West St. Louis
| Movie | |
|---|---|
| German title | West St. Louis |
| Original title | Wagon master |
| Country of production | United States |
| original language | English |
| Publishing year | 1950 |
| length | 86 minutes |
| Age rating | FSK 12 |
| Rod | |
| Director | John Ford |
| script |
Frank S. Nugent Patrick Ford John Ford |
| production | John Ford Merian C. Cooper |
| music | Richard Hageman |
| camera | Bert Glennon |
| cut |
Jack Murray Barbara Ford |
| occupation | |
| |
West St. Louis (Original title: Wagon Master) is a western from 1950 , which was directed by John Ford . Itstars Ben Johnson , Harry Carey Jr. , Joanne Dru and Ward Bond .
action
In 1849, Mormon Elder Wiggs hired horse dealers Travis Blue (Johnson) and Sandy Owens (Carey) as scouts to lead a small group of Mormons west to the Colorado River and San Juan River , Utah . On the way there, the wagon train meets a stray acting troupe who join the trek. Here the actress Denver and Travis get closer and fall in love. The plot becomes dramatic when the criminal Clegg family, who are on the run, also joins the train to find shelter from the marshal and his assistants. When the trek encounters Navajo Indians and the Mormons treat them in a friendly way, one of the Clegg sons tries to rape an Indian woman, whereupon Wiggs has the guilty whipped as a punishment and thus attracts the Cleggs' hatred. The Cleggs disarm Travis and Sandy and take command. Ultimately, however, the Cleggs manage to be overcome. The Mormons achieve their goal. Travis and Sandy find partners and their place in the community.
background
The American television series Wagon Train (1957-1965), in which Ward Bond and later John McIntire played the lead role, was inspired by this film. Ford himself directed an episode of the series.
Reviews
“Classic western, one of John Ford's most beautiful. The myths of the Wild West appear in an unfamiliar light in an epic narrative style, tart and poetic, mostly covered with a touch of irony. "
“Dramaturgically structured almost in the form of a sober reportage, the film gives a clear picture of the time. The camera, the music and the good synchronization are to be commended. Worth seeing."
"Predicate 'valuable'"
media
literature
- Norbert Grob: West of St. Louis / Wagonmaster in Film Genres - Western / Ed. By Thomas Koebner . Reclam junior, Stuttgart 2003, ISBN 3-15-018402-9 ; Pp. 131-137
- Joe Hembus , The Western Lexicon - 1567 Films from 1894 to Today ; extended new edition by Benjamin Hembus; Heyne, Munich 1995, ISBN 3-453-08121-8 ; Pp. 720-723
- Dirk C. Loew: Attempt on John Ford. The Western Films 1939–1964 . BoD, Norderstedt 2005, ISBN 3-8334-2124-X , pp. 201-207
- JA Place: The Westerns of John Ford. Original title: The Western Films of John Ford. Citadel film books at Goldmann. Goldmann, Munich 1984, ISBN 3-442-10221-9 , pp. 129-145
DVD release
Wagon Master (DVD 8252365D • 11) in Directed by John Ford , Collection of 4 John Ford films (in English). Universal , 2007
Web links
- Wagon Master in the Internet Movie Database (English)
- West St. Louis in the online movie database
- Article at Turner Classic Movies