The Three Godfathers

by Peter B. Kyne

The story is already beloved by film buffs thanks to the many adaptations for the big screen, including the 1948 John Ford/John Wayne collaboration and the 2003 Japanese anime Tokyo Godfathers. But here is the original 1913 novelette in all its warm humanity and humor. Three bank robbers on the run in the frontier American West happen upon a birthing mother who begs the men to watch over her baby as the delivery takes her life just as another is brought into the world. Naturally, they do, and find that their new charge brings them a new outlook on their wicked ways. American novelist PETER B. KYNE (1880-1957) was born in San Francisco, California. From early on it was clear that he had a gift for writing, and his time in the army during the Spanish-American War and World War I gave him plenty to write about. Kyne's novels include The Go-Getter (1921) and Cappy Ricks (1916).

Genres: Westerns, Christmas, Fiction

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1912

About the author

Peter Bernard Kyne was an American novelist who wrote between 1904 and 1940. Many of his works were adapted into screenplays starting in the silent era, particularly his first novel, The Three Godfathers, which was published in 1913 and proved to be a huge success. He is credited in 110 films between 1914 and 1952.

When still under 18, he lied about his age and enlisted in Company L, 14th U.S. Infantry, which served in the Philippines from 1898-1899. The Spanish-American War and the following insurrection of General Emilio Aguinaldo provided background for many of Kyne's later stories.[1] During World War I, he served as a captain in Battery A of the 144th field Artillery, known as the California Grizzlies.

Reviews

[Debbie Zapata · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I went to mark this title as Currently Reading, I was surprised to see that it was already checked off as read and had a five star rating. I honestly don't remember ever reading this before, so perhaps I gave it that rating in my early GR days, who knows. I do know I was familiar with the story because this book was the basis for the 1948 John Ford movie of the same name starring John Wayne, Pedro Armendariz, and Harry Carey Junior. This has been my favorite John Wayne movie since the first time I saw it, and I was very excited a few weeks ago to notice that Project Gutenberg had added this story to its Peter B. Kyne author page.

The story begins with a bank robbery and a mad dash out of town into the desert near the California/Arizona border. Our three men have a route planned, but they do not expect what they come across at the last water source on their journey. Terrapin Tanks has been dynamited by a greenhorn who did not know to just dig the sand away and let the water seep to the surface. He has ruined this place for all time, and besides that he let his mules drink alkali water which drove them loco and they ran off. And the greenhorn ran off after them, leaving his wife in the covered wagon on the verge of having a baby. Our three bank robbers have to step up and take care of everything, and the rest of the story shows what happens next.

Some of the details are different between the movie and the story: the characters are jumbled around a bit from the way I think of them from the movie. Also there is no sheriff's posse chasing the men in the story. They have enough to deal with all on their own. Do they save the baby? Which of the three men (if any) will survive the walk across the desert to New Jerusalem, where kinfolks of the greenhorn are supposed to be waiting? Who will help The Three Godfathers?

This is a western, but it is a Christmas story too,and the movie was always included in my seasonal Christmas Movie Marathon. I don't have my movies down here with me so when December rolls around and I am in the mood for such things I plan to reread this story. And you can see I left those five stars alone. Those three godfathers deserve them.

[Julie Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This little novella is worthy of Louis L'Amour and has inspired at least five movies, two of them from the silent film era. The most famous is 3 Godfathers starring John Wayne and directed by John Ford, which inspired one of my favorite movies, Tokyo Godfathers. So the story has staying power even in modern culture and other lands.

This little story is the backbone of all those films. This is not the story of the Wise Men, it is the story of Bad Men, we are told on the title page. The three Bad Men are on the lam after a bank heist. Searching for water, they come upon a pioneer woman in labor and dying. Her husband is dead and the newborn baby is given into the care of the "three godfathers" who providentially showed up to help it be born. Their journey to get the baby to his relatives is the story of their struggles with their past and their possible redemption. It is heartfelt but also shows flashes of humor which I enjoyed a lot.

