Stagecoach (1939)

John Ford made many a masterpiece, particularly in the western genre. Stagecoach was the first of many. The film is full of great, well rounded characters who all have their own personal journeys. The cinematography is breathtaking for its time and the action is suspenseful and exciting. The story is full of great moments and I only wish it was longer so we could learn more about the characters. I've seen this story redone several times, most notably in "The Hateful Eight". That's a good film, and adds a nice mystery element, but it pales in comparison to "Stagecoach" Granted, the depictions of native Americans in the film leave something to be desired, and some of the less important characters lack character development (even though all the characters have their fair share of it). This does not deter the movie though. The acting is excellent. John Wayne, John Carradine, Claire Trevor and Thomas Mitchell are deserving of much praise. This movie is a top notch western still after all these years and is up there with the best of the genre. It also lives up to Ford's other masterpieces like "The Searchers" and "The Grapes of Wrath" 1939 is called by many historians and critics as the greatest year for film. This film is a great starter for people who want to watch westerns and get into classic movies. A timeless, must see classic.

Saw this in the 90s on a vhs. Revisited it recently on a bluray. It is an awesome entertaining film with beautiful scenery n amazing action sequences. The long shots captured the landscapes well, the characters r all very memorable n the tension is maintained throughout, the action scenes were top notch, especially the stagecoach running in the middle of the vast wide open space n pursued by the Indians. Wayne shooting his guns from the top n he controlling the horses were amazing action sequences. This movie did two great things. Wayne became a major movie star n western movies upgraded to A grade. It is also the first western shot in the beautiful Monument Valley. The movie is about a group of passengers who r travelling in a stagecoach. The passengers are given the alarming news that Geronimo is on the warpath and that their lives are in danger but each of the passenges has their own reasons for taking the risk. When the Marshall is informed that an outlaw is present in the destination town, he joins the stagecoach which is filled with a driver whos got a unique voice, a prostitute who has just been forced out of the previous town, a drunken doctor, a pregnant woman, a gambler, a liquor salesman and a crooked banker. Wayne gets a solid entrance after we have heard about him multiple times from other characters. Ringo Kid (Wayne) joins the stagecoach cos his horse has gone lame. He has to surrender his gun to the Marshall n will be arrested once they reach the destined town but our Ringo kid has to settle score with a trio of outlaws who killed his father n brother.

Copyright 20 February 1939 by Walter Wanger Productions, Inc. A John Ford Production, presented by Walter Wanger. Released through United Artists. New York opening at the Radio City Music Hall, 2 March 1939 (ran 2 weeks). U.S. release: 3 March 1939. Australian release: 27 July 1939. 10 reels. 96 minutes.SYNOPSIS: New Mexico, 1884. Apaches on the warpath.NOTES: Thomas Mitchell, Best Supporting Actor (defeating Brian Aherne in Juarez; Harry Carey in Mr Smith Goes To Washington; Brian Donlevy in Beau Geste; and Claude Rains in Mr Smith Goes To Washington). Best Adapted Music Score, Richard Hageman, Frank Harling, John Leipold, and Leo Shuken, defeating a line-up of 12 other scores including a Korngold and a Copland. Also nominated for Best Picture (Gone With The Wind); Directing (GWTW); Cinematography (Wuthering Heights); Art Direction (GWTW); Film Editing (GWTW).Best Direction, John Ford — New York Film Critics. Negative cost: $600,000. Combined U.S.-Canadian gross from original and 1944 release: $1,300,000. Re-made in 1966 by Gordon Douglas, with Anne- Margret as Dallas, Alex Cord as Ringo and (interestingly) Bing Crosby as Doc Boone.COMMENT: "Stagecoach" is one of the most popular westerns ever made. The reasons are not hard to find: More action that you can poke 101 rifles at (including the most excitingly-staged Indian attack ever filmed), set against the most awesomely magnificent scenery, a cast of likable and seasoned players, and handsome production values including a jaunty music score which adds further momentum to an already pell-mell pace. Ford's craftsmanship — his eye for arresting detail and dramatic composition, his unerring sense of flow and movement, his ability to draw involving characterizations from his players — was never more evident. One of the most remarkable qualities of Ford's genius is his unerring ability to top himself. On paper, the Lordsburg shoot-out looks like becoming an anti-climax after the dynamic thrills of the stage chase. But Ford is more than equal to the challenge. That shoot-out is equally as edge-of-the- seat suspenseful because of Ford's imagination and skill. He is a master at creating atmosphere and mood, he has a feeling for people and places that lifts the action, characters, setting and dialogue of his scripts to the highest emotional plane of sympathy and involvement."Stagecoach" made John Wayne a major star, but although he was to make many outstanding movies in the rest of his career (some again with Ford), he never equaled the vitality, the unassuming doggedness of the Ringo Kid. This is the John Wayne that most moviegoers remember.AVAILABLE on an excellent Criterion DVD.

