Stagecoach

1) Stagecoach, directed by John Ford, was an American Western film made in 1939. During class we discussed that the passengers on the stagecoach were all on a mission to leave to new areas. The passengers played different roles in the society they came from. Although they were from the same area some were highly respected in the town, were others were shunned. The Doctor, John Wayne, and Dallas were the main outcasts because they didn't conform to the social norms of the society. They chose to live by their own standards and approach issues & life how they wanted to.


2)What's the Big Deal? Stagecoach (1939): http://www.seattlepi.com/ae/movies/article/What-s-the-Big-Deal-Stagecoach-1939-899179.php
The article discussed that John Ford had alot of ups and down when it came to the making and final product of Stagecoach. On a good note, Ford received seven Oscar awards for the film which was a huge deal because the film came out the same time as many other popular films such as: Gone with the Wind, Of Mice and Men, The Wizard of Oz, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington, and Wuthering Heights. It was such a great accomplishment for him, being that he had difficulty making the film. In the 1920s-early 30s, people did not take Western films seriously and deemed it unimportant. He needed someone to take his idea serious and set a reasonable budget so he could make the film or otherwise his dream of making the film wouldn't come true. Fortunately, he was able to make the film and now people to this day still praise his work.

3)The article relates to the screening because Ford's film was based on the Western times. The fact that the film was produced in the late 1930s, proved that Ford, his actors and Stagecoach, deserved their nominations and Oscar Awards for the effects and acting.


4) Stagecoach taught me about self worth and not conforming to the status quo. The fact that the Doctor was a drunk, John Wayne was a rebel and Dallas was a prostitute showed that they were immediate outcast, but the fact they still stuck to who they were gained them respect in the end. The message showed that no matter what people think about you or act towards you, you should always stay true to yourself because they will need you or respect you in the end.