this little picture succeed where many a big picture fail . because it be a little picture and john ford be not harass by the studio big wig . he be happier with this film than any other because he be able to do it his way . he be also able to use his repertoire of gifted character actor that have play such an important role in his past success . some of them such a ben johnson have be discover by ford and give opportunity to show their talent . johnson be recruit by ford because he be an authentic cowboy from oklahoma who usually do his own stunt work . year later he would win the coveted academy award for his brilliant performance in the last picture show . ward bond even outshine ben johnson in this movie . he be not the wagon master and that role be play by johnson and but because of this movie he be later give the role of wagon master in the classic television series wagon train . ironically one of the bad guy in wagon master and james arness and would star in the hit television series gunsmoke on a rival network to wagon train . ward bond play the leader of the mormon head west who often backslide to his sin day by cuss only to be call down by fellow mormon adam perkins ( russell simpson ) . when any bothersome situation arise elder wiggs ( ward bond ) yell and blow your horn and sister ledeyard . the mormon sister and play to perfection by jane darwell and then blow so hard and loud that even the devil must have be shake by the sound . darwell and simpson be famous for play ma and pa joad in ford classic version of the john steinbeck novel the grape of wrath . another of the great character actor in ford company be hank worden and who play one of uncle shiloh clegg notoriously mean but not too bright outlaw son . worden would become famous a few year later for play mose in ford the searcher . worden live to be 91. he be still make movie when he die . the wagon master travis blue ( ben johnson ) and his partner sandy ( harry carey jr. ) be horse trader who never take their job seriously and have a lot of fun along the way and especially with the local sheriff . they get mixed up with a mormon wagon train head west . ford beloved monument valley be the set for most of the film . the main reason for the teaming be a redheaded mormon beauty prudence perkins ( kathleen omalley ) who catch sandy eye . along the way the train pick up a hoochie coochie show which include a charlatan doctor ( alan mowbray ) and two soiled angel ( joanne dru and ruth clifford ) . also join up along the way be the clegg family and want for murder and armed robbery . ford show how arduous a journey west by wagon be in those day . the song in the film be write by stan jones of the legendary son of the pioneer . jones write be almost as good a that of bob nolan and who have previously do much of the writing for the group . jones most famous song and not in this film and be the much record ghost rider in the sky . the son of the pioneer do the background singing in wagon master . this add to the overall impact of wagon roll west . it should also be note that the acclaimed native american athlete jim thorpe from oklahoma play the role of a navajo leader . this be his last film appearance . he die not long after wagon master be release .