Stagecoach: Screening Report

1) Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.

            By the late 1930s some movie genres were loosing their appeal to the American audience.  Dramas, comedies and action films were the popular genres of the late thirties. This era is now also known as the “Golden Age of Hollywood” because so many successful and innovative movies were being released between 1930s and 1940s.  Such classics include, Snow White, Citizen Kane, The Wizard of Oz, Gone with the Wind and Stagecoach.

            One of these films is not like the others. Stagecoach is the only western in the list of classics during that time.  The film, directed by John Ford, was the first Western film of its kind during its time.  Stagecoach revitalized what the Western film was and catapulted the genre back to A-status.  At the time it is alleged that Ford was told that directing this film would destroy his career. But he did it anyway and it went on to be nominated for seven Academy Awards, winning two of them.

           

2) Find a related article (on the film, director, studio, actor/actress, artistic content, etc.) and summarize the content.  You may use the library or the internet.  

            The western had a great track record up until sounds started evolving in film. Western films made great silent films and some of the greatest silent films in early film history were Western films. (Wainer, 2014)  But the western during this time was not getting much attention, as the big studios “no longer saw the genre as a viable form” (Wainer, 2014) of film.  They had other visions and to them the western was “cheap and juvenile” (Wainer 2014). 

            The article by Alex Wainer entitled, ‘Stagecoach': The Classic Western Rolls into Hollywood discusses the sudden rise of the Western into popular mainstream Hollywood in 1939.  In this article Wainer states that “Ford made “Stagecoach,” long acclaimed as the beginning of the mature Western genre, a field he would dominate for the next generation.” (Wainer 2014)  Following the success of “Stagecoach”, Ford would go on to direct 16 more Western films.

            Ford being known as a classic directing icon, his style of shooting is very important and pleasing in the film.  Known for his long and wide shots (Wainer 2014), Stagecoach was filled with beautiful shots of the setting. “The wide shots of the stage moving across the plains are angled to make the sky weigh heavily upon the small band of threatened characters.” (Wainer 2014)

            The plot of the film was a very interesting one. In all, it is a love story but it’s more about the adventure and the bond the nine people aboard the stagecoach create by risking their lives and taking the long trip to Lourdsburg. The “uneasy mix” (Wainer, 2014) includes a prostitute, an alcoholic doctor, a whiskey salesman, a gambler, a soldier’s pregnant wife, a corrupt banker, and an outlaw. All risking their lives.

3) Apply the article to the film screened in class.   How did the article support or change the way you thought about the film, director, content, etc.?

            The article refreshed my memory about the movie and made me go revisit some clips and I paid very close attention to the way Ford was shooting the landscape and the setting and in doing that the landscape becomes a character in itself. He knew what he was doing in order to make all the scenes more realistic he had to make realistic establishing shots to let the audience know where the characters are and where they are going. 

            I even watched some clips of other of Ford’s western and although the plot in completely different, his style kind of stayed the same.  The way he shoots his landscaping scenes is very pleasing to the eye.

            It is because of Ford’s Stagecoach that western movies were revitalized and were being done again because the audience had a newfound interested in the genre. The article really makes me understand the impact this movie had on an entire genre and industry.  The film was released during films peak, everyone was going to watch movies and these movies just keep getting better and better. 

4) Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material and the article. 

            This film is also a part of number of films during this time that tend to have a social comment and deal with social issues that a lot of American were have or will go through in their own way.  One issue that this film deals with is social prejudice.  How in those times one had to live by the social standards of one town and how not living up to those standards was frowned upon. Take for instance, “the prostitute” she did not fit in with the other women in town so she was rushed off and forced to leave town. Even during their travels sometimes they even wouldn’t refer to her as a lady. 

            In my opinion the movie was okay, not my favorite type of movie but the scenery and landscape shots by Ford are very beautiful and you get a feel for what they are going through and where. My favorite scene in the movie was the chase scene where they are being attacked by the Apache’s the scenery there was very beautifully done.

            This movie although great or not had and has a great legacy in the film industry it made directors want to shoot more Western films and gave the American audiences more choices when choosing what movie to choose next. It is a great milestone for not only the genre, the director John Ford who would go on to win multiple Oscars for best Director, and for the actors in the film.  John Wayne made his debut on this film and he goes on to make many more films.

So let’s hear it for Stagecoach!

Works Cited:

Wainer, Alex. "'Stagecoach': The Classic Western Rolls into Hollywood." 'Stagecoach':             The Classic Western Rolls into Hollywood. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2014.             <http://www.breakpoint.org/features-columns/articles/entry/12/24215>.

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Name: __________Juan Ortiz________________  Date: _________3/12/14_________