Review of The Fugitive

This is an interesting film because the original story/novel its based on, "The Power and the Glory" by Graham Greene (considered one of the best novels of the 20th century), tells a very similar story but completely diferent. The novel takes place in Mexico during the 'War of the Cristeros' where after the Mexican Revolution the goverments of certain states in Mexico (Chiapas in the book) decide to rid themselves of bad priests (priests who drank, extortioned, and had several families of their own), which happened to be almost every priest. The novel and the John Ford movie tell almost the same story, but with the huge difference that the priest character (Henry Fonda) is not an alcoholic, has not fathered a son with the peasant woman, and instead of cowardly he is somewhat of a martyr. On the other hand the lieutenant of police, played very well by Pedro Armendariz, although still ruthless is now seen as being 'bad' because he is hunting down a priest.

Overall the movie has great acting (particularly Armendariz), great direction, and is beautifully photographed by Mexican great Gabriel Figueroa. Its a shame that the producers decided to compromise Graham Greenes original story.