This is the breakout film that helped to propel John Wayne from a B-movie star to first-rate status. Up until 1939, he'd been relegated to series B-movies like the Three Mesquiteers or other rather generic hour-long movies. In this case, he heads an ensemble cast of dynamic supporting actors in one of the best Westerns of the era.
Before I go any further, I should mention that I've seen this film several times but only this last time did I realize that this movie is actually a re-working of the old Chester Morris film, FIVE CAME BACK. In FIVE CAME BACK, the setting was a downed airliner in the jungle and in STAGECOACH the setting is a stage that is trying to avoid Apache Indians on the warpath in the old West. However, apart from this, the films are remarkably similar--with many of the same style characters--such as the "fallen woman" who in the end proves that she is "true blue", the embezzler, and all the rest of the characters are so similar that at times I mixed the movies up in my head.
Both are superb films, but I have got to give the nod to STAGECOACH as the better of the two films due mostly to some amazing stunt and camera-work. The scene where they are being attacked by Indians on horseback is incredible--without the use of cheesy rear projection and top-notch stunts. In addition, the location shooting throughout made it a much prettier film, as FIVE CAME BACK had more the appearance of a stage production with lots of decorative plants--it wasn't bad, really, just not quite as realistic.
Overall, I loved both films but insist you see STAGECOACH if you consider yourself to be a film lover. It is one of the top 5 or 10 Westerns made and is brimming with quality from start to the exciting finish.
UPDATE: I had a chance to actually see this on the big screen last weekend. I enjoyed it immensely. However, I also saw another great Ford film that same weekend ("How Green Was My Valley") and realized that "Stagecoach" actually was more impressive when it came to cinematography. Inventive camera angles, the use of light and dark and impressive framing of the scenes give me an even greater appreciation for "Stagecoach" and because of that I am raising its score to 10. For a relatively low-budget western, it is awfully impressive and is without flaws.
Before I go any further, I should mention that I've seen this film several times but only this last time did I realize that this movie is actually a re-working of the old Chester Morris film, FIVE CAME BACK. In FIVE CAME BACK, the setting was a downed airliner in the jungle and in STAGECOACH the setting is a stage that is trying to avoid Apache Indians on the warpath in the old West. However, apart from this, the films are remarkably similar--with many of the same style characters--such as the "fallen woman" who in the end proves that she is "true blue", the embezzler, and all the rest of the characters are so similar that at times I mixed the movies up in my head.
Both are superb films, but I have got to give the nod to STAGECOACH as the better of the two films due mostly to some amazing stunt and camera-work. The scene where they are being attacked by Indians on horseback is incredible--without the use of cheesy rear projection and top-notch stunts. In addition, the location shooting throughout made it a much prettier film, as FIVE CAME BACK had more the appearance of a stage production with lots of decorative plants--it wasn't bad, really, just not quite as realistic.
Overall, I loved both films but insist you see STAGECOACH if you consider yourself to be a film lover. It is one of the top 5 or 10 Westerns made and is brimming with quality from start to the exciting finish.
UPDATE: I had a chance to actually see this on the big screen last weekend. I enjoyed it immensely. However, I also saw another great Ford film that same weekend ("How Green Was My Valley") and realized that "Stagecoach" actually was more impressive when it came to cinematography. Inventive camera angles, the use of light and dark and impressive framing of the scenes give me an even greater appreciation for "Stagecoach" and because of that I am raising its score to 10. For a relatively low-budget western, it is awfully impressive and is without flaws.