1939 was a great year for landmark films, ” Gone With The Wind”, ”The Wizard of Oz,” “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” “Dark Victory,” to name a few. Add to the list “Stagecoach,” directed by John Ford, the story of a group of strangers traveling on a stagecoach through dangerous Indian Territory. It influenced generations of filmmakers, as it was the first “ark picture” where a diverse group of characters is thrown together to survive an ordeal.
“Stagecoach” was the breakthrough movie role for John Wayne, who had labored in B movies for years. Top billing went to his co-star Claire Trevor, known for “bad girl” parts. She played a prostitute here. The pair starred in a total of four movies together. Thomas Mitchell won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for portraying the alcoholic Dr. Boone. This was apparently a very good year for Mitchell as he also appeared as Scarlett O’ Hara’s father in “GWTW.” (The other Academy Award for “Stagecoach” was for Best Music, and other nominations were for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Film Editing.)
Other cast members are Andy Devine as the coach driver, John Carradine as an elegant gambler, Louise Platt as the pregnant soldier’s wife, Donald Meek as a liquor salesman, Berton Churchill as a banker embezzling $50,000, and George Marshall as the Marshall and coach co-driver.
Tim Holt, Tom Tyler, and Yakima Canu also appeared, with the latter serving as a stunt coordinator. Producer Walter Wanger and screenwriter Dudley Nicholas also worked on this watchable United Artists classic” Stagecoach.”
Stagecoach (1939)
cinema
My Review
1939 was a great year for landmark films, ” Gone With The Wind”, ”The Wizard of Oz,” “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” “Dark Victory,” to name a few. Add to the list “Stagecoach,” directed by John Ford, the story of a group of strangers traveling on a stagecoach through dangerous Indian Territory. It influenced generations of filmmakers, as it was the first “ark picture” where a diverse group of characters is thrown together to survive an ordeal.
“Stagecoach” was the breakthrough movie role for John Wayne, who had labored in B movies for years. Top billing went to his co-star Claire Trevor, known for “bad girl” parts. She played a prostitute here. The pair starred in a total of four movies together. Thomas Mitchell won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for portraying the alcoholic Dr. Boone. This was apparently a very good year for Mitchell as he also appeared as Scarlett O’ Hara’s father in “GWTW.” (The other Academy Award for “Stagecoach” was for Best Music, and other nominations were for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Film Editing.)
Other cast members are Andy Devine as the coach driver, John Carradine as an elegant gambler, Louise Platt as the pregnant soldier’s wife, Donald Meek as a liquor salesman, Berton Churchill as a banker embezzling $50,000, and George Marshall as the Marshall and coach co-driver.
Tim Holt, Tom Tyler, and Yakima Canu also appeared, with the latter serving as a stunt coordinator. Producer Walter Wanger and screenwriter Dudley Nicholas also worked on this watchable United Artists classic” Stagecoach.”