It's hardly shameful that The Three Godfathers ranks as the slightest John Ford Western in a five-year arc that includes My Darling Clementine, Fort Apache, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, Wagon Master, and Rio Grande. The source, a Peter B. Kyne story both hard-bitten and sentimental, had already been filmed at least five times--once by Ford himself as Marked Men (1919). The star of that silent version, Harry Carey, had recently died. This remake is dedicated to him ("Bright Star of the early western sky") and proudly introduces his son, Harry Carey Jr. (who had already appeared in Howard Hawks's Red River--as did his father--but we won't quibble).

Just before Christmas, three workaday outlaws (John Wayne, Pedro Armendáriz, Harry Carey Jr.) rob a bank in Welcome, Arizona, and flee into the desert. The canny town marshal (Ward Bond) moves swiftly to cut them off from the wells along their escape route, so they make for another, deep in the wasteland. There's no water waiting for them, but there is a woman (Mildred Natwick) on the verge of death--and also of giving birth. The three badmen accept her dying commission as godfathers to the newborn. Motley variants of the Three Wise Men, they strike out for the town of New Jerusalem with her Bible as roadmap. It becomes increasingly apparent that saving the child's life will cost them their own.

"Three Kings" move over!

Looks like the "Three Kings," which was advertised as the best original screenplay of 1999, resembles the "Three Godfathers."

Wayne (Clooney) and his outlaw friends (Kings' soliders) get greedy, steal gold, and flee into the desert. Along the way they become the "godfathers" of a dying woman's baby (abandoned Iraqi rebels). They then get a conscience and realize they need to throw away their plans in order to save the baby (back to "Kings" abandoned Iraqi rebels). So some of the outlaws (soldiers) unfortunately die along they way.

"Three Kings" is a nice movie but give credit where credit is due. You just can't beat the Duke and John Ford! Ford and the Duke did give credit to the past film versions. They even dedicated "Godfathers" to the original star of the silent film version.

Get the "Three Godfathers." You'll love it!

read and you will find out

a good and a very good ending. some good acting by wayne. it is an underrated film.buy this one you will never forget it.

Heartwarming John Wayne / John Ford Classic!

All the positive comments you read here about this film are true. This is a sleeper film in the WB/MGM catalog that is way, W A Y overdue on DVD in the US. (An official DVD release is available in Brazil. Go figure.)

This classic western stars John Wayne, Pedro Armendariz, Harry Carey Jr and Ward Bond -- the usual John Ford suspects. Ford strikes a balance between action and sentimentality, directing this simple story in a straightforward fashion with a great sense of pace. It's really good fun. This is Ford's first color film and cinematography by Winton Hoch looks really rich and with enough sand to make you wish you had some lemonade.

Maybe Warner's busily restoring this film to its original pristine 35mm real 1948 Technicolor glory and researching the vaults for behind-the-scences extras? Maybe they'll even toss in a pdf of the original story by Peter B. Kyne and the film script? It would be great if they included the original 1916 silent film with Harry Carry Sr.

"3 Godfathers" is a natural for the Christmas season as it's a film the whole family can watch. Did I say it's way overdue on DVD?