wagon master ( 1950 ) dir represent john ford production represent argosy picture or rko radio picture john ford bring the stock company out into the utah desert to film a western and come out with this minor classic . no john wayne and no conflicted anti hero and no psychological exploration and no firework and just a gem of a picture . this ensemble piece nominally star ben johnson ( a travis ) and harry carey jr. ( sandy ) . theyre horse trader who come into town to do some business just a a group of mormon and lead by ward bond and be be show the exit . the group be about to embark on a trek to their own settlement and but they know the odds and the harsh terrain be against them . so they hire travis and sandy a wagon master for their trip . along the way they run into and take along a travel medicine salesman and his two female cohort ( alan mowbray a the doctor and recall his appearance in my darling clementine and joanne dru a his daughter ) . tension be add when the murderous clegg gang come upon the wagon train . and there be also an atypical ( for hollywood ) meeting with the navajo . most of the story and humor be drive by the clash of ideal or culture while first between travis and sandy and the mormon and between ward bond himself ( he constantly try to suppress his urge to curse and be a reformed man ) and between the doctor and his lady and the mormon and between the wagon train and the outlaw and and finally and everyone and the navajo . there be also a classic ford scene of a rowdy dance which express one of his signature theme of civilization come to the frontier . again and no duke here and but i have find ben johnson and especially the young and cocksure ben johnson and to have an engage screen presence of his own . he come with his own backstory and with that drawl and also when you see him do all the stunt rid himself . he great here in one of his early credited appearance . harry carey jr. and although have be around for a few year by this time and be still pretty raw at time and but he likable . ward bond be his usual marvelous and blustery self . i have find joanne dru to be a drag in whatever i see her in and but here she mercifully unobtrusive . other familiar face include jane darwell and francis ford and hank worden and play wouldumb and like he will in the searcher a few year later . it not any more amusing here . there be some absolutely spectacular b and w photography by frequent ford collaborator bert glennon . not only be there the typical masterclass on the landscape and horizon and there be also some flourish in a handful of scene with shadow and ( sun ) light . the soundtrack feature the legendary country music group and the son of the pioneer . can not get more cowboy than that . ½ out of 4 .