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film: Stagecoach
director: John Ford
cast: John Wayne, Claire Trevor, John Carradine
Criterion Collection / 2006
movie score: 89
dvd score: A-
< click to learn more
Welcome back to the Classic Corner! Last time I
promised a shorter Classic Corner, but I got caught up in the
moment and with good reason. I set out to write a
review of the new special edition of John Ford's 1956
classic, "The Searchers." In watching it again, I
became enthralled with Ford's filmmaking and did some
research on him. Ultimately I ended up watching more
of his films. In my research, I discovered that Orson
Welles considered Ford to be the greatest American
filmmaker. When I read that during the filming of
"Citizen Kane" Welles would watch Ford's classic
film "Stagecoach" for inspiration, I had to find out
why. So, this is why this CC features two special edition Ford films.
"The Searchers" is considered one of the greatest
westerns ever filmed, and by my above score you will
notice that I agree. It is the perfect western. It's
a tale of mystery, loss, obsession, revenge, murder,
intrigue, redemption, and cowboys & indians.
John Wayne plays Ethan Edwards, a grizzled
Confederate soldier who returns to his brother's home
long after the Civil War has ended. He returns for
peace and to forget what he has seen and done. He is
not there long before he is forced to return to his
old ways, this time out of revenge.
His brother's family is massacred by a rogue tribe of
Comanche Indians led by Scar, played by Henry Brandon.
All accept one daughter Debbie (who grows up to be
played by Natalie Wood), whom the Comanches take with them.
Ethan sets off to find Scar along with Martin Pawley
(Jeffery Hunter). Martin was taken in by the Edwards
family after he was found basically on their doorstep.
Ethan and Martin spend the next several years tracking
down Scar and Debbie. Martin wants to find Debbie and
bring her home. Ethan wants to find Debbie and put
her out of her misery; or so he believes. Ethan
believes that Debbie, in the years she has been with
the Comanche, has become one of them, believing it
is better for her to be dead than a Comanche.
It's a riveting story. The screenplay was written by
Frank Nugent, who wrote many of Ford's great films.
The viewer is absolutely glued to the film when they
watch it for many reasons. The acting is superb,
especially by John Wayne who gives the best
performance of his career. And the cinematography is
breathtaking. Filmed on location in Monument Valley,
you get a real sense of being in the 1800's with no
cars, interstates or shopping malls. And Ford's
direction is that of a master at his best. The
backgrounds become actors in the story with his
various angels and lighting. Ford ranks with the
likes of Hitchcock, Kurosawa and Bergman as masters of
cinema.
The DVD is a 50th Anniversary edition with oodles of
extras including commentary by Peter Bogdanovich (this
guy is everywhere!) and an introduction by John
Wayne's son, Patrick (who makes his screen debut as a
young soldier). There is also an extensive
documentary called "Behind the Cameras" on the making
of the film. And another documentary called "The
Searchers, an Appreciation" in which some of today's
filmmakers (including Martin Scorsese) talk about how
Ford's film impacted how they see and make films.
It was because of "The Searchers" and Orson Welles
that I made a point of picking up a copy of the
special edition of "Stagecoach." As I mentioned
previously, apparently Welles would watch "Stagecoach"
for inspiration while making "Citizen Kane." For the
director of what many consider the greatest American
film of all time to use Ford's classic as a drawing
board, that says something. And it said something to
me as I grabbed a copy of it based on that alone. And
on my first viewing of "Stagecoach," I can see why
Welles would use it.
"Stagecoach" tells the story of a motley band of
passengers aboard (what else) a stagecoach through
Apache Indian country. The time period represented
here is during Geronimo's period when he was battling
the government. Therefore the Apache's this rag-tag
band faces are that of Geronimo's men. The coach
attempts to reach Lordsburg while avoiding Apache
raiders.
Led by Marshall Curly Wilcox (George Bancroft), the
group includes an army sergeant's wife, a drunken
doctor, a liquor salesman, a pompous banker, an
outcast prostitute (Claire Trevor), a
gunslinger/gambler (John Carradine), the coach driver
and escaped outlaw "the Ringo Kid" (John Wayne). This
is the role that made Wayne a star. Until
"Stagecoach," Wayne was the hero to kids everywhere as
the star of numerous B-westerns and film serials. But
he shows off his star power for Ford who took a great
risk in hiring Wayne.
The group makes it through many scrapes and turns
along the way; scrapes and turns that I cannot mention
lest I give key plot points away. What I can reveal
are the multi- layered characters. Carradine's
gunslinger/gambler, for example, is a creepy
character. For the majority of the film, you feel he
is stalking the sergeant's wife. But the more you
learn, the more you realize he has different motives
all together. Ringo is another example of this. He
has escaped from prison to avenge his brother's death.
He hops on the stage knowing that the sheriff is
going to take him in as soon as they reach Lordsburg.
He could escape any time, yet he stays. Why? You'll
have to watch the film to find out.
For this 1939 film, Ford (as he did many times) filmed
in Monument Valley. You would never know he filmed
there so many times because the landscapes always look
so different. And with the surreal black & white
cinematography, the valley receives an almost eerie
glow, as if something lurks around every hill or dune.
The DVD transfer is as good as it can get. There are
a number of images that look grainy, but what can you
expect from a film made in 1939? If you are like me
and love old films, it's not something that will
bother you that much, if at all. There are fewer
features here than on "The Searchers," but there
is some fun stuff. Special features include the
documentary, "American Masters: John Ford/John Wayne:
The Filmmaker and the Legend," the featurette,
"Stagecoach: a story of Redemption," and a TV spot of
the May 4th, 1946 Academy Award Theater Broadcast.
Top-notch acting, superb directing and two simply
amazing films are worth the cost on these DVDs. And
if that's not enough of an incentive, seeing two
masters at work (Ford/Wayne) should be. Until next
month, enjoy the classics!
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