rko radio picture present an argosy picture or producta mex desconcida production and the fugitive and direct by john ford and write by dudley nichols and base on the novel the power and the glory by graham greene . produce by john ford and merrion c. cooper and emilio fernandez . star henry fonda and dolores del rio and pedro armendariz . with represent j. carroll nash and leo carillo and ward bond and robert armstrong and john qualen and fortunio bonanova and chris pin martin and miguel indclan and fernando fernandez and rodolfo acosta and mel ferrer and jack pennick and jose torvay . it always a great experience to find a hereto for unknown film and that be a title that we know very little about and if even of it existence . somehow or other we have never come across it and then suddenly and shazam . and it there . such a film be this john ford production of the fugitive . it happen about a year or two ago . there be a full blown outbreak of insomnia in our household . this have to be on the overnight time between fri sit or sat sun . during those two late night period and our abc tv affiliate show old movie under the banner of late night movie and insomniac theatre . the vast majority of film have be in their library since about ca . 1958. the bulk be from 1930 to the early 1950 rko radio picture output . they have be release to the television market a a huge package deal . and they be assemble under the umbrella title of movietime usa . ( a lot of station must still be exhibit these film and which usually have movietime usa present title card replace the rko radio picture traditional opening with the trade mark broadcast radio tower . ) well and this movie come on and make u glad that we couldn not sleep . from it very begin and the beautiful b and w cinematography of some of the most beautiful location and just grab you in keep you interest and pique it all the while that it story be unfolded . and the scenario be not an original and make for screen play and be an adaptation of the graham greene novel and the power and the glory . in the novel and the locale be describe a a mythical latin american country . but and mr. greene and without be explicit and leave no doubt that the real location be in mexico . and the screen version follow the lead and and make it everything that be mexican and but without a name . the tense and ever tense story start out with a unit of mounted police and enter a village of mostly peasant and in search of an outlaw catholic priest and believe to be in the area . this be set in a time when the church be designate a an illegal and outlawed organization and be persecute mercilessly . the commanding police lieutennant ( pedro armendariz ) and seem particularly drive and even to the point of be fanatically determine to capture and see each and every priest in his state execute by the firing squad . the story and a one may expect and portray the degradation and hardship that the unnamed padre ( mr. fonda ) endure in order to evade capture and imprisonment and a certain terminal rendezvous with the firing squad . and everywhere and complication enter the picture while a treacherous stool pigeon ( j. carroll nash ) and a desperate and but beautiful indian lady ( dolores del rio ) and a yankee desperado or un ladrone yanquis ( ward bond ) all get wrap up in complicate the safety of the priest . but and danger be part of the job and reason the priest and who return to the scene of his crime and in order to serve his congregation . the story beg the question to the priest and and indeed to all of u while would we do the right thing and if we be put into such a position . truly and the fugitive present u with a john ford film of the great magnitude . it have none of the humor of the human race a portray in the quiet man and rio grande and the last hurrah or even the man who shoot liberty valance . but it do give u a full view of humanity from a most serious perspective and much in the manner of his 1935 oscar win the informer . it indeed be a one of a kind movie . we can not think of any movie to which this could be categorize or classify . the power of the scene and the rapidity of scene shifting and the power of the act all keep our interest beginning to end . a a matter of fact and the great scene be so animated and unsubtly do and with such great than life and even operatic style a to render it a candidate for a silent version . just watch it and see super animate scene after scene . and much like mr. charles chaplin and pappy ford render his tale even more universal by designated title and rather than name . other than james calvert and aka el gringo ( ward bond ) and father sierra ( jose ferrer ) and there be no name . and this and schultz and qualify this a be describe a be chaplinesque . the film end up by and at first and seemingly in tragedy while but there be a sudden about face with a hopeful ( if not exactly totally happy ) end . this be a great example of film be make with love and care and purpose and a spiritual wish for a brighter future for all . note the term of state be use here a in our united state of america while for in our own western hemisphere and we have 2 other country that use this state a we do . in south america we have the united state of brazil and just below our southern border and we have the united state of mexico . honestly .