Comments on: John Ford’s Wagon Master (1950)

By: Patricia

Patricia — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:10:14 +0000

I’m so pleased to hear “Wagon Master” is getting the DVD treatment it deserves. Your description of the effect of the movie is so true. It comes back to you, almost playing as if it’s not a movie, but part of a lost memory.

By: R. Emmet Sweeney

R. Emmet Sweeney — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:06:46 +0000

Moira, I listened to the first 20 minutes or so of the commentary, and Harry Carey, Jr. is, as you say, gentle, rambling and very funny. I can’t wait to hear the rest. The snippets of Bogdanovich interviewing Ford are also quite moving.

Van – I guess you didn’t read until the end. But I appreciate your enthusiasm.

Suzi – Thanks for the correction. I hope my misspelling at least gave you a laugh.

And Jerry, you’re probably right, but it also gave the parents some beautiful things to look at, no? Those sequences are usually my favorite part of Ford’s films!

By: Jerry 42nd Street Memories

Jerry 42nd Street Memories — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:02:11 +0000

Great film honoring Ford’s second tier stock company. I always thought that the theater owners had to love Ford’s ceremonial dance sequences which gave opportunity for kids to head to the concession stands.

By: Suzi Doll

Suzi Doll — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 03:39:56 +0000

I sent several people to this nicely written post on one of Ford’s best. Thanks so much for bringing attention to the film and the DVD.

Just a minor point: I think Johnson is “whittling” that stick of wood with his knife, which is shaving off slivers of wood. My grandfathers and great uncles, and even my dad whittled with the pocket knives they always had with them.

By: Van Walker

Van Walker — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 01:43:44 +0000

HOW CAN U NOT MENTION THE GREAT CHARLES KEMPER WHO WAS SO BRILLANT IN THIS FILM??????

By: moirafinnie

moirafinnie — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 01:32:01 +0000

Oh, R.E.S, your wonderful descriptions of this “horse opera”‘s moments has made me long so much for the day I’ll be able to get my mitts on this anticipated DVD.

I’m so glad that the irreplaceable Dobie Carey has had a chance to do the commentary on this movie. In his gentle, rambling way in his autobiography,”Company of Heroes” he has a natural (and often self-deprecating and funny) way of describing his experiences. This is one of my most treasured books.

Thanks for writing this and featuring such beautiful photos from the film too.