| RATING: | 80% |
| FORMAT: | DVD |
Superior western by anybody's standards despite a deus ex machina ending that eventually became too much of a cliché for its own dramatic good. This one shot John WAYNE to stardom and made westerns respectable for serious dramatic storytelling. The ensemble performances are all excellent especially a framed for murder WAYNE; an aloof gambler (John CARRADINE); a pompous, embezzling banker (Berton CHURCHILL); an alcoholic physician (Thomas MITCHELL); &, a prostitute (Claire TREVOR).
Stagecoach is superbly made in every respect, layering humor and sharp characterization into an exciting plot that includes a spectacularly photographed chase in Monument Valley. Nearly a perfect movie and certainly the first great modern Western. Instead of good-guy / bad-guy conflict, Stagecoach emphasizes characterization, social commentary and moral drama.
This is a true classic because most of the characters are archetypes – not stereotypes – so that we get involved in the lives of these very real people. The greatest enjoyment in watching Stagecoach is in observing how director John FORD builds and populates his moral universe, in seeing complex personalities sketched in simple words and gestures; his great theme: Self respect.
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