Stagecoach (1939)

A group of people traveling on a stagecoach find their journey complicated by the threat of Geronimo and learn something about each other in the process.

Director:

John Ford

Writers:

Ernest Haycox (original story), Dudley Nichols (screen play)

Stars:

John Wayne, Claire Trevor, Andy Devine

Won 2 Oscars. Another 6 wins & 7 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Claire Trevor	...	Dallas
John Wayne	...	Ringo Kid
Andy Devine	...	Buck
John Carradine	...	Hatfield
Thomas Mitchell	...	Doc Josiah Boone
Louise Platt	...	Mrs. Lucy Mallory
George Bancroft	...	Marshal Curley Wilcox
Donald Meek	...	Samuel Peacock
Berton Churchill	...	Ellsworth Henry Gatewood
Tim Holt	...	Lt. Blanchard
Tom Tyler	...	Luke Plummer

Storyline

A simple stagecoach trip is complicated by the fact that Geronimo is on the warpath in the area. The passengers on the coach include a drunken doctor, two women, a bank manager who has taken off with his client's money, and the famous Ringo Kid, among others.

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Plot Keywords:

arizona territory | prostitution | apache wells arizona | new mexico territory | apache territory | 

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Taglines:

Thrills! Thrills! Thrills! See - The Apache Attack! Charge of the Cavalry! Fight to the Death On the Last Frontier of Wickedness!

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | Western

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Did You Know?

Trivia

The Breen Office, the censorship watchdog in Hollywood, rejected Dudley Nichols treatment because of the story's sympathetic portrayal of the prostitute Dallas, Doc Boone's constant drunkenness, the Ringo Kid's thirst for revenge, and the marshal's involvement in some deaths. Nichols' first draft script took the Breen Office suggestions to heart, and the production went ahead without further objections from the censors.

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Goofs

In one scene the stagecoach is seen moving far away from "The Mittens", and in the very next scene it is crossing in front of "The Mittens".

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Quotes

[first lines]
Cavalry scout: These hills here are full of Apaches. They've burnt every ranch building in sight.
[referring to Indian scout]
Cavalry scout: He had a brush with them last night. Says they're being stirred up by Geronimo.
Capt. Sickel: Geronimo? How do we know he isn't lying?
Cavalry scout: No, he's a Cheyenne. They hate Apaches worse than we do.

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Alternate Versions

Also available in a computer-colorized version.

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Connections

Featured in The Apartment (1960)

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Soundtracks

Careless Love
(uncredited)
African-American spritual
Used in the score

User Reviews

Setting the Stage.

"Grand Hotel"-styled Western that puts nine very different people together on the titled vehicle to go across some very dangerous Indian territory. There is convict John Wayne (in his star-making role), scorned prostitute Claire Trevor, drunken doctor Thomas Mitchell (in a well-deserved Oscar-winning role), slick gambler John Carradine, pregnant youngster Louise Platt, shady banker Berton Churchill, whiskey salesman Donald Meek, lawman George Bancroft and driver Andy Devine on this star-studded ride. Soon the characters are turned from would-be stereotypes to very complicated three-dimensional figures that are all deep and humanistic. "Stagecoach" does not only benefit from its actors and screenplay though as legendary director John Ford (Oscar-nominated) shows his ability to mix and mesh quiet, heartfelt moments with amazingly detailed action sequences that were way ahead of their time. A great picture from arguably the cinema's finest single year of films. 5 stars out of 5.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English Spanish French

Release Date:

3 March 1939 (USA)

Also Known As:

Stagecoach

Filming Locations:

Santa Clarita, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$392,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Walter Wanger Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Mirrophonic Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1