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Stagecoach

Play trailer Poster for Stagecoach 1939 1h 36m Western Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 48 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
John Ford's landmark Western revolves around an assorted group of colorful passengers aboard the Overland stagecoach bound for Lordsburg, New Mexico, in the 1880s. An alcoholic philosophizer (Thomas Mitchell), a lady of ill repute (Claire Trevor) and a timid liquor salesman (Donald Meek) are among the motley crew of travelers who must contend with an escaped outlaw, the Ringo Kid (John Wayne), and the ever-present threat of an Apache attack as they make their way across the Wild West.
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Stagecoach

Stagecoach

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Critics Consensus

Typifying the best that the Western genre has to offer, Stagecoach is a rip-roaring adventure given dramatic heft by John Ford's dynamic direction and John Wayne's mesmerizing star turn.

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Critics Reviews

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John C. Mosher The New Yorker 08/15/2022
For the sake of the view, you forgive all. In Stagecoach, the view is certainly something, and it hardly matters at all what goes on. The credit for the valuable things in this film unquestionably belongs to the cameramen. Go to Full Review Variety Staff Variety 02/18/2020
Directorially, production is John Ford in peak form, sustaining interest and suspense throughout, and presenting exceptional characterizations. Picture is a display of photographic grandeur. Go to Full Review TIME Staff TIME Magazine 02/18/2020
The rugged background of Monument Valley, Ariz..., the admirable pace given to the screen play by Writer Dudley Nichols and Director John Ford, the unostentatious acting of a well-chosen cast make it one of the season's most satisfactory pictures. Go to Full Review Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 02/10/2025
4/4
Stagecoach raised the genre from being routinely dismissed as the home of lightweight matinee fodder to the realm of artistic works capable of complex characterizations and profound psychology. Go to Full Review Bianca Garner InSession Film 07/31/2024
Stagecoach seems so familiar and ingrained into our conceptions of what makes a good story. It’s simplicity is what makes the film so easy to ingest. Go to Full Review Zita Short InSession Film 02/01/2023
Ford directs with characteristic reserve and passion for capturing the beauty of the natural world, and his dramatic camerawork helped to make this a landmark entry in the genre. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Daulton C @DaultonC Mar 5 This is the first inductee on the "Western Mount Rushmore". Easily transcends almost a century later. See more thiago s @Thiagostone Nov 17 Filme mais ou menos, o roteiro é fraco, as cenas são mais ou menos, a história é fraca, o elenco é fraco, e ninguém ajuda a melhorar o filme, os personagens são fracos, e o filme deveria ter cenas bem melhores e relevantes, para fazer o filme ser bom, o começo até que é bom, mais o resto é fraco. See more Dallas H @RT53171010 Nov 5 It has been a while since I last watched this movie. The subversive use of dialogue to insinuate rather than spell everything out for easy comprehension by the audience makes it an interesting way of conveying messages telepathically. The Hays Code compelled filmmakers to become more creative with insinuations. See more David K @RT61474040 03/02/2025 A truly essential classic, this is the first film we watched in my film appreciation class in college. Beautifully filmed, acted, directed with all the classic conventions of the Westerns genre. Which is, of course, the very reason it was the lead film shown and the only western. It also brings so many of the touches that John Ford used so successfully throughout his career, including Monument Valley. Did I mention it was the film that made John Wayne a star? And, for me, I will always appreciate the introduction of Claire Trevor into my movie awareness. Did I mention I love this film? See more William B @RT83652365 01/20/2025 I'm not into western films, but this one is definitely good. It's worth it. Recommended. See more Garrett B @gmoney637 11/16/2024 A western classic. The Duke delivers See more Read all reviews
Stagecoach

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Cast & Crew

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John Ford

Director

John Wayne

The Ringo Kid aka Henry

Claire Trevor

Dallas

Andy Devine

Buck

John Carradine

Hatfield

Thomas Mitchell

Dr. Josiah Boone

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Stagecoach

Stagecoach (1939) Stagecoach (1939) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis John Ford's landmark Western revolves around an assorted group of colorful passengers aboard the Overland stagecoach bound for Lordsburg, New Mexico, in the 1880s. An alcoholic philosophizer (Thomas Mitchell), a lady of ill repute (Claire Trevor) and a timid liquor salesman (Donald Meek) are among the motley crew of travelers who must contend with an escaped outlaw, the Ringo Kid (John Wayne), and the ever-present threat of an Apache attack as they make their way across the Wild West.
Director
John Ford
Producer
John Ford
Screenwriter
Ernest Haycox, Dudley Nichols, Ben Hecht
Distributor
UCLA Film and Television Archive [us], Warner Home Vídeo, United Artists
Production Co
Walter Wanger Productions, Inc.
Genre
Western
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Mar 2, 1939, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Nov 29, 2011
Runtime
1h 36m
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1)
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