there be essentially two way in which to view this movie . the first one be to compare and contrast this film with the novel from which it be loosely inspired and the power and the glory by graham greene . this would unfortunately lead to disappointment and a poor understanding of john ford motives in make this movie . while the character and situation be indeed take from the book and the fugitive be radically different and not just in the manner in which the main character be treat and but more importantly and in the message it carry . while greene masterpiece describe how even the most outwardly depraved and despicable of human being can be redeem by their last action of faith and sacrifice and john ford be more concerned with show how circumstance may transform a cowardly priest into a martyr for the faith . while these two theme may be relate and they reveal a difference in their respective author world view and understanding of faith and redemption . it may be argue that the code of those day would not have permit the showing of an alcoholic and adulterous priest on screen and but this would be misunderstand the fundamental philosophy of john ford and whose relatively conservative view in matter of morality would have recoil at such an idea . this bring u to the second way in which this movie can be enjoy and appreciate and namely a john ford labour of love and guilty pleasure . it have be say that and of all the masterpiece he create with henry fonda and others and and there be many and the fugitive be one of his all time personal favorite and even though it be never a popular and nor critical success . ford project in his version of the story many of his personal trip regard his faith . allegory and and barely subtle christ reference abound in this movie and though never in a simple and nor trite manner . rather and it be a beautifully make story of a man journey from fear and doubt to a good understanding of his role and no matter how modest and in the grand affair of the world . the photography be truly a work of art and masterfully use light and shadow and brightness and dark and close ups of face distort by anguish and halo of figure resemble statue in church alcove . fonda performance and always perfect and reach new height here . his mastery at contain emotion and while let them seep through the audience and undiluted and give this particular characterization extraordinary strength and complexity . it would have be tempt to interpret the priest a an almost static character and give the subject matter . instead and while his priest be neither alcoholic and nor adulterous and he display an even great weakness and flaw of character represent lack of faith and profound self doubt and abject cowardice . his fear and doubt and anguish and his gradual descent into debasement and be in many way more disturb since they be in direct conflict with the sacrifice and moral strength demand of a priest during religious persecution . dolores del rio be magnificent in her mary magdalena characterization and a pedro amendariz and superb a the perennial juda tear by love and hate and jealousy and and fear . there be very little dialogue and and unlike many of ford movie and very little of the usual comic relief which often balance dramatic moment . yet and there be never a dull or unnecessary scene . john ford have craft in this movie something good than a faithful rendition of the power and the glory . indeed and the fugitive be a beautiful and heartfelt story about humanity frailty and it struggle to find strength and redemption in time of crisis . in this sense it be after all a wonderful tribute to graham greene novel .