Highly Overrated But Still Good

The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.

It is encouraging that the film ends so strongly.Otherwise, it wouldn't have been a particularly memorable film

Copyright 18 May 1966 by Martin Rackin Productions. Released through 20th Century-Fox Film Corp. New York opening at local theaters: 15 June 1966. U.S. release: May 1966. U.K. release: 16 May 1966. Australian release: May 1966. Sydney opening at the Regent (ran two weeks). 10,249 feet. 114 minutes.SYNOPSIS: As a stagecoach bound for Cheyenne, Wyoming, is about to leave the small town of Dryfork, a troop of cavalry rides up. Their leader tells the driver (Slim Pickens) that they will accompany the stagecoach part of the way to protect the passengers from Indian war parties. NOTES: Based on the short story, "Stage to Lordsburg", by Ernest Haycox (originally published in Collier's Magazine on 10 April 1937), Stagecoach was filmed by John Ford in 1939.Locations filmed in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Thanks for co- operation to the Caribou Country Club Ranch (Nederland, Colorado) and the Colorado Game, Fish and Parks Department. Bing Crosby's final credited theatrical motion picture role. And America's famed illustrator Norman Rockwell has his first and only film role as one of the townsmen gambling with Michael Connors in the movie's second sequence.COMMENT: It seems foolhardy to re-make a classic. No matter how skilfully or indeed brilliantly the new film may be re-interpreted script-wise, acting-wise, directing-wise and production-wise, the critics are all going to hate it. And they're all going to make comparisons. Why let yourself in for this grief? (Actually Variety and The New York Times went out of their way to try to be nice to the new movie, but everyone else really gave it the thumbs down. And I'm with them. I mean the plot as you see from the Synopsis is basically exactly the same. So what's the point of seeing the same story enacted by an inferior cast, and directed by a Hollywood hack instead of a master? Especially when the original movie is so easily accessible).

This remake of the original John Ford-directed 1939 version sticks to the same characters and mostly to the same story details, based on the 1937 short story "The Stage to Lordsburg". However, there are a number of significant differences. First, in many viewer's minds,is the replacement of John Wayne as the Ringo Kid by Alex Cord, who simply lacked the charisma of "Big John". Second, this version was shot in color, still a rare privilege in '39, not enjoyed by Ford's film. To me, this makes a huge difference, especially with the verdant scenery of the Colorado Rockies replacing the dry dusty Monument Valley scenery of the original. Although the unusual erosion remnants of that valley provide an unusual backdrop in Ford's film, they would have been much more spectacular in color, as realized in "She Wore a Yellow Ribbon" and "The Searchers". Third, rather than scripted as taking place in AZ and NM, with Geronimo's bunch the main antagonists, here it is scripted as taking place in Wyoming, with Crazy Horse's bunch the main antagonist. Fourth, this longer version adds an initial massacre of a camped cavalry detachment by a Sioux war party to get the action started quickly. This makes an immediate impression that this is dangerous county for a lone stage to be traveling through vs. only hearsay that the Apache are on the warpath, in the original. The road is sometimes quite perilous, on a narrow ledge in the mountains, or a very primitive excuse for a road, more so than in the original. In both films, the stage personnel are far too efficient for realism in their shooting down pursuing Indians. This is a near universal criticism of westerns. Of course, the director knows that many in the audiences like to see antagonists fall over dead, especially from a galloping horse. Unlike the original, the stage personnel in this version don't need the help of the serendipitous arrival of a cavalry unit to beat off the remaining Indians chasing them. Also, unlike the original, the stage loses a back wheel, which makes the last leg of the journey vary precarious. I much doubt whether a stage could 'fly' in this condition.The showdown between Luke Plummer and Ringo is staged quite differently in the two films. In the original, it's a simple "High Noon" affair in the darkened street, and we don't see Luke and his sons fall. In this film, the shootout takes place in a fancy saloon. Ringo shoots down a chandelier, which starts a fire(no doubt aided by some gasoline sprinkled around). This brings out the hiding Plummers, and we see them fall.While Alex Cord was no John Wayne, Ann-Margaret is a much more cheerful woman that Claire Trevor, in the role of Dallas. That makes it a more pleasant experience, though perhaps Claire's dramatization is more realistic. Bing Crosby's Doc. Boone is more pleasant than Thomas Mitchel's brooding version. Van Heflin's portrayal of Curley, the Marshall, I prefer to George Bancroft's version. Mike Conner, as the card shark, Hatfield, is a cheerful dapper fellow, very different from John Carradine's dark menacing-looking character in the original. I prefer Donald Meek's characterization of the nervous whiskey drummer in the original over that of Red Buttons. I also prefer Andy Devine, with his unique manner of speaking and personality, in the original, over Slim Pickens, as the stage driver. However, Slim was also well cast in this role.On the whole, I prefer the remake over the original, despite the absence of a charismatic actor for Ringo. You may consider the generally darker atmosphere of the original more appropriate. I don't consider either version as among my favorite westerns. "Dark Command", Wayne's 1940 offering is more to my liking.

