3 Godfathers
“John Ford's Legend of the Southwest!”
Synopsis
Three outlaws on the run discover a dying woman and her baby. They swear to bring the infant to safety across the desert, even at the risk of their own lives.
Trailers, Teasers & Extra Featurettes
Official promotional previews, behind-the-scenes footage, and exclusive clips.
Arriving at New Jerusalem on Christmas EveOfficial
Type: Clip • Published 2025-12-22
Top Cast
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John Wayne
Robert Marmaduke Sangster Hightower
Pedro Armendáriz
Pedro 'Pete' Roca Fuerte
Harry Carey Jr.
William Kearney ('The Abilene Kid')
Ward Bond
Perley 'Buck' Sweet
Mae Marsh
Mrs. Perley Sweet
Mildred Natwick
The Mother
Jane Darwell
Miss Florie
Guy Kibbee
Judge
Dorothy Ford
Ruby Latham
Ben Johnson
Posse man #1
Charles Halton
Oliver Latham
Hank Worden
Deputy Curly
Jack Pennick
Luke
Fred Libby
Deputy
Michael Dugan
Posse Man #2
Don Summers
Posse Man #3
Gertrude Astor
Saloon Girl (uncredited)
Richard Hageman
Saloon Pianist (uncredited)
Release History & Theatrical Window
Washington, D.C.
Festival / Special Debut
January 13, 1949
Wide Cinema Exhibition
August 18, 2004
Physical Home Media
Financials & Box Office Performance
Production Budget
$1.2M
Filming & production cost
Worldwide Gross
$2.8M
Total global ticket sales
Box Office Return
2.29x
+$1.6M net gain
Theatrical Status
Profitable
Box office tier
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- John Ford
- Screenplay & Story
- Laurence Stallings, Frank S. Nugent
- Original Score
- Richard Hageman
- Original Title
- 3 Godfathers
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- Spanish, English
- Runtime
- 1h 42m
- Production Budget
- $1.2M
- Worldwide Gross
- $2.8M
- Production Studios
- Argosy Pictures, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
John Ford
Laurence Stallings, Frank S. Nugent, Peter B. Kyne, Robert Nathan
Richard Hageman
Winton C. Hoch, Charles P. Boyle
Jack Murray
John Ford, Merian C. Cooper
Department Leadership Roster
John Ford
Producer
Richard Hageman
Original Music Composer
Laurence Stallings
Screenplay
Frank S. Nugent
Screenplay
Jack Murray
Editor
Merian C. Cooper
Producer
John Ford
Director
Winton C. Hoch
Director of Photography
Robert Nathan
Writer
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
NR: Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.
Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for 3 Godfathers.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring 3 Godfathers.
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Frequently Asked Questions About 3 Godfathers
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is 3 Godfathers about?
Three outlaws on the run discover a dying woman and her baby. They swear to bring the infant to safety across the desert, even at the risk of their own lives.
Who directed 3 Godfathers?
3 Godfathers was directed by John Ford.
Who stars in 3 Godfathers?
The principal cast of 3 Godfathers includes John Wayne, Pedro Armendáriz, Harry Carey Jr., Ward Bond, Mae Marsh.
When was 3 Godfathers released and how long is it?
3 Godfathers was released in 1948 with a total runtime of 1h 42m.
What was the box office and production budget of 3 Godfathers?
3 Godfathers had a reported production budget of $1.2M and grossed $2.8M at the worldwide box office (2.29 return on budget, classified as a commercial hit).
Who composed the musical score for 3 Godfathers?
The original motion picture soundtrack for 3 Godfathers was composed by Richard Hageman.
What is the age rating and content advisory for 3 Godfathers?
3 Godfathers holds official age classifications: DE: 12 (FSK 12 — Restricted to viewers aged 12 and older.); US: NR (Not Rated — Evaluated outside standard classification boards.).