Wagon Master

Great, under-appreciated Western starring the great, under-appreciated BEN JOHNSON (RIO GRANDE / SHANE / MIGHTY JOE YOUNG / ONE-EYED JACKS / WILD BUNCH / LAST PICTURE SHOW / GETAWAY / DILLINGER / ETC.). Terrific story, acting, direction, cinematography - the film actually overcame my natural aversion to singing in Westerns. ONE COMPLAINT: The DVD's excellent commentary (especially by Harry Carey Jr.) was almost ruined by overlong, distracting excerpts from Bogdanovich's well-known John Ford interview, which took way too much attention from the film at hand (even during the climactic shootout!).

Great western. (In a subdued and low budget way).
Professional direction and wonderful characters... recommended to cinephiles... and the rest who enjoys westerns... actually it is probably close to "how the west was won" than the CINERAMA epic!
It shows how good a Director John Ford was... Wayne or no Wayne... in fact I must admit you are waiting for him to pop off in the screen at any moment!.
A solid cast (actor's in Ford films were in a way like a theater troupe... more or less continuously appearing as "secondaries" in a rol or another).
To be perfectly clear and honest one of the films I bought again in DVD after having it in VHS... (I think I am going to skip the Blue Ray period as long as DVD machines are available...).

ADB

In the DVD movie commentary John Ford observed that this film was not intended to be a big commercial success and he was satisfied that it earned enough to cover expenses. It is a personal work both unlike his other westerns and also, I think, the quintessential Ford western. Different with it's lingering episodic pace and lack of big stars and big scenes. But also a poetic distillation of Ford's Western vision. OK, so I really dig this movie!
There is a lot to like in this movie; read the other reviews for more. But let me focus on the visual aspects. The black and white print is impeccable: clear and finely detailed. The camera work: great compositions, stunning exposures, 90% filmed on location outdoors. As movie commentator Peter Bogdonovich repeatedly points out, Ford shot many of the scenes as if this was a silent film, letting the action and the actors' facial expressions do the story telling. I'm impressed.
And then there's that background: mesas, rock walls, outcroppings, pinnacles, boulders. Where else could this be but the Great American West?!
Oh,and BTW this film was not filmed in Monument Valley. If you ever want to see the locations with your own eyes just drive down Utah Highway 128 between Moab and Cisco. It runs along the Colorado River and is one of the most spectacular car rides on planet earth.

Totally agree with the other reviewers. Only a lack of a 'star' name (which in fact is an asset) has prevented this being recognised as a classic Ford Western - though obviously not by us!

Totally underrated, but, great to see it finally out on DVD. I have to wonder if two well known actors would have carried this to even higher critical acclaim, although, the use of two character actors made in more believable at times. A hidden gem that all western fans should watch.