Stagecoach is a fine western and a truly exceptional film. Shortly after the river crossing, the passengers expect a smooth ride into lordsburg, new mexico territory, but apache leader geronimo and his men have other ideas. A stagecoach travelling to the town of lordsburgh carries a mixed array of passengers. The stagecoach is brought to a halt and ringo jumps off the lead horse, runs to the carriage, and opens the door to find hatfield telling everyone his last dying words before he slumps over dead. The quintessential tale of a group of strangers thrown together into extraordinary circumstances, stagecoach features outstanding performances from hollywood stalwarts claire trevor, john. This movie was designed for grownups, exploring complex psychological, moral and character issues through its simple story. As a counterpart, eco refers to the aristotelian craft of john fords western stagecoach 1939.
Typifying the best that the western genre has to offer, stagecoach is a. Stagecoach is the golden example of the greatness that can come from this genre. Dec, 2017 a group of people traveling on a stagecoach find their journey complicated by the threat of geronimo and learn something about each other in the process. Having seen close to 500 westerns from this decade the past 3 years, about half the total output, ive experienced the desperate struggle this genre suffered since the dawn of sound and the ambitious the big trail 1930 failed at.
Loaded with extras, the blu ray has good picture and sound quality for a film that shows its age. John ford directs the film which stars john wayne, claire trevor, andy devine. Stagecoach 1939 john ford synopsis, characteristics. Western films have had a prestigious but rocky journey throughout film history. Typifying the best that the western genre has to offer, stagecoach is a riproaring adventure given dramatic heft by john fords dynamic direction and john waynes.
Hommage john wayne 1930 1939 marie djezarlevallois. However, according to contemporary sources, stagecoach was one of several westerns made between late 1938 and early 1939 that were produced on large budgets including union pacific 1939, jesse james 1939. Stagecoach, john ford 1939 john wayne homage stagecoach suite richard hageman. John travolta showed off his moves as he shook a leg with.
A group of people traveling on a stagecoach find their journey complicated by the threat of geronimo and learn something about each other in the process. Stagecoach, american western film, released in 1939, that is a classic of the genre, widely considered to be the first adult western. It was the first in a long line of films that director john ford was to make in monument valley an area he was to turn into his own preserve, and the film that marks john. This blackandwhite western classic directed by john ford portrays monument valley in northern arizona and southern utah. Read the full synopsis of stagecoach, 1939, directed by john ford, with claire trevor, john wayne, andy devine, at turner classic movies. In the scene where ringo finishes talking to the marshall and walks toward the stagecoach, watch the right hand top side of the stagecoach, the camera with a film reel can be seen and as ringo walks towards the stagecoach it gently moves back behind the stagecoach. Stagecoach original motion picture soundtrack original. The screens greatest horse stuntman true west magazine. Westerns before it, stagecoach quickly became a template for all movie westerns to come. I ts now accepted that the first great western of the sound era, john fords seminal stagecoach 1939, which opened 70 years ago this week, was an.
Two notable westerns were released in 1939 that transcended the bmovie cheapie status that had defined that genre for ten years or more. Stagecoach 1939 john fords landmark western revolves around an assorted group of colorful passengers aboard the overland stagecoach bound for lordsburg, new mexico, in the 1880s. Stagecoach 1939 by 4 star film fan on apr 21, 2019 from 4 star films. Hatfield is the only one of the nine passengers who doesnt survive the trip to lordsburg. The western was a bmovie experience during this time period, a surprising thought considering the alist talent associated with this 1939 film. An eclectic group of settlers boards a stagecoach in tonto, arizona territory. Media in category stagecoach 1939 film the following 4 files are in this category, out of 4 total.
Stagecoach is the golden example of the greatness that can come from this. Feb 21, 2009 i ts now accepted that the first great western of the sound era, john fords seminal stagecoach 1939, which opened 70 years ago this week, was an allegory about the united states. Stagecoach is a 1939 american western film directed by john ford and starring claire trevor and john wayne in his breakthrough role. The screenplay by dudley nichols is an adaptation of the stage to lordsburg, a 1937 short story by ernest haycox. For ford, it was a return after some years to a genre about which his ideas had grownthe genre in which he would. This criterion release of stagecoach 1939 is great. Unlike the original version which listed its ten leading players in order of importance, the major stars are billed in alphabetical order. While the western hardly began with stagecoach, one could go out on a very slight limb and say it became a more fully realized version of itself in the hands of john ford. The film follows a group of strangers riding on a stagecoach through dangerous apache territory stagecoach was the first of many westerns that. In the meantime, he had produced the superb, oscar. A diverse group of passengers including a prostitute claire trevor, an alcoholic doctor thomas mitchell, a gambler john carradine, a whiskey seller donald meek, a shady banker berton churchill, a sheriff george bancroft, and the pregnant wife louise platt of a cavalry officer embark on a stagecoach trip led by a nervous driver andy devine, despite warning of. They swoop down from a hill to attack, and the stagecoach races for the mojave deserts. Although he had appeared before in many films, as an extra, a stuntman and then an actor in b films, this was john waynes first starring role in a film by john ford. In conclusion, there is some cheesily fluffy humor and plotting, which join.
