Stagecoach (1939)
Directed by John Ford
Written by Ernest Haycox, Dudley
Nichols, Ben Hecht
Cast:
Claire Trevor ... Dallas
John Wayne ... The Ringo Kid
Andy Devine ... Buck
John Carradine ... Hatfield
Thomas Mitchell ... Doc Boone
Louise Platt ... Lucy Mallory
George Bancroft ... Marshal Curly
Wilcox
Donald Meek ... Samuel Peacock
Berton Churchill ... Henry Gatewood
Tim Holt ... Lt. Blanchard
Tom Tyler ... Luke Plummer
Stagecoach (1939) is a classic Western from film auteur John Ford. This film - his first sound
Western - was a return to his most-acclaimed film genre after a thirteen year absence following
Fox's Three Bad Men (1926) (and The Iron Horse (1924)). In the meantime, he had produced the
superb, Oscar-winning drama about Irish republicanism, RKO's The Informer (1935).
This film debuted John Ford's favorite setting - the majestic Monument Valley of the Southwest the first of seven films he made in the famed western valley, followed by My Darling Clementine
(1946), Fort Apache (1948), She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (1949), The Searchers (1956), Sergeant
Rutledge (1960), and Cheyenne Autumn (1964).
Ford's reputation was elevated considerably by this film - it was nominated for seven Academy
Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Black and White Cinematography, Best
Interior Decoration, and Best Film Editing, and won two awards for Best Supporting Actor
(Thomas Mitchell) and Best Score (for its compilation of 17 American folk tunes of the 1880s).
This Ford Western paved the way for all his other memorable Westerns, including My Darling
Clementine (1946), his "Cavalry" trilogy, The Searchers (1956), and The Man Who Shot Liberty
Valance (1962). An inferior, Technicolor remake was attempted by Gordon Douglas in the 60s,
Stagecoach (1966) with Bing Crosby, Ann-Margret, Robert Cummings, Stefanie Powers, and Red
Buttons.
This revolutionary, influential film - a story of redemption - is considered a landmark
quintessential film that elevated westerns from cheaply-made, low-grade, Saturday matinee "B"
films to a serious adult genre - one with greater sophistication, richer Western archetypes and
themes, in-depth and complex characterizations, and greater profitability and popularity as well.
(By 1939, the Western genre had fallen out of favor, but Stagecoach helped reinvent the genre,
providing for its rebirth. It must be remembered however, that 1939 also saw the release of other
blockbuster Westerns including Union Pacific, Dodge City, The Oklahoma Kid, Ford's own
Technicolor Drums Along the Mohawk, Destry Rides Again and Jesse James.)
Tim Dirks www.filmsite.org
Questions:
1. Does Stagecoach fulfill the genre characteristics of a western? Provide specific
examples from the film for each of the following categories.
Genre Aspects
Stagecoach
Setting
Where and when does the typical
film take place?
What visual images are
associated with the typical
setting?
Characters
Describe the typical heroes or
protagonists.
What types of supporting
characters would you expect to
find?
What roles to men typically have
in these films? Women?
Plot
What are the conflicts you would
expect to find in this genre?
Describe typical plot structures in
this genre.
Iconography
What objects and images to you
expect to see in a film of this
genre?
Cinematic Style
What are typical shots, camera
movements, lighting, editing
techniques, or use of sound?
Apply Gene Autry’s Cowboy Code to the film. In a paragraph, explain which of
these characteristics apply to The Ringo Kid? Which don’t?
a. A cowboy must never shoot first, hit a smaller man, or take unfair
advantage.
b. He must never go back on his word or a trust confided in him.
c. He must always tell the truth
d. He must be gentle with children, the elderly, and animals.
2.
e. He must not advocate or possess radically or religiously intolerant
ideas.
f. He must help people in distress.
g. He must be a good worker.
h. He must keep himself clean in thought, speech, action, and personal
habits.
i. He must respect women, his parents, and his nation's laws.
j. The cowboy is a patriot.
3. The archetypal western hero embodies the following traits:
a. Deadly proficiency with guns.
b. Outsider who doesn’t belong within society because his values and
lifestyle are essentially antisocial.
c. Altruistic. Defends justice and order because he knows it is the right
thing to do.
Is the Ringo Kid an archetypal western hero? Why or why not? Which of
these traits does he possess?