Director John Ford took a chance and cast a young, obscure B-movie actor in the pivotal role of his important film, Stagecoach (1939). The young actor went by the name John Wayne, and every scene he was in throughout the film worked together to make him an instant Star upon it's release. Filmed in Northern Arizona's Monument Valley, many local Native Americans were hired as extras and to perform the amazing horseback stunts in the chase sequence. Everything works together to form a masterpiece of the Western genre.
Eight people are on board a stagecoach bound for a semi-distant outpost, despite warnings of Apaches on the war path in their vicinity.
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| Stagecoach. 1939 |
A plethora of characters are present... a grumpy banker, a gentleman gambler, a drunk doctor, a meek salesman, a proper lady, a lady of ill repute, the sheriff and the bumbling driver.
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| Stagecoach. 1939 |
The natural tensions exist... More discomfort arrives with the Ringo Kid (John Wayne), an outlaw whose horse went lame and needs a ride, but is arrested by the sheriff and placed in back with the other passengers...
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| Stagecoach. 1939: John Wayne |
When the Indians attack, this mismatched group must work together to fend them off...
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| Stagecoach. 1939 |
Along the way, they find respect for one another. And Ringo finds love...
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| Stagecoach. 1939: John Wayne |
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| Stagecoach. 1939: John Wayne |
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| Stagecoach. 1939: John Wayne |
