THREE FACES WEST
US, 1940, 79 minutes, Black and white.
John Wayne, Sigrid Gurie, Charles Coburn, Spencer Charters, Russell Simpson.
Directed by Bernard Vorhaus.
Three Faces West is one of the films made by John Wayne immediately after his breakthrough role in John Ford’s Stagecoach. This film has a contemporary setting – although it moves to the west. It is interesting to see John Wayne out of the 19th century west.
The film focuses on the refugee situation from Hitler’s Europe, opening with a group of doctors who have fled Germany and Austria and who are available for doing medical work in the small towns in Midwest US. Charles Coburn is an expert from Vienna who volunteers and he is accompanied by his daughter, played by Sigrid Gurie. When they go out west, they find themselves in the dust bowl and immediately want to return. However, like all good doctor films, the screenplay has the kindly doctor looking after a child and becoming involved with the townspeople, despite his daughter wanting to return.
John Wayne is the leader of the farmers in the dust bowl, trying to find ways of irrigating the dust bowl as the topsoil blows away. Eventually, they are defeated and have to move west to Oregon where there is a revolt during the trek and Wayne has to take further charge.
The film was made at the same time as John Ford’s The Grapes of Wrath, from John Steinbeck’s novel about the Okies and the migration from the dust bowl to California. The theme was “We, the people” – and this is also the theme of Three Faces West.
The film is slight, more than a touch sentimental, but interesting to see a fit and lean thirty-two-year-old John Wayne in a central role. Charles Coburn is, as usual, very genial.
The film was directed by Englishman Bernard Vorhaus who fell foul of the black list and had to return to England. He was skilful in making a number of B-budget films in England and the United States.
1.A popular story for 1940? An acknowledgment of what was happening in Hitler’s Germany? The plight of the refugees? The focus on troubles in the dust bowl of America and the need for farmers to migrate? Topical in its time – historical interest now?
2.Black and white photography, the western town, the special effects for the dust storms, for the rain? The trek through the Rockies to Oregon? The musical score?
3.The beginning: the doctors on-stage, the explanation of their plight, refugees in the United States, the radio broadcast and the volunteers for the American towns? Dr Braun and his speech, his daughter’s support? The telegram from John Philips? The trip in the train?
4.The dust storm, the special effects to show how drastic the storm was? The dust covering everything? The station, the roads, the cars? Dust inside the house? The quarters for the doctor and his daughter? John and Nunk, the vet, living upstairs? Lenchen and her wanting to return immediately? The initial appeal of the woman with her son and her wanting him to walk again?
5.Dr Braun, the initial visits to those stricken with the flu, Lenchen’s exhaustion? His attention to Nunk and Nunk’s collaboration after criticism? Settling in?
6.Lenchen, her background, devotion to her father? Wanting to leave? The appeal by John? Her father’s change of heart? Her having to stay? Making good in the town? Going to the church, the minister and his praise of the doctor? The people’s interest and support? Her being resigned to staying? Her admiration for John, falling in love with him? The background of her previous fiancé and his disappearance, their gratitude for his help in their escape? Her being resigned to staying, the proposal, the planned marriage?
7.Dr Braun, the operation, the success with the boy? Nunk and Dr Braun? and their work?
8.The farmers, the meetings, the attempts at irrigation, John Philips explaining the Department of Agriculture plans? His going to the city, his plans being turned down? The hope for the rain? The experience of the rain? The decision that they must leave, Philips drinking, going to Oregon? The meeting, the discussions? Those in revolt – and their criticisms of the doctor?
9.The trek to Oregon, the convoy of cars? The criticising group, their going off, taking the food, squabbles? John and his leaving the group? The appeal for him to come back, the car pursuit, the crash?
10.Dr Braun and his decision to go? The news from San Francisco, Erik’s arrival? The doctor and Lenchen going to meet Erik, the discovery that he was a Nazi, their disgust? The return to John and to Oregon?
11.The farmers, the hopes for settling in Oregon? The film’s comment on the agricultural disasters in the dust bowl of the 30s?
