3 Godfathers (1948) is one of Wayne's lesser-known works, but very much
worth watching. The scene in which the robbers (including an out-of-character Duke) come upon a pioneer woman about to give birth is powerful, dramatic, and touching. And it's the impetus for one of Duke’s longest speeches in his career. Plus, it was directed by the legendary John Ford.
Not an essential film, but a fun Saturday-afternoon killer
It's OK. Not one of Ford's best, or Duke's. I'd looked forward to seeing it, but didn't think it was that great (unlike westerns like The Searchers, Shane, Stagecoach, Liberty Valance....which get better every time. But I'm also not a big fan of Red River, Rio Bravo (or its clone El Dorado). Duke's an outlaw, but not really out of character. He's still Duke, especially with the dying mother and at the end. And at the when he does that same dramatic-but-unarmed turn he did the year before in Angel and the Badman=-which surely would have had his adversaries shooting. But they were very polite, just like all the martial artists patiently waiting their turn to attack Bruce Lee rather…