Stagecoach




Well, there are some things a man just can't run away from.

Stagecoach marked a long and prosperous partnership between John Ford and John Wayne. At that time, Wayne was the upstart, despite this being his eightieth film. In fact, Claire Trevor was deemed the worthier star.

A group of various folk embark on a journey across hostile Indian territory by means of stagecoach. The people are all looking for new starts, and in a way they travel towards their particular salvation. As they hop between safe outposts scattered throughout the wilderness, the chances of them running into Geronimo and his war band increase.

John Ford shows a knack for managing this ensemble cast. Even though they don't start with him, the Ringo Kid (John Wayne) joins the party pretty early on. His romance with Dallas (Claire Trevor) forms the bulk of the story. Ringo takes an almost immediate notice of Dallas despite her disreputable occupation and his current status as an outlaw. But that's not all there is. There's a banker turned thief and a gambler (John Carradine) with the good intentions of looking after ill Mrs. Mallory (Loise Platt). Also thrown in for comedic relief is the stagecoach driver (Andy Devine) who has a squeaky voice and doubtful courage. The drunken Doc Boone (Thomas Mitchell) is also humorous, though his part is more serious. And there are others as well, who all are personalized, even despite the small roles some of them play. The relationships are constantly shifting, and it is interesting to watch them evolve over the course of the trip.

It is surprising how little action there really is. The balance is pretty bottom heavy, though there is always so much going on in the other fronts that it is easily made up for. The characters themselves provide ample diversion, along with the journey and taunt plot. Though the setting of Utah's Monument Valley is ideal for this sort of Western, this is hardly John Ford's best cinematography. Still, there are several good shots and the environment is an apt metaphor for the characters and their expedition.

John Wayne and Claire Trevor justify having most of the focus on them. Despite being unremarkable in his earlier films, Wayne is in his prime and has already begun to develop the kind of presence he would become legendary for. But it's really Thomas Mitchell who steals the show as the drunkard doctor that has to prove himself. He puts just the right amount of amusement and soberness into his role. The rest of the cast also does well according to their characters.

Certainly one of the classic Westerns, Stagecoach boasts an engrossing outing with a group of people looking for redemption.



-The Gnome