It is interesting to see how the films embellished the basics to give their own take and layers of complexity, which are all, nevertheless, still commenting on the basic story.

[Alberto Martín de Hijas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Un relato que combina el western con una parábola religiosa y que ha tenido numerosas adaptaciones cinematográficas. Está bien contado y se lee en un suspiro.

[Angie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This short novel has at least six movie versions made of it. Currently I have seen 4 of them. (Still looking for the 2 silent versions.) This is a case where I enjoy the movie version (a couple of them anyway) better than the written version. It is a story about a Christmas foundling and three desperadoes. I have enjoyed the 1929 and 1936 versions multiple years at Christmas and this year I watched the John Wayne version (1948). I found it disappointing. I managed to track down a digital version of this written work online and I was surprised to find that some of the elements that I liked less about the John Wayne version were original to the story. The written story is still better than the John Wayne version though, which lost focus from the point of the story, which is about humility and redemption. I’ve already said too much and don’t like spoilers so I will wrap up by saying that I like the written story but it is lacking in nuance and subtlety; it is sometimes “preachy.” Also negative is that there are some uses of racist terms, primarily in the names of some things.

[Octavia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Me ha gustado mucho! Es una alegoría religiosa nada sutil, pero me ha encantado la forma en que está escrito el cuento. Una maravilla en cuanto ambientación. Tendría que haberlo leído en Navidad

[Classic reverie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am not sure that I saw the 1948 movie with John Wayne but will watch it at some point and come back to compare the written with the film version. Peter B. Kyne's The Three Godfathers reminds me of Bret Harte's The Luck of Roaring Camp, both deal with a group of men trying to save a newborn baby boy. I loved both stories which have a western flavor. Kyne brings religious awakening to the three robbers around Christmastime and parallels to the Christ child. I love how these men had goodness in their heart despite their criminal activities. This short story has a lot of heart and heart break.

Short story in short- Three bank robbers on the run find a young woman about to give birth.

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I loved how these bad men had hearts of gold and suffered to help save the baby's life. The dying mother naming the baby after the three was really wonderful and helped the men not be selfish of their own thirst and needs but acted in a group to give this baby a chance. The ending is not clear for the young man, Bob who was nearing death as he brought the baby into town but I will have him live and marry so the baby can have a home, unless relatives of the dying mother rather take care of the infant with help from the last surviving godfather.

[David Mann · Rating 5 out of 5]

Among the very best Western novels I’ve ever read. Kyne has wrought a profoundly touching elegy to the value of sacrifice and love. The novella is life-affirming, tender, and at times flat-out hilarious. Kyne’s prose is equal to the greatest of American authors, and his storyline entirely original and wholly inspiring.

You won’t regret a moment spent reading this

[Jimmy Lee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peter Kyne's book has been made into four movies so far: John Ford's silent 'the Marked Men' in 1919 (now lost), 'the Three Godfathers' in 1936, John Ford's 'the 3 Godfathers' in 1948, and the Japanese anime 'Tokyo Godfathers' in 2003.

This is a beautiful story, steeped in western flavor, about atonement and redemption. Written in 1913, there are biblical quotes, there's a colloquial (now racially inappropriate) reference to cactus, a bank robbery, and multiple deaths - any one of which may offend the edgy reader; but there's not a word misplaced. At only 95 pages, it's really a novella rather than a book, which stands alone as a classic. I'll be keeping an eye out for an original version with illustrations - this book is worth it.

I've only seen John Ford's 1948 movie, with John Wayne, Pedro Armendáriz, and Harry Carey Junior. Filmed with the John Ford stock company in Death Valley, it's a wonderful movie to watch at Christmas. The book provides the depth and profundity that you can't find in a movie - but you can't read Death Valley. Each one is worth the time.

