Review of Stagecoach (1939) by Al M — 25 Aug 2011
The film that transformed the western from a mere B-movie genre into a serious one, John Ford's classic Stagecoach remains a riveting example of the genre on the level of both plot and style. The film that supposedly inspired Welles' style in Citizen Kane, Stagecoach is a perfect blend of humor, action, tension, drama, and romance that became a paradigm for the genre.
The film features the stereotypical Western characters: the scoundrel gambler, the teetotaler young woman, the lovable rogue, the respectable drunk, and the prostitute with a heart of gold. Stagecoach may seem somewhat cheesy today, but it was groundbreaking both in terms of its take on the genre and its directorial style.
And it remains a profoundly entertaining piece of film-making over 70 years later.
This review of Stagecoach (1939) was written by Al M on 25 Aug 2011.
Stagecoach has generally received very positive reviews.
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