Stagecoach (1939)

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Director: John Ford

Writers: Dudley Nichols, original story by Ernest Haycox

Stars: John Wayne, Claire Trevor, Andy Devine, John Carradine, Thomas Mitchell, Louise Platt, George Bancroft, Donald Meek, Berton Churchill



A disparate group of people travel through perilous Apache territory together.

 


Their characters are revealed as they face a series of adversities. 



This influential film showed that the Western was capable of presenting more than singing cowboys and sneering villains.

 


These characters are three-dimensional people with believable flaws. 



The entire cast, including John Wayne in the role that made his career, is exceptional.

 


The action scenes hold up well; the Indian attack, in particular, features some outstanding stunt work.

 


The influence of "Stagecoach" can be seen in films as varied as Citizen Kane, the Airport films, and Mad Max II (The Road Warrior).


























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