3 GODFATHERS (1948) on Blu-ray, and the picture and sound quality is spectacular. What also makes this release notable is that the Archive has included on the disc a 1936 version of the story, titled THREE GODFATHERS. Both films are based on a n... Read full article

THREE GODFATHERS (1936)

By Terry on Jan 14, 2019 From Stardust and Shadows

I don’t mention Westerns very much since honestly I don’t see many with exception of  STAGECOACH (1939), THE SEARCHERS (1956),  THE WILD BUNCH (1969), both versions of  CIMARRON (1931) plus (1960)  and the Clint Eastwood Modern classic THE UNFORGIVEN (1992) plus a host of others. I d... Read full article

MGM Blogathon: Three Godfathers (1936)

By Caftan Woman on Jun 27, 2014 From Caftan Woman

I'm thrilled to be taking part in the MGM Blogathon sponsored by Diana and Connie of Silver Scenes and running from June 26th - 29th. MGM is justly renowned for its epics such as Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ and The Big Parade, its meticulously crafted costume dramas like Camille and Marie Antoine... Read full article

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Three Godfathers Quotes:

[Buck has just donned his vest, revealing his sheriff's badge]
Perley 'Buck' Sweet: I'll be seeing you boys... prob'ly.
[as Buck and the deputies are chasing the three outlaws, Buck shoots the outlaws' water bag. He then stops chasing them]
Deputy: Gosh, Marshal, you missed 'em.
Perley 'Buck' Sweet: They ain't payin' me to kill folks. Them Texas boys are gonna be mighty thirsty before they get to water.
Posse Member #1: A lot of boys stick up stagecoaches and banks and one thing and another. But a man who would dynamite a water hole in this kind of country is downright criminal.
Judge: [during sentencing] Robert Marmaduke Hightower...
Perley 'Buck' Sweet: Marmaduke? Haw, haw...
Robert Marmaduke Sangster Hightower: Perley!
[crowd laughs]
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Three Godfathers Facts
John Wayne's character, Robert Marmaduke Hightower, was named by director John Ford after his favorite stuntman, Bryan 'Slim' Hightower, who also worked on this picture.
For the scene where Deputy Curly (Hank Worden) has trouble pulling a mule about a train, director John Ford rigged the reins to pull backwards whenever Worden pulled forward.
John Ford had a greensman water a cactus overnight to allow it to be squeezed for water.
When John Wayne is "greasing" the baby boy, Robert William Pedro, it is evident that the baby boy is actually a baby girl.
John Wayne was badly sun burnt while filming 3 Godfathers and was briefly hospitalized.
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