MovieChat Forums > Stagecoach (1966) Discussion > I Kinda Liked It

I Kinda Liked It

posted 18 years ago by ecarle
14 replies | jump to latest

I know, I know, remaking a John Ford classic that starred John Wayne is some kind of crazy and disrespectful, but the fact of the matter is that what Ford did in 1939 was stately and formal, in his manner, and the 1966 remake was constructed rather differently as a Technicolor action movie and showcase for a nice mix of old and new stars.

I saw this in theaters, as a kid, BEFORE I saw the original, and frankly, the b/w original looked rather skimpy in comparison. The gunfight in the original is pretty much unseen (though Wayne's great leap to the ground with his rifle is a classic bit of Fordian direction and Wayne physicality); in the new movie, it is an extended sequence with some plot points added in to make things interesting (sheriff Van Heflin and embezzler Bob Cummings have important roles to play in the lead-up to the gunfight.)

Two people ensured that '66's "Stagecoach" would at least be entertaining: director Gordon Douglas and musical composer Jerry Goldsmith.

The veteran Douglas knew how to film action and suspense in a B-manner (the classic giant ant movie "Them" was directed by him), and used helicopter shots and exciting side-truck angles to give the Indians-vs-stagecoach chase sequence a modern sense of excitement that John Ford could not in 1939.

Jerry Goldsmith provided one of his trademark muscular, exciting Western scores for "Stagecoach." Two years earlier, director Gordon Douglas and musician Goldsmith had combined on the exciting action Western "Rio Conchos," and they combined again to give "Stagecoach" a modern-day lift.

The cast? Well, Alex Cord was no John Wayne, of course, but Bing Crosby had fun as the drunk doctor who develops a beautiful friendship with liquor salesman Red Buttons (Crosby puts his usual deep-voiced, buh-buh-buh spin into his suggestion that Buttons join him in a "little toddy for the body" and it is funny to hear.) Van Heflin was a believable and respected actor who gave depth to the sheriff. Slim Pickens was a delightful match for Andy Devine in terms of providing vocal and physical "character" to his stage driver character.

Ann-Margret was sexy as always (if limited as always) as the star-by-default of the picture; Stephanie Powers her early lovely self in the other female role. Mike Connors lacked John Carradine's intensity as the gallant gambler, but it is kind of a kick to see Mannix on board an old stagecoach. Bob Cummings had been around a long time in movies and it was amusing to see him playing a weak rotter.

The combination of Norman Rockwell's paintings of the cast (note the Old Style realism of the mug shot of Keenan Wynn's villain) and Wayne freakin' Newton! singing the title song at the end finishes off this hip programmer version of "Stagecoach" with verve and style.

Ford's "Stagecoach" is a minimalist, artful black-and-white classic. Douglas' "Stagecoach" is a fun, lightweight, but entertaining re-do. Unlike other remakes ("Psycho", anyone?) I bear the '66 "Stagecoach" no ill will.

(And the OTHER remake with Cash, Nelson, Kristofferson and Waylon leading the all-star cast was certainly delightfully cast, but lacked the theatrical-film polish and budget of the '66 version.0

[–] tondeaoncoast 18 years ago

I am so glad to know that I am not the only one who liked this movie . . . in some ways, I prefer it to the original! I guess that it is, as you say, not a minimalist film. It actually is more fun than the original to watch, because it is done with a touch of humor. Bing Crosby is a delight!

[–] amamad1 18 years ago

I too enjoyed the film. I thought that Alex Cord did a good job as Ringo.
anita

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] amamad1 18 years ago

Since you saw it in the movie can you tell me if it received good reviews. I have purchase the wide screen verison from ebay and looking forward to seeing it.
thanks anita

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] amamad1 18 years ago

Thought to drop a line to let you know that Stagecoach is going to be on Sunday the 24th of this month in letterbox. It will air at 5am. That foe the imformation.
Anita

[–] 18 years ago

[deleted]

[–] photoseller 18 years ago

I liked it pretty well myself, Slim Pickens was great in it.

“Do not fear death... only the unlived life.” - Natalie Babbitt

[–] tondeaoncoast 18 years ago

I hope that DVD producers are reading this message board. And I hope they plan on putting this movie out on DVD sometime in the future! There are those of us who appreciated this movie.

[–] captain-video 17 years ago

Just throwing in my two-cents worth for the record.
The 1966 version is okay but I like the 1939 John Ford version much better.

[–] teresa-elbin 17 years ago

I'm not afraid to say I liked it a lot. I thought Alex Cord was great as Ringo. This was the first role I ever saw him in and I have remembered it after all of these years.

I am amused by all of the movie reviewers comments, i.e. how could anyone fill John Wayne's shoes, Alex Cord is no John Wayne, etc. etc.

I have never been a big fan of John Wayne. Talk about wooden actors - I always felt that this described John Wayne to a "tee", with a few notable exceptions - The Quiet Man, The Searchers and The Shootist. But in almost every movie he ever played, what you saw was John Wayne and not the character he was supposed to be playing. He employed the same mannerisms, same way of speaking, same way of walking, same facial expresssions in every single, d*mn role he ever played.

So, to say that Alex Cord is no John Wayne is, to my mind, a huge compliment to Alex Cord.

Don't get me wrong, I don't hate Wayne as an actor. I just thought he was very limited in his ability to truly act. In most of his movies he played the stereotyped screen persona of ------- John Wayne.

[–] nancyminpins-1 15 years ago

I'm a newcomer but I want to say I loved this film and enjoyed it more than the classic version. This film was set in Lakota and Cheyenne country and apperantly shortly after Little Bighorn as Crazy Horse was mentioned. All my ancestors hailed from Virginia and at least one was captured by Custer's regiment at Gettysburg. He was a great hero and saved the Union twice...the second time was when he stopped Lee from escaping Appomattox and caused his surrender. I would love to get this film on DVD.

[–] kiddglock 13 years ago

I saw it on TV, probably the first time it was on. It's a very good movie and superior, IMO to the older one. I believe I saw it before I ever saw the John Wayne version. Nothing wrong with Alex Cord. The rest of the cast was good too. The Injun massacre at the beginning was very scary. The part where they make the stop at the weigh station was scary too. I liked it that the movie had been moved from the southwest to the northwest. The gunfight at the end was much more satisfying than guessing what happened in the Wayne movie.

[–] nancyminpins-1 13 years ago

I know what you mean - Little Bighorn rocked the whole nation. Custer, had he lived, was going to NYC in August for the Democratic National Convention where he expected to elected the nominee. Libbie was living in an apt. in New York waiting for his return. Mark Kellog was a reporter for the New York Post and accompanied the 7th Cavalry to Montana.