Review of Stagecoach (1939) by Kenneth D — 01 Sep 2008

While many might argue "The Searchers" as the greatest western of all time, I stand by "Stagecoach".

This film influenced Orson Welles' filming of "Citizen Kane". Certainly one of the best films of 1939 (the greatest year in film), "Stagecoach" gives a more black and white look at the American West, whereas "The Searchers" becomes a bit more complex and dark in its depiction of Wayne's character. Supported by a brilliant cast, including the King of 1939, Thomas Mitchell, "Stagecoach" is a classic in every sense of film-making. The sweeping landscapes, famous in Ford's westerns (and seen again in "The Searchers"), adds a cinematic beauty to the movie, leaving the audience in love with the setting. The genius of character development.