MamaGravity good back-story, and good acting

Odelecol Pretty good movie overall. First half was nothing special but it got better as it went along.

AnhartLinkin This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Numerootno A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

JohnHowardReid Copyright 20 February 1939 by Walter Wanger Productions, Inc. A John Ford Production, presented by Walter Wanger. Released through United Artists. New York opening at the Radio City Music Hall, 2 March 1939 (ran 2 weeks). U.S. release: 3 March 1939. Australian release: 27 July 1939. 10 reels. 96 minutes.SYNOPSIS: New Mexico, 1884. Apaches on the warpath.NOTES: Thomas Mitchell, Best Supporting Actor (defeating Brian Aherne in Juarez; Harry Carey in Mr Smith Goes To Washington; Brian Donlevy in Beau Geste; and Claude Rains in Mr Smith Goes To Washington). Best Adapted Music Score, Richard Hageman, Frank Harling, John Leipold, and Leo Shuken, defeating a line-up of 12 other scores including a Korngold and a Copland. Also nominated for Best Picture (Gone With The Wind); Directing (GWTW); Cinematography (Wuthering Heights); Art Direction (GWTW); Film Editing (GWTW).Best Direction, John Ford — New York Film Critics. Negative cost: $600,000. Combined U.S.-Canadian gross from original and 1944 release: $1,300,000. Re-made in 1966 by Gordon Douglas, with Anne- Margret as Dallas, Alex Cord as Ringo and (interestingly) Bing Crosby as Doc Boone.COMMENT: "Stagecoach" is one of the most popular westerns ever made. The reasons are not hard to find: More action that you can poke 101 rifles at (including the most excitingly-staged Indian attack ever filmed), set against the most awesomely magnificent scenery, a cast of likable and seasoned players, and handsome production values including a jaunty music score which adds further momentum to an already pell-mell pace. Ford's craftsmanship — his eye for arresting detail and dramatic composition, his unerring sense of flow and movement, his ability to draw involving characterizations from his players — was never more evident. One of the most remarkable qualities of Ford's genius is his unerring ability to top himself. On paper, the Lordsburg shoot-out looks like becoming an anti-climax after the dynamic thrills of the stage chase. But Ford is more than equal to the challenge. That shoot-out is equally as edge-of-the- seat suspenseful because of Ford's imagination and skill. He is a master at creating atmosphere and mood, he has a feeling for people and places that lifts the action, characters, setting and dialogue of his scripts to the highest emotional plane of sympathy and involvement."Stagecoach" made John Wayne a major star, but although he was to make many outstanding movies in the rest of his career (some again with Ford), he never equaled the vitality, the unassuming doggedness of the Ringo Kid. This is the John Wayne that most moviegoers remember.AVAILABLE on an excellent Criterion DVD.

JLRVancouver Not a lot more need be said about John Ford's classic Western. The setting in Monument Valley is unforgettable, the folk music score is perfect, the script and the ensemble cast is top-notch, and first shot of the Duke, standing in the sand holding a saddle, and spin-cocking his Winchester, is one of the greatest introductions to a character, and ultimately to a legend, in the genre. While best known for its climatic chase and rescue scene, the film is full of brilliant moments such as John Carradine's gambler covering a women's body in the burned out village or Thomas Mitchell's doctor facing down the killer over the shotgun, not ending the final showdown, just making it more even. Even Andy Devine's mild comic relief or Thomas Mitchell's drunk scenes work, unusual as those are the sorts of scenes that rarely pass the test of time. The stunt work by legendary stuntman Yakima Canutt is extraordinary, although some of the techniques used to make horses fall would never be allowed in modern productions. Overall an outstanding film from the Hollywood's legendary year: 1939.

grantss The American West, late-1800s. A stagecoach sets off across the untamed wilderness carrying a mixed assortment of characters: an infamous outlaw, a drunk doctor, a prostitute, a whiskey salesman, the wife of an Army officer, a gambler, a bank manager, the local Marshall and the driver. Animosities and petty differences, and unexpected friendships, surface. Their fortunes take a turn for the worse when they learn that an Apache raiding party, lead by Geronimo, is in their vicinity. A masterpiece that is the most important Western ever made. Great plot, well directed by the legendary John Ford. Not just a conventional cowboys-vs-Indians / gunfight sort of Western (though there a large element of that) but a character drama too. There is great character depth and development on display and this is used well in developing the story.Some great themes running through the movie too, especially one of anti-prejudice.Good performances all round. John Wayne is great as the Ringo Kid and shows a softer side that wasn't always apparent in his later films. Thomas Mitchell deservedly won a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance as Doctor Boone.More than just a brilliant movie, a movie that created the blueprint for Westerns, and pretty much defined the genre. It also made John Wayne a star. He had acted in plenty of movies before this without much impact but Stagecoach is what truly launched his career as we know it.John Ford had already won a directing Oscar before directing Stagecoach, so this movie wasn't as career-enhancing to him as it was to John Wayne. However, it did set him up as the foremost director of Westerns. Moreover, it was to be the first of many collaborations with John Wayne, a series of collaborations that would see them make movies like The Searchers, Rio Grande, The Quiet Man, They Were Expendable, Fort Apache and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.A brilliant and historic movie.

Smoreni Zmaj Coachman, marshal, gambler, drunken doctor, banker, runaway convict, whiskey salesman, prostitute and pregnant girl from higher class travel together by stagecoach. Their class differences and prejudice are highlighted until Apaches attack them. John Wayne successfully keeps Indians at distance until cavalry arrives to save the day. It seems like this is just one of those "you see one, you saw them all" westerns and, while I have no objections to this movie, it still is just one of the many movies made in typical western pattern. What distinguish this movie from the rest in that pattern is fact that this is the first one, one that wrote recipe many others followed and one that made John Wayne a star. And Thomas Mitchell definitely earned his Oscar, cause, in my opinion, drunken doctor is highlight of this movie.