Stagecoach

Gus Perez

Stagecoach

Film 2600

1.                    After watching and discussing Stagecoach in class, we spoke on how the setting was in 1880 which had various roles from cowboys, outlaws, prostitute, bankers, sheriffs, and of course stagecoach. The screening of this film begins when a group of unfamiliar people starts to travel to Cheyenne in the same stagecoach, which correlates to the theme of the film, in which it consist of different classes of characters ranging from prejudice to redemption. The people in the stagecoach are, a girl who was thrown out of her town for being a prostitute, alcoholic doctor, confederate gambler, whiskey salesman, a thief of a banker, a pregnant woman who is destined to join her husband in the armed forces and a gunslinger. All these characters have different personalities and different stories to their background but once a Geronimo Indian clan ambushes them they decide that the best way to come out alive is to work together.

2.                    The article I choose to do was based on the background of Stagecoach. As mentioned in class it was a movie that was filmed by John Ford, which was his first sound western movie. Although Ford had a successful career filming movies Stagecoach stands out because it was the first film he placed the setting in Monument Valley of the Southwest. The film eventually was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Black and White Cinematography, etc… In this film John Ford also collaborated with John Wayne. http://www.filmsite.org/stagec.html

3.                     I can relate this article to the screening because just like in class they both discuss on how successful Stagecoach and John Fords career both went up after the film showed promise and it was taken into a whole new perspective when they decided to make the film a Western. Stagecoach revolutionized western films mainly because it made them go from being B films to becoming a serious adult genre, and in Stagecoach it had a great theme, it was in depth with the characters, sophisticated, and it also gained a lot of popularity from the crowds.

4.                    I Personally enjoyed watching this film, especially after not watching an Western films prior to this one, it definitely changed my whole perspective on Western films, and I’m glad we choose this film because as stated before this movie revolutionized the ideal Western movie to what they are now. If it were not for this film most Western films would not have the sophisticated way or direction that this movie had. So for this I have the most utterly respect for John Ford and all of his films.