- Format: PAL
- Region: Region 2 (This DVD may not be viewable outside Europe. Read more about DVD formats.)
- Number of discs: 1
- Classification: U
- Studio: Universal Pictures Video
- DVD Release Date: 5 Jun 2006
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
- ASIN: B000FMFZXU
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 16,675 in Film & TV (See Top 100 in Film & TV)
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Synopsis
Regarded by many as the best Western ever made, Stagecoach shot John Wayne to stardom and elevated the prestige of a genre that had hitherto been considered a B-movie province. With rumours in the air of a possible Apache attack, a motley group of travellers in a small New Mexico town board the Overland Stage bound for Lordsburg. Among them are the pregnant Lucy Mallory (Louise Platt); timid liquor salesman Peacock (Donald Meek); Hatfield, an aloof gambler (John Carradine); Gatewood (Berton Churchill), a pompous, embezzling banker; and two who have been exiled from town, alcoholic Doc Boone (Thomas Mitchell) and Dallas (Clair Trevor), a lady of the evening. Along the trail, they pick up the Ringo Kid (John Wayne), an outlaw who's escaped from prison to take revenge on the Plummer brothers for destroying his family and framing him for murder. As their journey progresses, the hypocrisy of the supposedly respectable passengers becomes clear, and it's the tainted outsiders who display courage and humanity. Described by Orson Welles, who watched the film innumerable times before making Citizen Kane, as his cinematic textbook, Stagecoach is superbly made in every respect, layering humour and sharp characterisation into an exciting plot that includes a spectacularly photographed chase in Monument Valley.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
33 of 35 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
One of the great Westerns is done no justice by this dreadful Universal Pictures 2006 DVD release. This is such an important film, featuring one of cinema's most popular stars, that it deserves a proper restoration. Watch the astonishing Warner special editions of Casablanca and The Adventures Of Robin Hood to see what can be done with films from this era.
20 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I recently purchased the region 1 s/e that is shown in the above graphics and thought some one should give a review of the special features.They consist of a commentary by author,the life and times of john ford,Scott eyman,which is very informative and enjoyable,a new 84min documentary on ford/wayne parternership,which is excellent and a new 30min retrospective on the making of the movie,which unfortunately is narrated by scott eyman and therefore covers most of the same ground of the commentary.I hope this will help prospective buyers make up their minds about which edition to buy.I posted this because in so many movies the reviews seldom review the actual edition shown and it is hard to know which to buy.
23 of 25 people found the following review helpful
Format:VHS Tape
The classic western, Sfagecoach, launched John Wayne as a major screen star and was the first of 10 epic films Wayne and director, John Ford made together.The first of a new sophisticated type of western, it re-established the genre as a box office draw. The spectacular Monument Valley is the backdrop as the drama of the stagecoach journey unfolds. A party of misfits; a drunken doctor,woman of ill-repute,a card shark, a whiskey drummer and an ailing cavalry officer's wife are enroute to Lordsburg,across Apache territory. Geronimo has jumped the reservation and is on the warpath. John Waynes entrance to the film is one of his most memorable scenes, and the swinging of the winchester" so effctive, was improvised by him. The Ringo Kid, Wayne, has broken out of jail to avenge the murders of his brother and father. He hijacks the stage only to find the marshall riding shot gun. The simple plot is enhanced by the class conflict amongst the passengers and the thrilling action scenes directed by Ford. The long expected attack by the Apaches, provides the first extensive Indian chase in western history. Yakima Canutt delivered the daring stunts.As Wayne later said, no such chase could ever have happened as the Indians would have shot the lead horses and that would have been that.Holywood never let truth get in the wy of a good scene The cavalry save the day and Ringo gets his just deserves. As the Ringo Kid ,Wayne begins to develop the character which became his own. The "diamond in the Rough" the tough, loner exterior with the heart of gold. A man who did not judge others by their reputation but by their deeds and words. A true gentleman when others fail the test. He is gentle and protective towards women but not pushy, usually tongue and reticent. John Wayne received only $3000 for the part although he was the leading male.However the career move from B to A movies, which it meant, was more important than the money. His good looks and athletic physique proved to be a winner with the college audiences and his film career never looked back as he grew to be the ideal of the all American hero. A truly great western, it received 7 Oscar nominations but only 2 awards, Best supporting actor for Thomas Mitchell as the doc and Best score. A must for all Wayne/western fans.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Stagecoach
Do not buy this copy! Very disappointing and apalling quality. I know it's an old film (1938?) but by compariason, the even older Laurel and Hardy b&w films are HD quality! Read more
Published 20 days ago by DaveP
Dismal
I read the review suggesting that this print was 'muddy', but I bought the film anyway thinking that it couldn't be that bad. Read more
Published 7 months ago by peastaugh
"Stagecoach (1939) ... Trevor/Wayne/Devine/Carradine/Mitchell ... John...
United Artists presents "STAGECOACH" (1939) - (96 min/B&W) -- Starring: Claire Trevor, John Wayne, Andy Devine, John Carradine & Thomas Mitchell
Directed by John... Read more
Directed by John... Read more
Published 7 months ago by J. Lovins
Stagecoach - the Criterion Edition
As the rights pass from distributor to distributor, there have been quite a few issues of the 1939 Stagecoach, from Universal's barebone's UK PAL issue to Warner's NTSC single-disc... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Trevor Willsmer
A Classic Western
This classic western was John Wayne's first big film which made him into a Hollywood superstar and his performance as the Ringo Kid is very good and no other actor could have done... Read more
Published 11 months ago by Mrs. Marilyn A. Rice
The Cavalry - yes, in the nick of time!
The characters that climb into the stagecoach and share a dangerous journey through Apache country are stereotypes; but wonderfully brought to life in this epic Western which has... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Four Violets
We're the victims of a foul disease called social prejudice, my child.
Stagecoach is directed by John Ford and adapted by Dudley Nichols from a story by Ernest Haycox. It stars Claire Trevor, John Wayne, John Carradine, Thomas Mitchell, Andy Devine,... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Spike Owen
John Wayne
Having recently been to Monument Valley, purchased Stagecoach as I knew it had been filmed there in 1939. This is a superb film showing some fantastic scenery! Read more
Published 18 months ago by Nebogipfel
Stagecoach, 1939 (2006 Universal Studios) Mature, grown up Western...
This is an important film in the history of cinema - it was the first of a new generation of `adult' Westerns, which portrayed real characters with all their flaws and where the... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Victor
Stagecoach
A great film,the first film i bought on video ( has worn out )so i had to buy it on dvd
Published 19 months ago by M. M. Watson
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