Welcome to another of my ASU Film & Media posts originally for the class discussion e-board. I chose to comment on Stagecoach which is often considered the first Western classic of the sound era, when the genre was taken seriously by critics and reviewers.
Here’s my thoughts on this film then, especially it’s diverse group of characters:
First off, taking the characterizations in Stagecoach as a whole, the feistiness demonstrated in the determination of the passengers to make the dangerous journey to Lordsburg is admirable. They fortified themselves for it – regardless of whatever obstacles they might encounter, and this says much about the colorful image Arizona has today. On individual levels, and starting with Ringo (John Wayne) here is the young, impulsive gunslinger who is really good at heart and only employs to avenge his murdered father and brother. Despite the “sort of” outlaw persona and status, the story makes it quite clear that he is ultimately about settling down into a respectable life as a respectable rancher and seriously desires to become a good husband to Dallas (Claire Trevor) and make an honorable woman of her.
In this sense, Wayne’s character in Stagecoach is similar to that of his wagon train scout in The Big Trail (1930). In both films he is toying with danger – but eventually the level-headed side always prevails over the reckless one. While Ringo and Dallas are ultimately moving up the ladder of society, Doc Boone (Thomas Mitchell) is on the way down…as he can no longer effectively control his alcoholism. However, he still steps up to the plate in a trying situation by delivering Mrs. Mallory’s baby in rather trying circumstances. With the exception of Gatewood (Berton Churchill) who is the only truly despicable major character in the story, the men are the protectors of the women. They defend the hearth and home – especially as the concern over Mrs. Mallory’s (Louise Platt) plight is made clear.
However, where Stagecoach resonates most strongly with present day Arizona is with its transient nature, how most of the characters are interested in going elsewhere, certainly not making more journeys between rustic frontier places like Tonto, Arizona and Lordsburg, New Mexico! Ringo and Dallas plan on moving to his ranch in Mexico, Mrs. Mallory traveled all the way from Virginia to join her husband who moved around a lot because of his military career. The greedy, unscrupulous Gatewood is trying to take all of the bank’s money and escape as fast and far away from Tonto as possible. The hapless Mr. Peacock (Donald Meek) is preoccupied on getting back to the “bosoms” of his family (as that sequence humorously points out) in Kansas City.
The Hatfield character (John Carradine) seems to be running from some disreputable past which is never clarified in the narrative, but nevertheless suggests him always shifting about from one place to another. The stage driver Buck, (Andy Devine) also spends his life on the road as part of his job and doesn’t really get to settle down anywhere specific, despite having family responsibilities. For all of these people, Arizona is a land of adventures (or misadventures) where life is tenuous to say the least. Certainly, the transitory nature of the Stagecoach cast is quite evocative of Arizona now…where it’s often been said that for every four people who enter the state – three will move away. The film definitely points out the lack of social stability that characterized Arizona as a territory and still somewhat influences life here today.
This may go a long way to explaining the quite pronounced lack of civic and political involvement that typifies life in Arizona. For instance, out of all fifty states Arizona has among the lowest turnouts in voting for city, state, or local elections. Many people don’t know who the mayor of Phoenix is – much less voted for any candidates! I was stunned to realize that none of my seven best friends in Phoenix even had a clue about this! There is definitely a sharp divide among the different cities in Arizona. Over my many years here it’s become quite apparent that there are deep social class fissures and resentments between Phoenix and Scottsdale (or at least this has been played up quite a bit over the years). This attitude was definitely reflected among the players in Stagecoach as well. Our human nature, often regrettable – remains fairly constant regardless of time periods.
