1947 feature film
Based on a novel by Graham Greene and directed by the
legendary John Ford, "The Fugitive"
stars Henry Fonda as a priest in a fictional country where religion has been
banned. Filmed entirely in Mexico with an inherently Spanish aura,
The Fugitive is a potent but grim account of the priest's precarious
survival and his ultimate betrayal. Coming so soon after World War II with
memories of Nazi militant power fresh in America's mind, the film was not a commercial success, but John Ford always considered it his best directorial effort, and he felt that Henry Fonda gave the
finest performance of his career as the persecuted priest. The movie also
served as a return to Hollywood for famed actress Dolores del Rio, who
portrayed an Indian woman with an illegitimate infant fathered by one of the
highly ranked policeman (Pedro Armendáriz). Other Ford regulars included
Ward Bond, J Carrol Naish (as the Priest's betrayer) and Leo Carrillo.
Mel Ferrer's principal job was behind the scenes as John Ford's
personal assistant. He was under contract to David Selznick at the time,
but was loaned out to Ford for the film, and he is appropriately credited as Directorial Assistant under the name Melchor Ferrer.
Even though Ferrer's Selznick contract called for him to be used as actor
and director, he had thus far made no appearances in front of the
camera, but Ford had him appear in shadow at the very end of the film in
an uncredited cameo as Father Serra. The role is small but powerful and,
because it's key to the ultimate message of the movie, oddly satisfying.
