Three Godfathers (1936)

Chester Morris plays Bob Sangster, a cynical young man who was kicked out of New Jerusalem years earlier and is now back to rob its bank, just before Christmas.

He brings along two older outlaws, the illiterate Sam “Gus” Barton (Walter Brennan) and the East-Coast educated James “Doc” Underwood (Lewis Stone), and a riding minstrel named Pedro.

Arriving in town early, Gus and Doc are welcome guests at the town’s church social. Bob shows up too and is briefly reunited with Molly (Irene Hervey), the woman he loves.

He learns she’s engaged to a young man named Frank, who works at the town’s bank. He learns the bank has $30,000 in its Christmas fund. He insists Molly still loves him, grabs her and kisses her.

She insists she doesn’t. And thanks him for reminding her of what a brute he is.

The next morning, the trio rob the bank. Pedro is killed in the get-away; Doc is wounded.

But the real trouble starts after the gang has shaken the posse.

One water hole the trio hoped to rely on during their trek through the desert has been poisoned; another has been blown to bits by a tenderfoot who later committed suicide.

He left behind a young wife, who is dying. She left behind an infant who is very much alive, and has to rely on three outlaws to remain that way.

Chester Morris as Bob Sangster, waiting for the moment to strike in Three Godfathers (1936)

Walter Brennan as Sam Barton, aka Gus, and Lewis Stone as James Underwood, aka Doc, in Three Godfathers (1936)

Review:

In 1948, director John Ford released a version of this story with John Wayne as his leading man. It’s easily the duo’s worst Western.

Even if you’ve been soured by that experience, give this version of the film a chance. It’s far, far better — excellent even — with an intelligent script and fine performances even from characters in lesser roles, including lovely Irene Hervey as Molly.

Brennan and Stone turn in sterling performances. And if young Bob Sangster’s change of heart strikes the viewer as out of character, his performance early in the film will leave an impression.

There aren’t too many lines in Westerns more cold-blooded than the one he utters after gunning down a defenseless Frank during the bank robbery.

Molly’s fiancé has his hands raised and is wearing a new Santa Claus outfit to greet the youngsters on Christmas Day.

“There ain’t no Santa Claus,” says Bob after pulling the trigger and watching Frank fall to the floor.

Irene Hervey as Molly, spotting Bob Spangster on his return to New Jerusalem in Three Godfathers (1936)

Robert Livingston (left) as Frank, preparing to play Santa in New Jerusalem until bandits show up in Three Godfathers (1936)

Directed by:
Richard Boleslawski

Cast:
Chester Morris … Bob Sangster
Lewis Stone … Doc Underwood
Walter Brennan … Gus Barton
Irene Hervey … Molly
Sidney Toler … Prof. Amos Snape
Dorothy Tree … Blackie Winter
Roger Imhoff … Sheriff
Willard Robertson … Rev. McLane
Robert Livingston … Frank
John Sheehan … Ed
Joseph Marievsky … Pedro
Victor Potel … Buck Tooth
Helen Brown … Mrs. Marshall
Harvey Clark … Marcus Treen
Virginia Brissac … Mrs. McLane

Runtime: 81 min.

Roger Imhof as the sheriff, confused by what it means to be born under Capricorn in Three Godfathers (1936)

John Sheehan as saloon owner Ed Barrow and Dorothy Tree as saloon girl Blackie Winters, arriving at the church social in Three Godfathers (1936)

Memorable lines:

Sheriff: “I guess I’m just naturally a doubting Thomas. Comes from being a sheriff.
Doc Underwood: “I thought it came from your horoscope.”
Sheriff: “Horos, who?”
Doc: “What’s your birthday, sheriff?”
Sheriff: “January 5th.”
Doc: “Ah, then you were born under Capricorn.”
Sheriff: “No, you got me mixed up. I was born under a tent.”

Bob Sangster, having gunned down Frank, who’s wearing a Santa suit: “There ain’t no Santa Claus.”

Bob Sangster: “Say, Doc, why don’t you get rid of them books? They’re nothing but dead weight.”
Doc Underwood: “Dead weight? I guess you’re right, Bob. The only complaint I ever heard about your poetry John Milton. Always a little too heavy.”

Chester Morris as Bob Sangster, readdy to rob the sanctimonious town where he grew up in Three Godfathers (1936)

Lewis Stone as James Underwood, aka Doc, wounded and realizing a desperate situation in Three Godfathers (1936)

Walter Brennan as Sam ‘Gus’ Barton, before the water problems become apparent in Three Godfathers (1936)

SIdney Toler as Prof. Amos Snape, preparing to treat a dental patient after shooting a bank robber in Three Godfathers (1936)

Joseph Marievsky as Pedro, the gang member who doesn’t make it out of New Jerusalem in Three Godfathers (1936)

Irene Hervey as Molly with Frank (Robert Livingston), the bank manager she plans to marry in Three Godfathers (1936)