STAGECOACH

US, 1966, 114 minutes, Colour.
Alex Cord, Van Heflin, Bing Crosby, Red Buttons, Ann-Margret?, Michael Connors, Stephanie Powers.
Directed by Gordon Douglas

Stagecoach is a remake of the classic John Ford western. A number of critics as well as audiences thought it was a superfluous remake, not measuring up to the classic standards of the original. For one thing, it lacked the kind of star cast of John Wayne, Claire Trevor and Thomas Mitchell. Instead there was Alex Cord, Ann-Margret? and Bing Crosby. While Ann-Margret? was to emerge as a significant star and actress in her own right, Bing Crosby was at the latter stage of his career. Another veteran appearing was Van Heflin.

The film recreates the atmosphere of the old west as well as the confrontation with the Indians. Gordon Douglas, a reputable action director of the '40s, '50s and '60s, brings a professional touch to the proceedings. However, it is the coach ride and the pursuit by the Indians that gave the original its classic status. The stagecoach becomes a microcosm with the range of characters who are pursued by the Indians and cannot escape. It is also a microcosm of interactions of hostility as well as support between the characters in the coach. A better presentation of this kind of theme was released the next year in Martin Ritt's Hombre starring Paul Newman, Frederic March and Barbara Rush. It might be seen as a more powerful remake of the original Stagecoach.

1. How good a western? The fact that is was a remake? The reputation of the earlier film? The use of stars, colour, a lush remake?

2. The use of Panavision, colour, locations, music and songs? What did they add to the film?

3. The stagecoach as a microcosm? The structure of the journey, the quest, adventures? The stagecoach and the confining of the passengers to reveal their outlooks, characters, how they react under pressure?

4. The importance of the early scene-setting: the western town, its atmosphere, the bars and the brawls, Dallas, law and order, the types and their values? The rowdier elements being sent out of town? Law and order enforcement travelling on the stage coach?

5. The atmosphere of the Indians and the build up of the threat?

6. Audience interest in the stagecoach itself, the group of passengers, their explanations of themselves? How interesting a group of people? How typical?

7. The journey itself? How interesting, suspense? The links between the passengers, the clashes, the reaction to the delays, their votes, responsibilities, snobbery towards Dallas, heroism fraternity, unity in defence? What did this say about human nature?

8. The importance of the siege, the rescue, the flight? The appropriate effect on each of them?

9. How was Dallas a central character? Was her character well delineated, a focus of the values of the people, the way that she was spurned, love for Ringo, his response to her, her helping of Mrs. Mallory, her becoming a heroine?

10. Doc and the type who is also spurned? His drinking, cowardice, heroism? Was he a real kind of character?

11. Hatfield as a typical gambler? The gentleman coward, the fact that he was killed?

12. Was Ringo the hero of the film? His background, gunslinging, prison, revenge, attitude towards Curly, towards Dallas? His helping the people with the Indians? His need for the shoot-out with the Plummers? A typical western gunman?

13. What kind of character was Mr. Peacock, with his primness, the salesman?

14. Mrs. Mallory and her attitudes, snobbery, wanting to see her husband, her courage, her pregnancy, the outlawing of Dallas and then the reliance on her? What did she learn from the trip?

15. Buck and his skill with getting the people through?

16. How unsympathetic a character was Gatswood? His criminal background, his false attitudes, injury?

17 How important a character was Curly? A strong character in this film? His sense of responsibility and protection? The quest for Ringo? His helping of the group during the siege? His allowing Ringo his chance of revenge? How necessary was it for the Plummers to shoot him? The ending and Curly's responsibility for the future?

18 How ugly were the Plummers as villains? A climax of violence for the film?

19 How satisfactory was the ending for this kind of film? What conventions of the western did it use and how well? Was it an enjoyable western? A valuable western?