John Ford, accomplished two things with Stagecoach. He created the modern western, and made John Wayne a star. Both were long in coming. Westerns were formulaic. They had a story, but nothing that set them apart. They also had no strong characters. This was changed by the great director. Ford gave John Wayne, his shot at stardom. This was after many years of Wayne, asking Ford for help. Wayne was toiling in B-westerns. Ford said he was looking for the right fit, for him. After a cat and mouse game, with the Duke, he finally told him he had the starring role. It would be the start of a successful, but rocky working relationship.
Stagecoach, as its structured, could be a stage play. The characters are all developed, and the dialogue is crisp and clear. The dialogue was written by Dudley Nichols and Ben Hecht. They were two of the most successful screenwriters, in the industry. There are traditional western scenes. The stagecoach in peril, and the marshal, reluctantly doing the bidding of the town, are just two of many. It is the non traditional element, of character development, that makes this movie different. There is the alcoholic doctor, who leaves town, involuntarily. He saves a life doing his duty. He then develops courage he never thought he had. He defends the stagecoach, and then confronts the bad guy. Thomas Mitchell plays Doc Josiah Boone. His confrontation scene with Luke Plummer, (Tom Tyler), is an example of why Mitchell, won the Oscar for his role. He was an accomplished actor. His roles also included Gerald O’Hara, (Scarlett’s father and UncleBilly from Its A Wonderful Life.
Claire Trevor plays Dallas. She is a kicked out of town, by the ladies association. The marshal reluctantly escorts her to the stage, where she becomes an important player. The marshal, hearing about dangerous travel, warns the stagecoach passengers. Geronimo and his warriors, have left the reservation, and are on the attack. Claire says she would rather face life threatening danger, than go back to town. She is at first looked down on by the passengers. She gains their respect, when she acts as a midwife to a pregnant passenger, Mrs. Lucy Mallory, (Louise Platt). Mrs. Mallory, was on her way to meet her husband, a cavalry officer. She had the same attitude, as the ladies association, toward Dallas, until she helped her in childbirth.
The star of the movie, John Wayne, plays The Ringo Kid. He becomes a passenger on the stage, when his horse goes lame. John Ford introduces The Duke, quite well. He slowly brings a standing figure into focus. This figure, when seem clearly, is holding a rifle, and dressed in traditional cowboy clothing. Ringo is a wanted man. He has escaped jail, and the marshal arrests him. Despite his status, Dallas falls in love with him. It later becomes mutual, when Doc Boone plays matchmaker to a point. Ringo’s status becomes gray, when he rides shotgun for the stagecoach. This is because Buck, (Andy Devine), is wounded, when the stage is attacked. Ringo has redeemed himself through his heroism. The problem is, he must avenge the deaths of his father, and best friend, by Luke Plummer. This is setup, when the stage reaches it’s destination in Lordsburg. The irony is that a thief is arrested, on entering the town. It is the banker of the town, the stage left, Ellsworth Henry Gatewood, (Burton Churchill). Throughout the movie, Gatewood has been spouting off, about how bankers know what they’re doing with people’s money. He says this because of rumors of government interference in the banks. It is also his nervous way of defending his crime of embezzling $50,000.
The final confrontation becomes an event. The townsfolk announce the arrival of The Ringo Kid. Luke Plummer is prevented from taking his rifle outside, by Doc Boone. He gets a new one, when a woman tosses it to him. There is never a face to face shootout. Only the shots are heard. Everyone thinks, including the newspaper editor, that Ringo now has a plot, on Boot Hill. This seems a fact, when Luke Plummer walks into the bar. After a few steps he collapses and dies. The Ringo Kid, has enacted vengeance, and the marshal happily lets him and Dallas go to Mexico. Later the marshal buys Doc Boone a drink. The doc says alright, but just one.
John Ford was already respected, when he made this film. He directed many westerns, but this was his first, with sound. He does traditional action scenes, in Stagecoach. One of the best, is when Ringo jumps on the horses to control them. The stunt was done, by Wayne’s friend, Yakima Cannut. It was performed with the horses, going full speed. Ford has also captured the feel of riding in a stagecoach. He shows the passengers expressions with the stage hitting the bumps in the road. Also the expressions of some, when they are under attack. He gives the audience foreshadowing, in the beginning. There is the stage under attack, and the cavalry in close pursuit. John Ford does a great job, in setting the scenes. Samuel Peacock, (Donald Meek), is a whiskey salesman. He is having a drink in the tavern. Doc Boone walks in. He introduces himself. He immediately becomes friends with Peacock, once he finds out his occupation. This becomes true friendship, when the two men face a life threatening situation. There is also Hatfield, the disreputable gambler, who’s played quite well, by John Carradine. The actor was a supporting one throughout his career. He did father David and Keith, who continued the family’s acting legacy. Carradine’s character, Hatfield sees Mrs. Lucy Mallory comes walking in, while he is playing poker. He sees her, and is smitten, calling her an angel. She also seems taken by his devilish charm. He leaves his poker game, to join her on the stage. Oddly enough, she gravitates to his character, and shuns Dallas. All of these Ford skills, help make Stagecoach work.
The legacy of Stagecoach is that it is a three dimensional western. It also humanized the characters, giving them some commonality with real people. The westerns that followed, most of Fords, Anthony Mann’s and John Sturges’ followed this formula. John Ford’s partnership with John Wayne produced many high quality westerns, including the cavalry trilogy. It also made Duke a rich Hollywood producer. The movie also won an academy award, for best soundtrack. This established a trend for westerns, having a good score. John Ford also began a tradition. He filmed Stagecoach in Monument Valley Utah. This was the setting for most of his major westerns. There are not many films, that started a trend. Stagecoach, made intelligent, dialogue driven westerns a staple for over twenty years.