Stagecoach

1. In class we discussed how stagecoach, directed by John Forn, was the movie that made the western genre popular. It was the role that popularized John Wayne.

2. http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/91227/Stagecoach/articles.html
The article describes John Fords relationship with the cast of the movie. For the most part he was hard on them. He would call Andy Devine a big tub of lard and gave other cast members verbal abuse. Wayne received some of it but would use it to give a stronger performance. Despite Ford's relationship with many of the cast members, he would become friends with the Navajo Indians. he would cast them as the Apache warriors of this film as well as cast them in other indigenous roles in other films.
The article also described John Wayne's acting in the flick. Though this was the role that put John Wayne on the map, he wasn't paid very much. The main thing that got him recognize was his reactions to other characters. He would be able say everything with his reactions and showed his engagement in the conversation with his facial expressions.

3. While watching the film I didn't quite understand why it was held in such high regards. After understanding that it was a follow up to what had primarily been silent films, I understood. The film had action, a love interest, and decent story. A drunk doctor, a misunderstood prostitute , a lovable outlaw, and a few others make up a group of people headed on a journey filled with danger and obstacles. Through out the experience, though the came from different backgrounds, they came to understand and care fro each other a bit more. Pre reading the article, I hadn't understood why Wayne's role was so well loved but now looking back I realized it wasn't what he was say but his overall performance that made him so good at what he did.

4. For being such an old movie the film had great action. Thinking that those actors had no stunt men is amazing. The scene with the man falling between the six horses and going under the buggy with no injuries would make an actor of todays status second guess the role. The amount of Indians being thrown from horses without the use of CGI is impressive. With all the action the, the movie's plot does not suffer. The love interest between an outlaw and prostitute carries out well, he cares not of her prostituting past nor does she of his criminal ways. He simply sees that she is a gentle person with a kind heart and that is good enough. The drunk adds humor while the Indians with guns add danger. The movie had great transitions and camera work leaving me with a clear understanding of the direction of the film. For a black and white western, this movie satisfied most if not all of what was to be expected.

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