Stagecoach

1. Relate what was discussed in class or in the text to the screening?

John Ford is a director known mostly known for his western films. Stagecoach is one of his most famous western films, known for its dramatic cinematography. The film is shot at Monument Valley as Ford uses the location on the Arizona-Utah border, to provide a landscape view as the star actor John Wayne does heroic actions. The film was nominated for a Academy Award in the categories of best picture, best director, best art direction, best cinematography, and film editing.

2. Find a related article and summarize the content.

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/may/23/entertainment/la-ca-second-20100523

On May 23, 2010, an article was published in the Los Angeles Times by Sam Adams, titled "A Second Look: John Ford's 'Stagecoach." The article starts off with the iconic quote that Ford said at a Directors Guild meeting in 1950 introducing himself, "My name's John Ford. I make westerns." In the beginning of the article Adams talks about Stagecoach not being Ford's first western but was a film in which Ford did some things for the first time such as using the landscape of Monument Valley and the establishment of John Wayne as his favored leading man. The article then glorifies Ford's work for his cinematography and how he puts everything together perfectly in unison from his ordinary scenes to his action scenes. Stagecoach was brilliant in many aspects of the cinema and the article explains how other directors used John Ford's tactics to develop different films. "Ceilings hang low, inspiring the muslin-topped mise-en-scène of "Citizen Kane," whose novice director watched Ford's film dozens of times to learn his craft," is an example of how other directors appreciated Ford's work.

3. Apply the article to the film screened in class.

The article provided more positive insight to which Stagecoach was so successful and is known as of the most successful western films to ever be made. After reading the article and doing additional research I learned that Ford was very intelligent in his craft and knew exactly how he wanted to make his western become a hit. Ford knew that John Wayne was meant for the role and all the other supporting actors were significant in the film's success. At first Wayne didn't even want the role of the Ringo Kid, but Ford knew that he would fit perfect and after the film Wayne received more positive recognition and would become Ford's lead man for upcoming films.

4. Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text materials and the article.

"Every string in Ford's ensemble vibrates in perfect unison, from John Carradine's gaunt Southern gambler, whose gallant gestures clash with his ignoble profession, to Trevor's pride-stung whore, whose expulsion from polite society takes the form of a joyless parade, a sanctimonious procession of black-clad matrons whose drawn faces suggest a world no living soul would care to inhabit," this quote from Adam's article was very intriguing to me because it exemplifies the true definition on Ford's work ethic. It is clear that Ford was very dedicated to his directing and made movies smartly and accordingly. At first I didn't think I was going to enjoy a western movie because I am not really a big fan for cowboys and Indians but from watching the movie my opinion of westerns has changed as I actually had enjoyment in watching the stunts and shots that showed John Wayne performing incredible acts. For the film to be so old it still showed very good background and landscape views making it seem very realistic in a sense.