So-so remake to the considered to be first adult Western , ¨Stagecoach¨ by John Ford that changed the course of the modern Western turning into adult Western and dealing with a motley crew of roles in a cross-country coach beset by Indians and thieves . A voyage throughout Arizona with varied group of characters with nothing in common are stuck together inside a coach , they form a strange assortment of individuals , such as : a prostitute with a broken heart (Anne Margret who received top-billing , in classic rendition interpreted by Claire Trevor) , a coward swank (Red Buttons , anterior acted by Donald Meek), a crooked card-player (Mike Connors , previously by John Carradine) turned into protector to pregnant young wife (Stephanie Powers), a philosopher alcoholic doctor (Bing Crosby-Thomas Mitchell) , a swindler banker (Robert Cummings-Barton Churchill) , a sheriff (Van Johnson , formerly performed by George Bancroft) taking in his prisoner , a sympathetic coach driver (Slim Pickens who bears a remarkable resemblance physical as well as acting to Andy Devine) and Ringo Kid (Alex Cord , priorly by Wayne) , an outlaw looking to revenge killings . The motley crew pull off a journey through Indian territory passing Apache Wells and towards Lordsburg . All of them riding to greatness Across 2,000 miles of flaming frontier . At the beginning they're protected by a military detachment commanded by a brave lieutenant . The stagecoach is besieged by Apaches and several dangers.....The plot is plain and simple , as the story follows a stagecoach ride through Old West Apache territory , portraying in depth characters and brooding events with allegorical issues running beneath surface . Slick edition , nice cinematography and rousing musical score make it an acceptable film , but far from original . Based on the story 'Stage to Lordsburg' by Ernest Haycox and this one based on Guy de Mauspassant's novel . Decent main cast and extraordinary support cast , even the artist Norman Rockwell, famous for his Saturday Evening Post covers, appears as a "townsman" in a brief scene . Outstanding cinematography capturing the nebulous skies by William Clothier and thrilling soundtrack by maestro Jerry Goldsmith . The motion picture was professionally directed by Gordon Douglas , though with no originality . He's an expert on adventures genre , such as ¨Black arrow¨ , ¨Fortunes of Captain Blood¨ , ¨Maru Maru¨ , ¨The Sins of Rachel Cade¨ ; Noir Films and Thrillers as : ¨Tony Rome¨, ¨They call Mr Tibbs¨, ¨Lady in Cement¨, ¨The Detective¨, ¨In like Flint¨, ¨The Falcon in Hollywood¨, ¨Dick Tracy vs Cueball¨ and made a classic Sci-Fi : ¨Them¨ . And , of course , realized lots of Westerns with good actors , as he proved in the films starred by Clint Walker such as ¨Fort Dobbs¨, ¨Yellowstone Kelly¨ , ¨Gold of seven Saints¨ , Gregory Peck as ¨Only the valiant¨ , Richard Boone as ¨Rio Conchos¨ considered the best , ¨Chuka¨ with Rod Taylor , ¨The Nevadan¨ with Randolph Scott , ¨The Charge at Feather River¨, ¨Doolins of Oklahoma¨ , ¨The Great Missouri Raid¨ , among others .The original is a very superior remake in 1939 by John Ford being perfectly played by excellently assembled actors : George Bancroft , Louise Platt , Tom Tyler , Tim Holt and Thomas Mitchell who deservedly won Academy Award for secondary actor , and of course , John Wayne , who arose his career languishing in Poverty Row and being first pairing of Ford and Wayne . And stunningly shot by John Ford in the mythical Monumental Valley , capturing its particular air , a place that Ford was often to revisit and he befriended Indians tribes . Besides , a forgettable adaptation for TV in 1986 by Ted Post with Willie Nelson , Kris Kristopherson , Johnny Cash , Elizabeth Ashley , Mary Crosby , Tony Franciosa , John Schneider and Kris Kristopherson.

Stagecoach 1939 changed the the story of the western movies. It is a great work of art for what it is, what it was and for what it has been. One might ask what is the point of remaking it since it is practically impossible to attain the same level. This version, directed by Gordon Douglas pales in comparison but at the same time it justifies being made. It is the story of the outcasts, the main characters being the whore and the convict where the wild west will provide a new life, without the stigma of society. A world of the past, which does not exist anymore and creates a feeling of nostalgia. The stagecoach itself, pulled by many horses, going through the beautiful colored scenery is the star of the film. Ann Margret is no Claire Trevor and neither Alex Cord, John Wayne, but they do their parts competently. Bing Crosby and Red Buttons are not at their best, but Stefanie Powers, Robert Cummings, Van Heflin and Slim Pickens are excellent. I enjoyed the action scenes, quite a lot of them, more than on the original version. A good western, quite enjoyable, worth seeing.