This tale of three outlaws who rescue a baby in the desert is based on a 1913 novel that reimagines the Three Wise Men in the landscapes of the American West. An oft-overlooked collaboration between John Ford and John Wayne, the film’s understated quality is appropriate for a story that plays as a poignant little Christmastime fable. The season informs the story’s meaning and serves as a catalyst for the three outlaws to transform for the better—a common character arc in Christmas movies here applied to a rare yuletide Western.

Introduced by Jeremy Arnold, author of Christmas in the Movies: 35 Classics to Celebrate the Season. Following the screening he will sign copies of the newly released ‘Revised and Expanded’ edition, available for purchase in the museum store

Directed by John Ford | Starring John Wayne, Pedro Armendariz, and Harry Carey Jr.

The What is a Western? Film Series explores the wide range of movies that can be considered Westerns, and the ways in which they shape our understanding of the American West. Each screening includes a guest lecturer who will introduce the film and explain its significance in the genre.