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Stagecoach Overview:

Stagecoach (1939) was a Western - Black-and-white Film directed by John Ford and produced by John Ford.

The film was based on the short story The Stage to Lordsburg written by Ernest Haycox published in Collier's in Apr 1937.

SYNOPSIS

This film is the greatest Western entry in Hollywood's annus mirabilis of 1939, and Ford's prototype for the Western genre he dignified. This also marked Wayne's commercial breakthrough and a new level of maturity in his performances. A motley crowd - a loose woman, a gambler, a banker with a mysterious satchel, an expectant young bride, a whiskey salesman, and a drunk doctor - set out from a dusty New Mexico town with Devine at the reins and Bancroft riding shotgun and with eye out for the escaped outlaw, the Ringo Kid (Wayne). They pick up Wayne soon enough, and alliances and suspicions are forged in the tension of anticipating an Indian attack. The first of many Westerns filmed in the forbidden majesty of Monument Valley.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

Stagecoach was inducted into the National Film Registry in 1995.

Academy Awards 1939 --- Ceremony Number 12 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best Supporting ActorThomas MitchellWon
Best Art DirectionAlexander ToluboffNominated
Best CinematographyBert GlennonNominated
Best DirectorJohn FordNominated
Best Film EditingOtho Lovering, Dorothy SpencerNominated
Best Music - ScoringRichard Hageman, Frank Harling, John Leipold, Leo ShukenWon
Best PictureWalter Wanger (production company)Nominated
See More Oscar Winners

Stagecoach BlogHub Articles:

Claire Trevor and John Wayne head the cast of “Stagecoach”

By Stephen Reginald on Jun 30, 2021 From Classic Movie Man

Claire Trevor and John Wayne head the cast of “Stagecoach” Stagecoach (1939) is an American Western classic directed by John Ford and starring Claire Trevor and John Wayne. The film was produced by Walter Wanger Productions and the cinematography was by Bert Glennon (Young Mr. Linco... Read full article

Silver Screen Standards: Stagecoach (1939)

By Jennifer Garlen on Apr 5, 2021 From Classic Movie Hub Blog

Silver Screen Standards: Stagecoach (1939) I took a short ride in a stagecoach once, at the Old Tucson Western theme park in Arizona, and it permanently altered my impression of films like Stagecoach (1939), where travelers make long journeys in those noisy, dusty, bumpy conveyances. Anybody who ... Read full article

Review: Stagecoach (1939)

By 4 Star Film Fan on Apr 21, 2019 From 4 Star Films

While the western hardly began with Stagecoach, one could go out on a very slight limb and say it became a more fully realized version of itself in the hands of John Ford; it all but grew in stature as a genre. This progression cropped out of the prevailing assumption of the day and age that the wes... Read full article

DOUBLE BILL #7: Stagecoach (1939) and The Searchers (1956)

By Carol Martinheira on Oct 10, 2017 From The Old Hollywood Garden

DOUBLE BILL #7: Stagecoach (1939) and The Searchers (1956) On October 10, 2017October 10, 2017 By CarolIn Uncategorized John Ford and John Wayne. One of cinema’s greatest and most celebrated director-actor partnerships. They made dozens of films together and they wer... Read full article

Great Films of 1939: "Stagecoach" April 16 at the Daystar Center

By Stephen Reginald on Mar 23, 2016 From Classic Movie Man

Great Films of 1939: "Stagecoach" April 16 at the Daystar Center Preston Sturges series: Stagecoach Where: The Venue 1550 at the Daystar Center, 1550 S. State Street, Chicago, IL When: April 16, 2016 Time: 6:45 p.m. Hosted by Stephen Reginald Stagecoach (1939) changed the western film genre fo... Read full article

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Stagecoach Quotes:

Hatfield: A gentleman doesn't smoke in the presence of a lady.
Dr. Josiah Boone: Three weeks ago I took a bullet out of a man who was shot by a gentleman. The bullet was in his back!
Hatfield: You mean to insinuate...
Ringo Kid: Sit down, mister. Doc don't mean no harm.
[Lt. Blanchard has just informed the stagecoach occupants that the cavalry will not escort them to Lordsburg]
Marshal Curly Wilcox: This stage is going to Lordsburg. If you think it ain't safe to ride along with us, I figure we can get there without you soldier boys.
Dr. Josiah Boone: Seems to me I knew your family, Henry. Didn't I fix your arm once when you, oh, bumped off a horse?
Ringo Kid: Are you Doc Boone?
Dr. Josiah Boone: I certainly am. Ah, let's see... I'd just been honorably discharged from the Union Army after the War of the Rebellion.
Hatfield: You mean the War for the Southern Confederacy, sir.
Dr. Josiah Boone: I mean nothing of the kind, sir!
Ringo Kid: That was my kid brother broke his arm. You did a good job, Doc, even if you was drunk.
Dr. Josiah Boone: Thank you, son. Professional compliments are always pleasing. What happened to that boy whose arm I fixed?
Ringo Kid: He was murdered.
Buck: If I was you, I'd let them shoot it out.
Marshal Curly Wilcox: Let who?
Buck: Luke Plummer and the Kid. There would be a lot more peace in this territory if that Luke Plummer had so many holes in him he couldn't hold his liquor.
Henry Gatewood: [clutching valise with embezzled funds] I can't get over the impertinence of that young lieutenant. I'll make it warm for that shake-tail! I'll report him to Washington - we pay taxes to the government and what do we get? Not even protection from the army! I don't know what the government is coming to. Instead of protecting businessmen, it pokes its nose into business! Why, they're even talking now about having *bank* examiners. As if we bankers don't know how to run our own banks! Why, at home I have a letter from a popinjay official saying they were going to inspect my books. I have a slogan that should be blazoned on every newspaper in this country: America for the Americans! The government must not interfere with business! Reduce taxes! Our national debt is something shocking. Over one billion dollars a year! What this country needs is a businessman for president!
See More Quotes from Stagecoach
Stagecoach Facts
The interior sets all have ceilings, an unusual practice at the time for studio filming. This was to create a claustrophobic effect in complete counterpoint to the wide open expanse of Monument Valley.
John Wayne's 80th film.
John Ford originally wanted Ward Bond to play Buck the stage driver but gave the role to Andy Devine when he found that Bond couldn't drive a "six-up" stagecoach and there wasn't time to teach him.
David O. Selznick was interested in making the film, but only if he could have Gary Cooper as the Ringo Kid and Marlene Dietrich as Dallas.
Orson Welles privately watched this film about 40 times while he was making Citizen Kane.
See More Facts about Stagecoach >>