In one of my previous reviews, I said that Rio Bravo was the best John Wayne movie in my opinion. I've just always thought that it held up the best over the years with its engaging story, great characters, and genuine suspense. But now, my previous statement is being tested, because I've just been reminded what an amazing classic Stagecoach is. I saw this movie when I was a kid, and always seemed to dismiss it amongst other John Wayne movies. It was probably because it was in black and white (I watched a lot of black and white films when I was a kid, but I still preferred John Wayne's colored films) and most of it was dialogue. It wasn't until I was older that I realized how great a movie this is. As a kid, I was very big into action, but now as an adult, I'm much more into good characters and good writing. And that's what Stagecoach is all about. We spend so much time with these characters, and the writing is so good that you feel like you're there with them. Now this movie is very light on action, but I think that's what makes it stick out from other westerns. It's not about revenge, it's not about saving the girl, and it's not about protecting a small town. It's about the characters we meet, and how the journey they take changes them. The characters we're given are unforgettable. Some may be more flat than others, but the whole cast is just great. I've always loved movies that put character and writing in front of everything else. One of my favorite films of all time is 12 Angry Men, because even though it's non-stop dialogue and takes place in one room for an hour and a half, it has great memorable characters, great writing, and it's great watching these characters work of each other. And that's what makes Stagecoach so great; the interactions between the characters. You got funny characters, serious characters, nice characters, mean characters, over the top characters, and mysterious characters. These characters are all completely different, and that's what keeps it interesting. The whole cast is great, but it's the young John Wayne who steals the show. He just has this presence to him, and you can see why he's one of the greatest movie stars of all time. Now like many classic films, the only flaws in the film are the ones that are just a product of their time. One thing I can't stand is when people watch a classic movie, and take offense to every little out dated thing. Yes, the women faint and ride off with the man, the Mexican characters eat nothing but beans, and the Native Americans are bloodthirsty savages. But it was the 1930s, what do you expect? America just got over the Great Depression and there was a war overseas. Movies like this were made to boost the spirits of the American people. It was a dark time, and the people wanted to see a brave American hero rise up against their oldest enemy, which at the time were the Native Americans. Yes, today these things seem very outdated and offensive, but it's what the people needed. If you want to whine and complain about every "product of the time" moment, and make an argument about why today's racism is so much better than the racism of yesteryear, then go right ahead. But if you can appreciate the film for the time it was made, and realize how important it was to audiences, then you truly know what cinema is all about. Stagecoach is one of the Golden Age classics; don't let the dated elements blind you from how great this movie really is.
Review of Stagecoach
