Stagecoach (1939)

Stagecoach is a legendary Western film about nine strangers travelling by stagecoach through Apache territory. It's one of the early hits of legendary director John Ford's career and was the breakthrough role for John Wayne. Initially, the film was going to be produced by notorious Hollywood producer David O. Selznick, but he wanted Gary Cooper for the lead over Wayne, and Ford wasn't having it. Instead Ford took his chances elsewhere in order to take a chance on Wayne. This was also the first of many films Ford would shoot in Monument Valley.

The film achieved immediate critical and trade paper success, winning two Oscars for Best Music and Supporting Actor. Its a phenomenal piece that tells a tale of regular American archetypes dealing with daily struggles. The human side of the story grounds it for most the film's runtime, with only two shootouts occurring towards the end. The large carriage action set piece is phenomenal and a real wonder to behold. Its intense and spectacular and is possibly one of my favorites in a western. Not just because the effects are well done or the shots dynamic and beautiful, but because of the connections you've built with these characters and because how much you don't want to see them killed, despite them being hopelessly outgunned.

There is of course a darker side to this film that needs to be addressed. The film takes a hard stance stereotyping and dehumanizing Native Americans. Any non-white people in the film are either ridiculed for being savages or shot dead. These are of course not surprising politics coming from a John Ford picture, but they are terribly outdated ways of looking at people and the world and still left a bad taste in my mouth. Despite these transgressions, Stagecoach is still a masterclass in Western filmmaking.