A simple stagecoach trip is complicated by the fact that Geronimo is on the warpath in the area. The passengers on the coach include a drunken doctor, two women, a bank manager who has taken off with his client's money, and the famous Ringo Kid, among others.
Stagecoach Ratings & Reviews
- alexnoaholdmate3d agoI have personally never understood why John Ford is so often dismissed by our great film critic fraternity as a creator of "cliché" Westerns. If so many of his films truly have become "cliché", it's because other film directors - with the exception of the Italians - spent forty years trying to emulate his works. An artist who is the first to create something is a genius, not a purveyor of clichés. The clichés come later. Stagecoach is a tight film with a tight plot, tight acting, a tight script, a tight unity of place (more or less), professional camerawork and cinematography - the loooooong shot that transforms into a closeup of John Wayne the first time we are introduced to him is a work of the highest artistic merit - and the film can rank with any Western made before or since. There's a reason things become classics; there's a reason they become cliché; Stagecoach is, for Westerns, one of those reasons.
- farmere3October 29, 2025GREAT MOVIE
- Herin EspinosaJanuary 7, 2025Awesome foundational Western that has easily stood the test of time. So much of the camerawork here is damn impressive - there are some fantastic angles captures here that really helped ramp up tension, or give the amazing chase scene a real sense of speed. That's not even mentioning John Wayne's all-timer entrance here. The gun spin and deep zoom-in felt like they were introducing who everyone was waiting for (which may be the case in hindsight, but it becomes much more impressive realizing this was one of John Wayne's first major roles). Every actor here did a stellar job in their roles - the characters each feel unique and refreshingly human. Everyone has their moment to shine, and skeletons in their closet. It's surprising how much each person here feels fleshed out when there are so many characters and such a short run time. The plot is simple, but it works and helps to bring to focus onto just the characters, and I think it's all the better for it. It helped make sure that everything gets wrapped up nice and tidy by the end. There isn't even much action, but when it finally does come around it's explosive and sucks you right in. I can hardly believe this film is nearly 90 years old at this point. I adore Westerns but haven't focused on watching them in so long. Stagecoach helped remind me why that passion exists, they're just so cool!
- mickerdooSeptember 12, 2025Has a good variety of coach riders. And some surprises along the way. Felt a little long.
- Mister ArnMay 14, 2025A western road trip with drama that's driven by looming violence. I liked how Ford paired the characters into cliques for small conflicts and then shifted them. The first of several John Wayne/John Ford films that helped create the "Cowboy Code." That code affected an entire generation of American males.
- Tyler SApril 19, 2025👍👍 8/10
- willyboy68August 4, 2025The movie that made John Wayne a star!
Stagecoach Trivia
Stagecoach was released on March 2, 1939.
Stagecoach was directed by John Ford.
Stagecoach has a runtime of 1 hr 35 min.
Stagecoach was produced by John Ford.
The key characters in Stagecoach are Dallas (Claire Trevor), The Ringo Kid (John Wayne), Marshal Curly Wilcox (George Bancroft).
Stagecoach is rated Passed.
Stagecoach is an Adventure, Western, Drama film.
Stagecoach has an audience rating of 8.6 out of 10.