Stagecoach (Criterion)
The Criterion Collection
This is where it all started. John Ford’s smash hit and enduring masterpiece Stagecoach revolutionized the western, elevating it from B movie to the A-list and establishing the genre as we know it today. The quintessential tale of a group of strangers thrown together into extraordinary circumstances, Stagecoach features outstanding performances from Hollywood stalwarts Claire Trevor, John Carradine, and Thomas Mitchell, and, of course, John Wayne, in his first starring role for Ford, as the daredevil outlaw the Ringo Kid. Superbly shot and tightly edited, Stagecoach (Ford’s first trip to Monument Valley) is Hollywood storytelling at its finest.
Member Reviews
generally enjoyable - SadDadDancing
The characters are annoyingly one-note. There wasn't much depth to the film at all, and all the plot threads resolved themselves quite predictably. But there were some whiz-bang action scenes, and a few nice shots. The setup reminded me vaguely of The Lady Vanishes, with everyone having their own motives for wanting the coach to move forward or stop, and ultimately uniting against a common enemy. A somewhat flawed, but generally enjoyable film.Lots of Fun - nw_kiff
"Stagecoach" is an enjoyable Western highlighted by a fantastic action climax that puts to shame the way action scenes are shot today. The story can be a little off at times, with developments that seemingly come out of nowhere after not previously being established. The acting is solid enough, and the film is overall quite enjoyable. I didn't love it (I loved the major action set piece though), but I recommend this film nonetheless.Amazing! - xYJx
Surprising that there's only 1 review of Stagecoach when it is one of AFI's best films ever (and #9 Western of all time). While the film was done in 1939, it stands the test of time and you can see how it influence movies even to this day. Definitely a must-see, even if you're not a Western lover. Casual fans can enjoy this and hopefully it opens them up to a whole new genre of motion pictures.
Member Reviews
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generally enjoyable - SadDadDancing
The characters are annoyingly one-note. There wasn't much depth to the film at all, and all the plot threads resolved themselves quite predictably. But there were some whiz-bang action scenes, and a few nice shots. The setup reminded me vaguely of The Lady ...Lots of Fun - nw_kiff
"Stagecoach" is an enjoyable Western highlighted by a fantastic action climax that puts to shame the way action scenes are shot today. The story can be a little off at times, with developments that seemingly come out of nowhere after not previously being established. ...Amazing! - xYJx
Surprising that there's only 1 review of Stagecoach when it is one of AFI's best films ever (and #9 Western of all time). While the film was done in 1939, it stands the test of time and you can see how it influence movies even to this day. Definitely a must-see, ...