I love John Ford, but I don’t expect a whole lot from his non-Western fare. And when I picked up The Long Voyage Home at the rental store, I was really skeptical. John Ford directing a movie about sailors? With a script adapted from four plays? And featuring John Wayne as a Swede? I took it out, but wasn’t giving it much hope. And then I watched it.

And it is great. First of all: the cinematography is AMAZING. The deep-focus shots and interplay of shadows and light are spectacular and really allow the actors to use the space on the boat set, which is really good too. The story is rambling but cohesive, and it explores emotions in a more realistic way than, say, How Green Was My Valley. And the ensemble cast? Brilliant. There are tons of great character actors from the 30s and 40s that all get their time to shine, and yes, John Wayne is really as Ole Olsen, as unbelievable ast that may sound. I’m not saying it’s as good as The Searchers or Stagecoach, but The Long Voyage Home is definitely at the top of John Ford’s filmography.