Stagecoach screening report

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

In class we spoke about the sound revolution and how it affected the changing guard in movies. We also spoke about genre pictures from gangster flicks to westerns and how the studios were able to boil down a formula to mass-produce films for movie going audiences. By 1939 the western genre was considered to be played out and John Ford’s Stagecoach film revitalized this film genre.

2.     Find a related article and summarize the content

In the article John Ford: at war and out west once again the writer talks about John Wayne’s performance which helped to skyrocket his career thanks to the direction of John Wayne. Before this film Wayne had appeared in 78 other movies but he was relegated to the status of B movie actor. For the next four decades Wayne created monumental performances onscreen in the shadow of the monument valley.

http://www.boston.com/ae/movies/articles/2010/05/23/with_stagecoach_ford_delivered_iconic_images/

3.     Apply the article to the film screened in class

The article talks about the relationship between John Wayne and John Ford. The director and the actor, and how they helped to shape and revitalize each other’s careers. John Ford helped Wayne become a huge movie star and Wayne working with Ford helped him craft a series of westerns that brought the genre back from its laughable status to one of serious acclaim. Thanks to their collaborations the western genre was immensely popular from their work on stagecoach until the late 60s where Europeans like Sergio Leone once again redefined the genre boundaries of the western for a new generation.

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

Stagecoach is a western masterpiece because it both revels in and transcends the themes and boundaries of the genre. John Ford, although he would never admit it has put layered his film with many different subtexts that the viewer can ascertain. The role of the banker is a sly dig at the greedy and corrupt bankers that have no concern for the average man but only for himself.  The relationship between the Ringo kid and the sheriff shows a darker world of the west where revenge and violence is overlooked by the law if it is perceived to be justified. The perception of the Native American in the western has never been exceptionally accurate and I felt that the spoke so highly of the military skill of Geronimo and his warriors but the fight scene on the stagecoach did not do them any justice as they all were inept and could barely ride their horses and fire their rifles at the same time.

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM 

1) ( x ) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class. 

2) (x  ) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper. 

3) (x  ) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text. 

4) (x  ) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper. 

5) ( x ) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read. 

6) (  x) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography. 

7) ( x ) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality. 

8) (  x) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper. 



Name: _______________Matthew Larue__________  Date: ________10/8/14_________