Three Godfathers is a 1936 western film directed by Richard Boleslawski and released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer starring Chester Morris, Lewis Stone, Walter Brennan, and Irene Hervey. It was adapted from the novel of the same name by Peter B. Kyne. Three bank robbers find a newborn baby and his dying mother in the desert. Director John Ford filmed a silent version of the story titled Marked Men in 1919. Ford remade the film in Technicolor in 1948 starring John Wayne.
Three Godfathers | |
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Theatrical release poster | |
Directed by | Richard Boleslawski |
Produced by | Joseph L. Mankiewicz |
Written by | Peter B. Kyne (novel) Edward E. Paramore, Jr. Manuel Seff |
Starring | Chester Morris Lewis Stone Walter Brennan Irene Hervey |
Release date | March 6, 1936 |
Running time | 81 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Screenplay
In a town called New Jerusalem, bandits Bob Sangster (Chester Morris), Doc Underwood (Lewis Stone) and Gus Barton (Walter Brennan) hold up a bank. After a gun battle with the townspeople, the three robbers retreat into the scorching desert. There, they happen upon an ill woman stranded with her child. As the mother dies, she begs the men to take care of her infant. The fugitives want to save the baby -- but to do so, they'll have to travel back to New Jerusalem, where they are wanted men.
- Chester Morris as Robert Sangster
- Lewis Stone as James "Doc" Underwood
- Walter Brennan as Sam "Gus" Barton
- Irene Hervey as Molly
- Sidney Toler as Professor Amos Snape
- Dorothy Tree as Blackie Winter
- Roger Imhof as Sheriff
- Willard Robertson as Reverend McLane
- Robert Livingston as Frank Benson
- John Sheehan as Ed Barrow
- Joseph Marievsky as Pedro
- Leonid Kinskey as Card Player (uncredited)