[Barb · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this little book. Written a century ago, its style would be perfect for a read-aloud (not for young children, but for grownups -- I could picture the adults in a family settling down to enjoy it together after the small children were asleep. The prose was lyrical and carried the reader through the story of The Three Bad Men who, on the run in the southwestern-US desert after the fourth in their number was killed in a bank robbery gone wrong, encounter a young widow in labor -- but no water. The dying widow entreats them to be the godfathers of her newborn, and they take this responsibility very seriously. The Three Bad Men are changed spiritually by agreeing to be godfathers for the baby in a wonderful story of sacrifice (and maybe even redemption).

[Bob Cantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Christmas story

I have several favorite Christmas movies. One of them is the Three Godfathers. So when I saw this short little story I thought I would read it and see how it compared to the movie. Although it is different in several ways the basic story is the same. I can truly say that this story will be one I will read at Christmas time every year along with watching the movie. Now some may find this story a little sugary with out much gunplay for a Western just remember what the plot is and enjoy.

[F Clark · Rating 2 out of 5]

I read this after having seen both adaptations of this film. It is a quick read, and probably not as good as either film adaptation. The prose is a little too purple for my taste.

I can recommend it to folks who like Western yarns.

[Samantha Glasser]

Read this book online for free through Project Gutenberg: https://gutenberg.org/files/51942/519...

[VT Dorchester · Rating 4 out of 5]

I expect to write a little review for this on my blog. It's a worthwhile hour-long read!

[Steven Freeman · Rating 3 out of 5]

The screen writers did a much better job, but the inspiration is here.

[Maddox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Satoshi Kon was a real one for using this as inspiration, beautiful and tragic writing

[Renee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three Bad Men find a dying woman in the desert and strive to save her baby. While the 1948 movie has religious overtones, the book is very much a Christian story of sacrifice and redemption.

[Carlos Cano · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐½

[Susan Molloy · Rating 5 out of 5]

🖋️ Reading the original novelette was enjoyable and educational. It is a well-written, good story with lots of action, believable dialogue, and a religious message, albeit somewhat obvious. The dénouement is slightly different than some of the films. It was made into several movies; some are lost. I noted that the names of the badmen were changed in the movies.

📙Published in 1913.

🟢The e-book version can be found at Project Gutenberg.
🎥Movie adaptations:
1913, as "The Sherrif's Baby"
1916, as "The Three Godfathers"
1919, as "Marked Men"- lost film
1921, as "Action" - lost film
1929, as "Hell's Heroes"
1930, as "Hell's Heels" - animated with Oswald the Rabbit
1936, as "Three Godfathers"
1948, as "3 Godfathers"

[Keith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Finished the novella THE THREE GODFATHERS by western writer Peter B. Kyne (1880-1957). It was originally published in "The Saturday Evening Post" (1912) and was adapted in a number of western films. If you're not already familiar with the 1948 "3 Godfathers" version starring John Wayne, three bank robbers find a dying mother in the desert, become her baby's godfathers, and trek towards the town of New Jerusalem to save the baby by Christmas day. Christmas allusions abound. It's a good, heart-warming adventure story. It takes as long to read as to watch a film version. I found a 1922 edition on the Internet Archive website.

[Anthony Stillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot think of another Christmas story that manages to simultaneously reaffirm the holiday's religious roots while also presenting the tale in such a fresh (yes, even 110 years after it was written) way that even a filthy agnostic like myself can find comfort in. Peter Kyne understood that the best Christmas stories require darkness to make the light that much brighter, and chose the perfect characters and setting to emphasize this fact.

[Cathal Reynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is just a little book sitting behind the counter at work so, being a quite Monday morning, I read it through within 45 minutes. So cute and sweet, but I hope the last godfather gets to raise the bairn himself.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

This clever and very short novel (83 small pages -- does that make it a novella?) from 1913 is the source for several films, including the John Ford/John Wayne "3 Godfathers" from 1948. Good tale. OK, maybe 3.5 stars

[Ron · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read my review at my blog.

[Wayne Hastings · Rating 5 out of 5]

While I enjoy the John Wayne/John Ford movie collaboration, this book is totally different and inspiring. It's a compelling story of God's grace, hope and provision. Well done.

[Joseba Bonaut · Rating 5 out of 5]

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