Although he had appeared before in many films, as an extra, a stuntman and then an actor in b films, this was john wayne s first starring role in a film by john ford. This film his first sound western was a return to his mostacclaimed film genre after a thirteen year absence following foxs three bad men 1926 and the iron horse 1924. By the movies conclusion, you believe the characters have all witnessed an awakening, and while they may not be spending weekends at. Monument valley and other elements one associates with the genre. Boone, a heavy drinker and a kindly medical practitioner.
Stagecoach 1939 the definition of depression giggles is pretty fluid in my class because were touching on every genre which hit theaters during the 1930s. Written by dudley nichols and ben hecht, based on a short story by ernest haycox. That changed when i played the game call of juarez gunslinger, a fantastic fast paced shooter which sold me on the genre and immediately started looking for some classic western movies and. Stagecoach saw john ford master what he called the invisible technique. For ford, it was a return after some years to a genre about which his ideas had grownthe genre in which he would make many of his greatest films.
Philip french on the topicality of the 1939 film stagecoach. The film follows a group of strangers riding on a stagecoach through dangerous apache territory. Gordon douglas 1966 remake of john fords stagecoach was doomed from the getgo even with a few good supporting players in the cast, including van heflin, bing crosby, slim pickens, and keenan wynn, it was hopeless to try to equal, much less improve upon, fords 1939 original. A group of stagecoach travelers clash as they cross the wild west under the threat of attack from the legendary geronimo and his men. Dallas claire trevor is a woman with a scandalous past who.
Although there were westerns before it, stagecoach quickly became a template for all movie westerns to come. Oct 09, 2016 united artists released stagecoach to theaters on march 3, 1939. The camera appears to have some kind of a covering of. Stagecoach 1939 is a classic western from film auteur john ford.
The camera appears to have some kind of a covering of black cloth and also the hand and part of the arm of. Stagecoach is a 1966 american film, directed by gordon douglas between july and september 1965, as a color remake of the academy award winning john ford 1939 classic blackandwhite western stagecoach. Watch stagecoach 1939 full movie free online streaming. Stagecoach was deliberately crafted in a precise fashion that limited any chance for a technical failure. Director john ford combined action, drama, humor, and a set of welldrawn characters in the story of a stagecoach set to leave tonto, new mexico for a distant settlement in lordsburg, with a diverse set of passengers on board. Stagecoach is a 1966 american film, directed by gordon douglas between july and september 1965, as a color remake of the academy awardwinning john ford 1939 classic blackandwhite western stagecoach. Stagecoach 1939 posted on august 29, 2014 by rob in americas greatest movies, essential films 0 comments one of the most comprehensive westerns youll ever see in that it contains all the familiar storylines what would become stereotypical characters scenery e. Modern sources have frequently indicated that the film raised the status of westerns from the b to a level. Watch stagecoach 1939 full movie free online streaming tubi.
How john fords 1939 western classic transformed the dying genre into. Stagecoach 1939 a one of the 15 films listed in the category art on the vatican film list. This movie was designed for grownups, exploring complex psychological, moral. Acknowledging that the open work is only one expression. Apr 25, 2016 western films have had a prestigious but rocky journey throughout film history. Dec 30, 2017 a group of people traveling on a stagecoach find their journey complicated by the threat of geronimo and learn something about each other in the process. Oscars best picture winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. Inducted into the usa national film registry by the national film preservation board, in 1995, stagecoach is arguably the most significant sound western ever made. It would be over 20 years before the concept of widescreen films was revived. United artists released stagecoach to theaters on march 3, 1939. Stagecoach movies 1939 john ford action western movies. Gatewood, a corrupt banker who is making off with his depositors money.
The music by jerry goldsmith might have been the only element of the production that was an improvement, mostly. A national catholic register videodvd picks film sdg. Notes for viewing john fords stagecoach the movie is set in 1885. Stagecoach, 1939 american western film directed by john ford, starring claire trevor and john wayne in his breakthrough role. Stagecoach 1939, john fords masterpiece which singlehandedly saved the western from its wretched 1930s faith. Ive always been intrigued by the western genre of books,films and games etc but i never took a complete plunge into it. The film opens as a stagecoach is set to make the perilous journey from. One of director john ford s defining movies, it also elevated john wayne to stardom. Parents need to know that stagecoach is a classic, landmark western from 1939, a masterpiece from director john ford that featured john wayne in his breakout role. Like the characters in last stage to lordsburg, the characters in the film stagecoach are stereotypes, but, except for gatewood, they acquire a depth and humanity that haycoxs characters dont. Jan 24, 2014 trailer for the 1939 classic stagecoach.
Stagecoach is a 1939 film about a group of people traveling on a stagecoach who find their journey complicated by the threat of geronimo and learn something about each other in the process. In 1855, the overland stage from tonto to lordsburg leaves town with eight people on board. Stagecoach is a film in which two great careers were renewed. With john wayne, claire trevor, andy devine, john carradine. Impossible to overstate the influence of fords magnificent film, generally considered to be the first modern western. Mallory, an upright young wife of a cavalry officer. The images he captures are sophisticated and occasionally profound. In the front, sit buck the driver and marshal curley wilcox, who is riding shotgun to protect the stage from hostile indians and from the plummer brothers, a vicious band of outlaws. After completion of the film, wayne was only cast in lowbudget serials and features mostly poverty row westerns. One of director john fords defining movies, it also elevated john wayne to stardom.
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