Stagecoach (1939)
Written: Sep 23 '99 (Updated Nov 08 '99)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: characters, cast, script, direction
Cons: stereotyping, musical number
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| BrianKoller's Full Review: Stagecoach |
"Stagecoach" is an outstanding early Western, directed by John Ford and featuring John Wayne, who was escaping from an endless series of "B" Westerns. While there is plenty of drama, the characters are diverse and well-defined, and their relationship is the heart of the film.
The plot has a stagecoach that must make it across a vast prairie dominated by hostile Indians. The coach is loaded with passengers of various social classes, who have to get along with each other in tight and tense quarters.
John Wayne plays an escaped prisoner seeking
revenge on the man who killed his father and
brother. Claire Trevor is an apparent prostitute,
and is shunned by the other passengers. John
Carradine is a notorious gambler who is risking
his life to serve as escort for proud Louise
Platt, who is traveling to meet her officer
husband. There is also an alcoholic doctor
(Thomas Mitchell, who won Best Supporting Actor),
a hapless liquor salesman, and an aging banker
who is skipping town with the embezzled deposits.
Almost forgot comic relief Andy Devine, whose
trademark of talking off key led to a long and
successful career. The doctor and salesman have
an entertaining friendship, with the doctor
guzzling the "samples" despite the salesman's
wimpy complaints. The poor salesman is also
constantly mistaken for a reverend, and no one
can get his name right.
It is interesting that the married Platt avoids
Trevor, but basks in the attention given to her
by gambler Carradine.
The moral of the film is that you cannot judge a
person's character by their social position.
Wayne, Trevor, Carradine and the doctor all come
through at the right time. Meanwhile, the
honorable bank president is actually an
ill-tempered crook.
One obvious weakness of the film is a needless
musical number. Mexicans are referred to as lazy
and portrayed as horse thieves, while the Indians
are savage marauders.
"Stagecoach" was probably the best Western movie
ever at the time of its release, although
subsequent films such as "Red River" (1948) have
surpassed it. (91/100)
Recommended:
Yes
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BrianKoller
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Member: Brian Koller
Location: Plano, Texas
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Conservative grades, but kinder and gentler reviews.
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