Episode 144: Buck and the Preacher (1972)

This week at The Film Club we conclude April with a bonus episode and it’s all about Sidney Poitier’s directorial debut film, Buck and the Preacher. The film tells the story of Buck a former Civil War Union Army Sergeant who is now a self employed Wagon Master guiding wagon trains of freed slaves to the West Coast. Buck is familiar with the Western region and has a good relationship with the Indigenous people of the region striking up a deal for his wagon party to have safe passage through the region to eventually settle down and create a new home. Things unfortunately don’t go as planned when the wagon trail continuously gets attacked by Rogues who are hired by former slave owners. Buck is almost captured by these rogues and in the attempt to lose them he runs into a man called Preacher and pleads to swap horses with him to evade the rogues. Buck and Preacher begin to work together after a rocky beginning to their relationship but both are determined to save the wagon train from the rogues. Can Buck and Preacher get the people of the wagon train to safety? Or are there too many rogues waiting to strike? Join us as we dive into the world of Buck and the Preacher.