One of the most comprehensive Westerns you'll ever see in that it contains all the familiar story lines, (what would become stereotypical) characters, scenery (e.g. Monument Valley) and other elements one associates with the genre. Appropriately, it was directed by John Ford and it features his first collaboration with lead actor John Wayne, whose role as the Ringo Kid helped to make him a star.Written by Dudley Nichols, who based his screenplay on an Ernest Haycox story, the credited cast also includes (top billed) Claire Trevor, Andy Devine, John Carradine, Thomas Mitchell who won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar playing Doc Boone (a drunken doctor role remarkably similar to his only other Academy Award nominated performance in The Hurricane (1937) a few years earlier), Louise Platt, George Bancroft, Donald Meek, Berton Churchill, Tim Holt, and Tom Tyler.The film also received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, director Ford, Editing, Art Direction, and B&W Cinematography; its Score won an Oscar. It was added to the National Film Registry in 1995. #63 on AFI's 100 Greatest Movies list.Dallas (Trevor) and Doc Boone (Mitchell) are being run out of town by its more proper residents; she for being a prostitute, he for his drunkenness on the job. Marshal Curly Wilcox (Bancroft) makes sure both make it onto that afternoon's (titled) stage, driven by the talkative (to the point of annoyance) Buck, played by Devine, whose over loud and cracking voice are perfect(ly obnoxious) for the role. Society's Lucy Mallory (Platt) insists on traveling to rendezvous with her husband, despite having to share the coach with the shunned Dallas. Gambler Hatfield (Carradine), smitten with Mrs. Mallory, decides to go along as well. Doc is thrilled to assist the reluctant liquor salesman Samuel Peacock (the apt named Meek) aboard with his (soon to be free) samples too.When cavalry Lieutenant Blanchard (Holt) arrives to tell of Apaches on the route, Marshal Wilcox decides to ride shotgun. On the way out of town, they pick up banker Henry Gatewood (Churchill) who, unbeknownst to the others, has just embezzled some valuable assets.Along the way through Monument Valley, they encounter an escaped prisoner, The Ringo Kid (the camera zooms in, and then focuses on Wayne), who's wanted for avenging one who'd killed his brother and vows to get the rest, Luke Plummer (Tyler) and his two brothers, to finish the job. The marshal arrests him on the spot.Dallas is the hooker with the heart of gold that dreams the impossible dream of finding a more normal happiness as Ringo's wife; upon joining the others, he was instantly taken with her and, without knowing her past, had insisted that the others treat her as a lady, like Mrs. Mallory. She turns out to be pregnant, in the days when showing this fact (i.e. gaining a lot of weight) was frowned upon, which explains why she's so intent on reaching her husband.Doc is quickly sobered up and called into action. Upon his success, he's suddenly respected by the others for the first time on the journey. Dallas earns Mrs. Mallory's appreciation by assisting with the delivery and caring for her child. Of course, the stagecoach makes it through Indian territory; initially they'd had to go it alone without an escort, but the cavalry arrives just in time (as they've run out of bullets and Hatfield was just about to use his last shot to save Mrs. Mallory the horror of falling under the savages control) to save the day.Upon arriving in town, Gatewood is arrested and Ringo has his showdown with the Plummers, with predictable results, while the supportive Marshal decides to look the other way. As the story ends, Dallas and Ringo ride off into the sunrise (presumably, he's to serve the rest of his time in prison while she waits at his ranch).