STAGECOACH [1939] review

STAGECOACH was the second half of my rainy Sunday western double-header. While it was completely outshone by RIO BRAVO, it still had some very good moments and it was nice to see a younger John Wayne. In the latter film, he was the fatherly figure. In the former, he is literally called “Kid” throughout the movie.

STAGECOACH begins with sweeping shots of the coach loudly rolling through great western American landscapes, just after introducing each peculiar character soon to hop in it. After the coach was initially loaded with people (4), I thought there was really no more space for anybody. Yet several times later, there was room for one more. The characters were all interesting, but I was much less invested in them emotionally than in RIO BRAVO. I still don’t clearly know why Dallas was so shunned by everyone. What could she have done that was so bad?

STAGECOACH was a very entertaining movie, but it lacked gravity and character weight, save for the relationship between Dallas and the Ringo Kid. Still, it is worth checking out to get a sense of what it must have been like to travel the vast expanse of the west crammed into a bumpy, horse pulled box.

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