John Ford was a career director and did not see himself as a purveyor of "art" films, yet here he is making one. Looking at this film from a 21st century perspective, when the Mexican history in question is no longer in the public memory, we take this film less for it's gesture and more for what it is. It's a true story that tries to be "timeless" as the voice over introduction says, to the point of simplifying characters to a ridiculous degree, simplifying the story (it's based on what's probably a much better novel - by Graham Greene), and going to overkill with the "artistic" photography, symbolism and general sense of being anywhere but an historical period. Some of the shots of Dolores Del Rio hamming it up are very embarrassing. To the extent that the film allows him to do anything, Fonda puts in a passable performance. Pedro Armendariz is adequate. Apparently Ford liked this movie. Closet artist that he was.
Review of The Fugitive
