Stagecoach (1939)

Stagecoach (1939) – 9 people find themselves stuck on a stagecoach, threatened by Indian attack and their own secrets.

Director – John Ford                                          Starring – John Wayne, Claire Trevor, Andy Devine                                                                                                     and John Carradine

Routinely included on lists of the best westerns of all time, this is also a movie of firsts.  It was the first time that Ford made a movie in Monument Valley.  Over the next decade its bold terrain and big sky would become a trademark of Ford’s and an icon of the genre.  While not Wayne’s first film (far from it, he had about 80 movies to his credit by this time), it was the first time that he showed his star potential.  His career takes off from this point.  The result would be seven Oscar nominations with two wins (Score, and Supporting Actor for Thomas Mitchell as the doctor).  Orson Welles declared it a virtually perfect film and watched it repeatedly as preparation for “Citizen Kane”.

I’m not always a fan of older westerns.  My first thought when I saw Ford and Wayne together was “The Searchers“, a movie that I had serious reservations about.  Instead I was reminded of the great story telling possibilities to be found in our American western mythology.  The story takes on the bigotry and self righteousness found too often in our history.  Balancing that is the strong sense of decency that also flows through the American spirit.  The result is a movie that certainly belongs among the top ten movies of the genre.

There are plenty of great performances here too.  The great western character actor Andy Devine does what Andy Devine did so well, offer a little comic relief.  I kept looking at Thomas Mitchell trying to figure out where I knew him from.  Then it dawned on me.  He played Uncle Billy in “It’s A Wonderful Life”, George Bailey’s incompetent uncle and Gerald O’Hara, Scarlett’s father, in “Gone With The Wind”.  That only scratches the surface of an amazing career.  Mitchell was the first actor to win an Oscar, a Tony and an Emmy.  He’s at his best here.

The modern movie viewer will find the direction and tempo a little off occasionally.  The Oscar nominated score comes off almost as a parody of western movie music but that’s only because so many others have followed in its footsteps.

Why I Liked It – The visuals and John Wayne.  There’s none of the world weary, slightly cynical characters that would be his claim to fame over the next four decades.  It’s a refreshing, honest role while still retaining the Duke’s natural toughness.

Why You Will Like It – A fabulous supporting cast (note that Claire Trevor was the big star at the time, now it’s a “John Wayne movie”) does a great job with the story.  Nothing terribly surprising here but it’s a story well told.  You’ll see the director falling in love with the look of Monument Valley as well.

Rating – **** Recommended