AFI Movies: #63 Stagecoach
This movie taught me that the term "riding shotgun" comes from the guy who sat next to the stagecoach driver and literally held a shotgun. Who knew?
If you missed my first post where I explain what this is and how I’m scoring things, here you go.
When I first started this project, I never realized how much it would, in many ways, be a sort of journal of my life as I’m watching each of these films. Obviously, I knew that part of me would bleed into how I talked about the movies on the list, I’ve made it very clear that I am watching these films through a lens that is uniquely mine, but there is a certain aspect of that lens that is altered based on what is happening with me in my life outside of this project. If I’ve had a good couple of days leading into my viewing of whatever film is next, I’m sure that makes my view of the movie more positive, or at least allows me to be more funny about the movies I don’t like. If I’m tired, or have had a stressful week, it makes it much harder for me to see the good things that are in these movies, especially if they are particularly dull or dated. Then, there are the times when I feel like the world is crumbling beneath me, I just avoid writing and watching movies at all. Already during this project I’ve ruptured my Achilles tendon, which relocated me for a couple of months and completely threw off my plans for the summer. I also lost my grandfather, which directed most of my non-work attention to my family, obviously. Most recently, work got stressful. Unsurprisingly, the things that impact my ability to write also have a role in how I perform at work, so for a while, I wasn’t teaching up to my abilities, and I had to get things straightened out.
Thankfully, everything has worked out, and as of right now I think I’m in the best place I can be with the hand I’ve been dealt, and I’m back, and ready to write again.
None of this has really anything to do with the film Stagecoach, but it all had a lot to do with how I viewed Stagecoach. Is there a world where I watch Stagecoach for the first time at a different time of my life and the words that follow in this writing are completely different? Absolutely. That’s the point I’m making. I’m not good enough at reviewing movies to be completely objective and leave myself out of it. Something tells me that’s not why you’re here, though. Bringing me into my writing is what makes my writing, well, mine, and I’m not going to change that now, even if it means I write that I don’t like movies that I should love as a movie lover. Sometimes, it’s hard to see the good in even the best of things.
Enough about me, let’s get into the movie:
Entertainment Value- 1/2
So, admittedly, I have not really watched a lot of John Wayne movies, and really hadn’t paid that much attention to him as an actor prior to starting to watch the movies on this list. This was his true breakout role, and the one that really turned him into an A-list celebrity and probably one of the most famous Hollywood actors we’ve ever had. Honestly, after seeing him in this, I get it. Whatever I had seen him in before hadn’t really impressed me or made him stand out in my mind, but after watching him as Ringo Kid in Stagecoach, I understand why he was such a big deal. He has the sort of movie star good looks and magnetism that only the most dynamic actors possess, and a lot of what makes this film watchable is his presence.
Correctness- 0/2
If you’ve ever taken a long break from doing something, you know that it can often be difficult to get back in the habit of doing that thing, and sometimes you just have to ease your way into it. To ease myself back into writing about movies, I sure am glad that I can just recycle all my thoughts from the other Westerns I’ve watched, because believe it or not, there is a horrible depiction of Native Americans in this one, too.
Influence- 2/2
I’m giving this two points here for a couple of reasons. First of all, prior to this film, Hollywood executives refused to make any more Westerns because they thought that the time for them had passed since the ending of the silent film era. Director John Ford had to fight to get this movie made, and it basically single-handedly revived the Western, which would dominate Hollywood for the next couple of decades. Secondly, this is the oldest movie I’ve seen that uses the plot device of a bunch of random strangers going through a string of trials that eventually brings them all together, which is an elite plot device in my opinion.
“Rewatchability”- 1/2
It only takes a little over an hour and a half to watch Stagecoach, and it’s entertaining enough to want to see what happens next. Probably not my first choice to throw on for a rewatch, but also very far from my last choice, as well.
Technical Score- 1/2
The acting in Stagecoach is engaging, and the editing is tight and fast-paced, especially for a film from this era. Again, there is probably something innovative here that a normal guy like me can’t catch, but that also could be my imposter syndrome talking.
Overall- 5/10
I’m really trying to give all these Westerns a chance, and I think five out of ten is pretty generous considering the entire plot of the film is trying to avoid violent Native Americans.
You can watch Stagecoach on Max.
Hasta luego,
Josh
Up Next: #62 Tootsie (available on MGM+)