Wagon Master (1950)

A Mormon wagon train, led by Elder Ward Bond, hires horse trainers Ben Johnson and Harry Carey Jr. to lead them to the San Juan River valley. Along the way they add more members to the caravan: a medicine show troupe and a family of murderous robbers. I liked this one a whole lot better than my previous John Ford watch. His cinematic vistas seem to be more majestic in black and white. There’s also a wonderful casual camaraderie between Ford regulars Carey and Johnson, lending credibility to their characters’ relationship.