Three Faces West (1940): Cast & Plot
Three Faces West is a 1940 drama western directed by Bernard Vorhaus, starring Sigrid Gurie as Leni 'Lenchen' Braun, John Wayne and Horace B. Carpenter. It runs 1 hour 19 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 19m (79 min)
- Director
- Bernard Vorhaus
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Republic Pictures
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Three Faces West About?
The premise of Three Faces West without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Viennese surgeon Dr. Braun and his daughter Leni flee Nazi Germany and settle in a North Dakota town. As the Dust Bowl threatens, John Phillips urges the community to move westward to Oregon. He falls for Leni, who is already promised to the man who rescued her family, forcing her to choose between the two.
Three Faces West Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- number 3 in title
- third reich
- surgeon
- small town
- dust bowl
- oregon
- north dakota
- refugee
- cardinal direction in title
- vienna austria
- politics
- homelessness
+38 more Show fewer
- uncle nephew relationship
- male female relationship
- family relationships
- united states of america
- thanksgiving
- shelter
- sandstorm
- sacrifice
- rainstorm
- radio program
- protection
- political prisoner
- nazi
- man in the street
- lost love
- leadership
- land
- immigrant
- homesteader
- historical fiction
- hardship
- great depression
- gratitude
- german
- germany
- german accent
- first love
- drought
- despair
- desolation
- crop
- concentration camp
- community
- caravan
- brutality
- austria
- americana
- agriculture
Three Faces West Cast & Characters
Sigrid Gurie leads the cast as Leni 'Lenchen' Braun, with John Wayne as John Phillips and Horace B. Carpenter as White-Haired Farmer in Oregon. Directed by Bernard Vorhaus; 40 actors are credited in all.
- Director Bernard Vorhaus
- Sigrid Gurie as Leni 'Lenchen' Braun
-
John Wayne as John Phillips - Horace B. Carpenter as White-Haired Farmer in Oregon
- Bill Wolfe as Farmer Driving to Oregon
Also Starring in Three Faces West
· 36 more- Charles Coburn Dr. Karl Braun
- Trevor Bardette Clem Higgins
- Byron Foulger Joe Stebbins
- Wade Boteler Mr. Harris, Department of Agriculture Official
- Stuart Holmes Extra Farmer at Meeting
- Spencer Charters Dr. 'Nunk' Atterbury
- Dewey Robinson Bartender
- Bob Burns Farmer
- Russell Simpson Minister
- Mary Field Mrs. Stebbins
- Francis Ford Farmer Bill, with Higgins
- John Sheehan Man Asking When Wedding Will Be
- Victor Potel Postman
- Si Jenks Train Conductor
- Jim Corey Churchgoer
- Jack Montgomery Joe--Farmer
Show all 40 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Bill Nestell Farmer
- Douglas Evans 'We the People' Radio MC
- Charles Waldron Dr. William Thorpe
- Manuel París Refugee Doctor
- Frederick Vogeding Herr Schmidt, Eric's Assistant
- Rose Plumer White Haired Farmer's Wife
- Wolfgang Zilzer Dr. Rudolf Preussner
- Ted Stanhope Farmer
- Hank Patterson Pool Player
- Frank Brownlee Bill--Farmer
- Roland Varno Dr. Eric Von Scherer
- Sonny Bupp Billy Welles
- Wendell Niles Man-on-the-Street Radio Announcer
- Darwood Kaye Boy Patient Sitting in Chair
- Arthur Millett Farmer
- Helen MacKellar Mrs. Welles
- Hugh Chapman Boy
- Calvin Ellison Boy
- Gretchen Kisker Girl
- Lola Milliorn Girl
More from Bernard Vorhaus
More films directed by Bernard Vorhaus: So Young, So Bad, The Amazing Mr. X, Bury Me Dead and Resisting Enemy Interrogation.
Three Faces West Plot Summary
What happens in Three Faces West from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 12 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Two refugees, Dr. Karl Braun, Charles Coburn, and his daughter Lenchen Braun, Sigrid Gurie, flee Nazi-controlled Austria and arrive in the United States, landing in a small North Dakota farm town that sits on the edge of the harsh Dust Bowl. The aging doctor becomes a much-needed physician while Lenchen grows into a steady, compassionate nurse, bringing warmth and skill to a community weathering drought, dust storms, and escalating hardship.
Full summary
The whole story of Three Faces West, scene by scene
How Well Do You Know Three Faces West?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actor plays John Phillips, a key figure in the town's journey to a new home?
Cars in Three Faces West
22 cars on screen, including the 1929 Lincoln Model L and the 1937 Dodge Commercial Express.
-
1929 Lincoln Model L Main role -
1937 Dodge Commercial Express Important role -
1936 Ford unknown Important role -
Allis-Chalmers RC Minor role
Three Faces West Also Known As
8 alternative titles, including “La valle dei monsoni” and “Rutas infernales”.
- Also known as
-
- La valle dei monsoni
- Rutas infernales
- Les déracinés
- Fugitivos do Terror
- Обращение на запад
- 쓰리 페이시스 웨스트
- Tři tváře západu
- 长路漫漫
Seen Three Faces West?
Movies Like Three Faces West
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Three Faces East, Three Comrades and 3 Bad Men.
Three Faces West FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Three Faces West, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Three Faces West?
Three Faces West runs 1 hour 19 minutes (79 minutes).
When was Three Faces West released?
Three Faces West was released on July 3, 1940.
Who directed Three Faces West?
Three Faces West was directed by Bernard Vorhaus.
More films by Bernard Vorhaus Who is in the cast of Three Faces West?
Three Faces West stars Sigrid Gurie as Leni 'Lenchen' Braun, John Wayne as John Phillips and Horace B. Carpenter as White-Haired Farmer in Oregon, among 40 credited actors.
Does Three Faces West have a post-credit scene?
No. Three Faces West has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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