Stagecoach (1939) + Extras [The Criterion Collection]

This is where it all started. John Ford’s smash hit and enduring masterpiece Stagecoach revolutionized the western, elevating it from B movie to the A-list and establishing the genre as we know it today. The quintessential tale of a group of strangers thrown together into extraordinary circumstances, Stagecoach features outstanding performances from Hollywood stalwarts Claire Trevor, John Carradine, and Thomas Mitchell, and, of course, John Wayne, in his first starring role for Ford, as the daredevil outlaw the Ringo Kid. Superbly shot and tightly edited, Stagecoach (Ford’s first trip to Monument Valley) is Hollywood storytelling at its finest.



Audio Commentary - an audio commentary, recorded exclusively for Criterion in 2009, with film historian and western scholar Jim Kitses (Horizon West). I thought that this was a very strong commentary, offering excellent analysis of the film, the conditions under which it was made, as well as the impact it had on the genre it belongs to. Mr. Kitses' comments on the different political and social stereotypes the film addresses are particularly interesting.

Extras:
– Bucking Broadway - a forty-four-minute silent film from 1917 directed by John Ford. A rollicking western about a cowboy (Harry Carey) whose true love is whisked away by a city slicker, Bucking Broadway showcases the underdog protagonist, jovial humor, regard for family unity, and epic visual style that would become hallmarks of the director. Featuring a new score by Donald Sosin, the film has been restored by the Arhives francaises du film, CNC (55 min).
– John Ford interview - an extensive interview with John Ford, conducted by British journalist and television presenter Phillip Jenkinson in 1968. In this interview, Mr. Ford talks about his love for cinema, the type of locations he preferred for his films, the fact that many of his scripts were improvised, his fascination with the Monument Valley, etc (73 min).
– Yakima Canutt - in this video piece renowned stunt coordinator and stuntman Vic Armstrong (Raiders of the Lost Ark) talks about "the father of all stuntmen", Yakima Canutt, who revolutionized the film industry with his skills, insight, and desire for perfection. Mr. Canutt did all of the doubling/stunts for John Wayne in Stagecoach (11 min).