The Fugitive(1947) Guide

The role was a departure for Henry Fonda, reflecting his own personal struggles and alienation at the time, yet it remains one of his most powerful dramatic performances.

While John Ford considered it one of his personal favorites and an "artistic success," it was a major "financial flop" at the box office. The Fugitive(1947)

is a striking, religious drama directed by John Ford , based on Graham Greene's celebrated 1940 novel, The Power and the Glory . The role was a departure for Henry Fonda,

Henry Fonda stars as an unnamed "whisky priest"—an anti-hero filled with fear and human frailty—who is the last remaining cleric in the region. Henry Fonda stars as an unnamed "whisky priest"—an

Despite knowing it is a trap set by the relentless Lieutenant (Pedro Armendáriz), the priest chooses his duty over his life, leading to his eventual capture and martyrdom. Production and Legacy

Seeking escape to America, he is aided by a faithful parishioner known as "The Woman" (Dolores del Río), who directs him toward Puerto Grande to board a ship.

Filmed on location in Mexico (including Taxco and Churubusco Studios), the movie is renowned for its stark, expressionistic black-and-white cinematography by Gabriel Figueroa . It leans heavily into religious symbolism and a somber, psychological atmosphere.