Review of Stagecoach (1939) by Kevin N — 13 Jul 2008

One of the first great westerns this one led the way for others to do on location shooting with its expansive look at Monument valley. But that is not the films defining attribute for me. It made John Wayne a star with its first shot of him and its heroic portrayal of his character.

But that too is not one of its greatest aspects. It is the interaction between the individuals in the stagecoach itself, including the driver and sheriff, which make this a great piece of cinema. There is Buck the pessimistic throaty driver who offers much of the comic relief as he talks with the sheriff who is both the antagonist for John Wayne?s Ringo and his helper in small way.

Inside the stagecoach there is the gamber, a southern man with honor, who is played with a certain pride by David Carradine?s father John Carradine. There is also a pregnant wife of a soldier determined to meet up with her husband, and along breaks down barriers of her own.

Perhaps the greatest actor inside the cabin at the time is Thomas Mitchell as the drunken doctor who is always cheery, but can be of service when forced to. The other two the irate banker and the little preacher are not so much great, but interesting addition who give some contrast to the others I?ll be it a little.

The final two are Ringo the Kid who is picked up on the road and Dallas, Clair Trevor?s tramp / harlot, who is run out of another town in the beginning. She?s the staple hooker with the heart of gold out of the dime novels, but that?s alright, the other characters more than makeup for her convention in that character.

Pretty much everything clicks in this classic western, which is not to be confused with the classical western full of archetypes as discussed by some referring to Shane. This one is similar to that, but more rounded I think.