Stagecoach (1939)

Director: John Ford
Starring: John Wayne, Claire Trevor, Andy Devine

Synopsis:
A stagecoach with an eclectic group of passengers ventures into contested territory while Geronimo and his Apaches are on the warpath.

Impressions:
The star-making role of John Wayne, John Ford's first talkie Western and one of the major films that proved the viability of big-budget Westerns, this is a great character study that has a lot of social commentary. There's particular relevance to the time it was made, but a lot of it still resonates now. Besides the character drama, the threat of the Apaches makes for additional tension and a force multiplier to the already taut interpersonal relationships. It's interesting seeing John Wayne in one of his younger roles (though he'd been doing smaller stuff since '26). Claire Trevor is very good as the hooker with a heart of gold Dallas and Andy Devine is rather entertaining as the driver Buck. Points also go to John Carradine as the gentleman gambler Hatfield. The finale is rather impressive with some rather daring stunts. If you like Westerns, this one's first rate and even if the genre isn't what you prefer, you may still find it worth seeing.

Rating:
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