“Stagecoach” is a western drama about a group of strangers traveling on a stagecoach through dangerous Indian territory. Director John Ford (“The Informer” 1935) assembled a film which pioneered the idea of an “ark picture” where a diverse group of characters are thrown together to survive an ordeal. The outstanding screenplay was penned by Dudley Nichols, adapted from a 1937 story in “Collier’s” magazine by Ernest Haycox called “The Stage to Lordsburg.”
This was a breakthrough role for John Wayne, who had labored in B-movies for years. He became a big star. Top billing went to Claire Trevor, known for her “bad girl” parts. Co-stars include Thomas Mitchell as an alcoholic doctor, Andy Devine as the coach driver, John Carradine as an elegant gambler, Louise Platt as a pregnant soldier’s wife, Donald Meek as a liquor salesman, Berton Churchill as banker embezzling $50,000, and George Bancroft as the marshall & co-driver of the coach. Others include Tim Holt, Tom Tyler, Yakima Canutt, William Hopper.
The watchable “Stagecoach” was a huge hit at the box office for Walter Wanger Productions and United Artists. It was nominated for seven Academy Awards, winning two for Best Supporting Actor (Mitchell) and Best Scoring (Richard Hageman, W. Franke Harling, John Leipold, Leo Shuken). Non-winners include Best Picture, Best Director, Best Art Direction, Best Film Editing, and Best Cinematography/Black-and-White (Bert Glennon). Over the years there have been two major remakes of “Stagecoach” including one in 1966 starring Ann-Margret and in 1986 featuring Willie Nelson.
Stagecoach (1939)
cinema
My Review
“Stagecoach” is a western drama about a group of strangers traveling on a stagecoach through dangerous Indian territory. Director John Ford (“The Informer” 1935) assembled a film which pioneered the idea of an “ark picture” where a diverse group of characters are thrown together to survive an ordeal. The outstanding screenplay was penned by Dudley Nichols, adapted from a 1937 story in “Collier’s” magazine by Ernest Haycox called “The Stage to Lordsburg.”
This was a breakthrough role for John Wayne, who had labored in B-movies for years. He became a big star. Top billing went to Claire Trevor, known for her “bad girl” parts. Co-stars include Thomas Mitchell as an alcoholic doctor, Andy Devine as the coach driver, John Carradine as an elegant gambler, Louise Platt as a pregnant soldier’s wife, Donald Meek as a liquor salesman, Berton Churchill as banker embezzling $50,000, and George Bancroft as the marshall & co-driver of the coach. Others include Tim Holt, Tom Tyler, Yakima Canutt, William Hopper.
The watchable “Stagecoach” was a huge hit at the box office for Walter Wanger Productions and United Artists. It was nominated for seven Academy Awards, winning two for Best Supporting Actor (Mitchell) and Best Scoring (Richard Hageman, W. Franke Harling, John Leipold, Leo Shuken). Non-winners include Best Picture, Best Director, Best Art Direction, Best Film Editing, and Best Cinematography/Black-and-White (Bert Glennon). Over the years there have been two major remakes of “Stagecoach” including one in 1966 starring Ann-Margret and in 1986 featuring Willie Nelson.