Posted on 10/04/2014 11:27:28 AM PDT by DemforBush
Our first western at the DfB Theater, and a great one at that. Nominated for five Oscars, John Ford's Stagecoach is an American classic and one of the best westerns ever made, IMHO. Starring John Wayne, Claire Trevor, John Carradine, and Andy Devine.
(Excerpt) Read more at youtube.com ...
Anyway, if you haven't seen this one, you're in for a treat. This is a good 'un. A good quality print, too. 8.25/10.
The Stranger7/10
Decision Before Dawn7.5/10
Plunder Road6.75/10
The Hitch-Hiker7/10
The Big Heat8.5/10 (Now blocked by youtube)
Stalag 178/10
The Enemy Below7.5/10.
Kiss of Death7.25/10
The Killers8.0/10
ping
The very first view of John Wayne standing there in his chaps and the rest of his kit was simply amazing, and set him up instantly as a demigod of the screen for life.
Film buffs in recent years seem to have veered more in the direction of “Searchers” and “Liberty Valance,” in terms of their Ford/Wayne appreciation society. But personally, I still prefer “Stagecoach.” Extremely satisfying film in just about every way.
Always nice to see Tom Tyler’s bit as the villain towards the end. He had a long career as a b-western hero, going back to silents, and then later, starred in the “Captain Marvel” and “Phantom” serials. But as evidenced in this, he could have also found a really good niche as a villian, with his steely eyes.
One of the best if not the best western ever.
That stunt-mans fall from the front of
the stages team of horses is scary.
Think he said he`d never do that again.
Maybe my fave is John Carradine as the honorable "Southern gentleman" gambler Hatfield. Then again, Claire Trevor's hardened and grim, beautiful spirited Dallas is heart-grabbing (she won an Academy Award for her lush Gaye Dawn in "Key Largo," another movie she helped make a core classic) ... and John Wayne is so young and handsome and even wistful ...
... then there's boozy Doc who you just love, and Andy Devine as the driver ... Peacock the Christian Whiskey Drummer ... the compassionate lawman Curly (George Bancock) ... and Luke Plummer (Tom Tyler), darkly tossing down his bit of liquid courage before stepping out on the street to face the Ringo Kid ... the music of the piano player in the saloon putting it all in context .. the whole movie is fabulous, top to bottomus. When men were men and women were tomatoes!
The stunt man, Yakima Canutt ... what a guy!! Yak and John Wayne were good pals. Yak did stuff that NOBODY did. He was amazing. My dad broke horses as a way to earn his way through college and was a pretty good horseman -- he admired no horseman more than Yak, although he also said John Wayne held a fine saddle! I watch the really, really OLD Republic B-movie John Wayne flicks just for Yak. He was absolutely ... out of this world.
Did you ever watch any of Canutt’s silent western films, in which he starred? Like “Hellhounds of the Plains,” “The Devil Horse,” or “Desert Greed?” Fun stuff. Lower budget fare, not as elaborate as the Mix, Gibson, Maynard silent westerns, but Yak does a lot of good stunts and has a pretty endearing personality.
I will look for them — thanks for the tip!
Hope you’re better. Thank you!
You probably already know that Yakama was an assistant director on Ben Hur. He did all the work with the horses.
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