Stagecoach *** (1966, Ann-Margret, Alex Cord, Bing Crosby, Van Heflin) – Classic Movie Review 12,914

The 1966 Western film Stagecoach with Ann-Margret, Alex Cord, Bing Crosby and Van Heflin remakes the 1939 John Wayne classic.

Director Gordon Douglas’s 1966 Western film Stagecoach stars Ann-Margret, Alex Cord, Bing Crosby, and Van Heflin. It is a more than acceptable if arguably unnecessary colour remake of the 1939 John Ford black and white classic Stagecoach with John Wayne.

As a group of strangers boards the east-bound stagecoach from Dry Fork to Cheyenne in Wyoming Territory in 1880, US Cavalry Lieutenant Blanchard (Joseph Hoover) announces that Crazy Horse and the Sioux are on the warpath so his small troop will escort them part of the way.

Ideally cast Bing Crosby and Van Heflin do well in the old Thomas Mitchell and George Bancroft roles of boozy medic Doc Boone and the Marshal Curley Wilcox. A charming Ann-Margret makes much of the part of the prostitute, dance hall good-time girl Dallas, who is protected by the hero, The Ringo Kid (Alex Cord). Stefanie Powers plays the expectant mother Mrs Lucy Mallory, who is setting off to meet her cavalry officer husband.

The movie’s other assets include a long roster of old-time favourites (Slim Pickens, Robert Cummings, Red Buttons, Keenan Wynn), the colourful Colorado scenery, William H Clothier’s distinguished colour cinematography, Jerry Goldsmith’s score and Gordon Douglas’s ultra-professional, no-nonsense direction. Joseph Landon’s script is based on Ernest Haycox’s 1937 story Stage to Lordsburg in Collier’s magazine.

The main minuses are Alex Cord’s lack of charisma in Wayne’s old role as the Ringo Kid and the evident absence of the kind of genius touch that John Ford showed in 1939. However, as a stand-alone film, it works well as just a highly proficient potboiler Western, and it is very welcome for that.

It is remade again in 1986 with Kris Kristofferson, Elizabeth Ashley, Johnny Cash and Willie Nelson.

The 10 stars are billed in alphabetical order: Ann-Margret, Red Buttons, Michael Connors [Mike Connors], Alex Cord, Bing Crosby, Robert Cummings [Bob Cummings], Van Heflin, Slim Pickens, Stefanie Powers, Keenan Wynn.

Norman Rockwell, aged 71, was hired to paint portraits of the stars on set and was given the small role of town poker player Busted Flush. The closing credits feature the portraits, also used on the poster.

Western historian and artist David Humphreys Miller, aged 47,  also has a small role.

Filming started from 6 July 1965 on locations including Boulder, Colorado.

It cost $3.5 million and earned back $4 million at the North American box office, eventually taking $6,950,000 globally, so it made a profit.

Quentin Tarantino says it ‘can stand proudly alongside the John Ford version’.

Producer Martin Rackin said the original was dated and modern audiences were not that familiar with it. He said Westerns were the ‘bread and butter of the industry’. He bought the rights and sold the film to Darryl F Zanuck at 20th Century Fox.

The cast are Ann-Margret as Dallas the Dancehall Hostess, Alex Cord as The Ringo Kid, Bing Crosby Josiah Boone the Alcoholic Doctor, Van Heflin as Curley Wilcox the Marshal, Slim Pickens as Buck the Stage Driver, Robert Cummings [Bob Cummings] as Henry Gatewood the Embezzler, Red Buttons as Mr Peacock the Whiskey Salesman, Keenan Wynn as Luke Plummer the Killer, Stefanie Powers as Mrs Lucy Mallory the Expectant Mother, Michael Connors [Mike Connors] as Hatfield the Card Shark, Brad Weston as Matt Plummer, John Gabriel  as Captain Jim Mallory, Oliver McGowan as Mr Haines, David Humphreys Miller as Billy Pickett, Bruce Mars as Dancing Trooper, Brett Pearson as  Drunken Sergeant, Muriel Davidson as Mrs Ellouise Gatewood, Ned Wynn as Ike Plummer, Norman Rockwell as Busted Flush the Poker Player, Edwin Mills as Sergeant Major, Hal Lynch as Jerry the Bartender, and Joseph Hoover as Lieutenant Blanchard.

Stagecoach is directed by Gordon Douglas, runs 115 minutes, is made by Martin Rackin Productions, is released by 20th Century Fox, is written by Joseph Landon, based on Ernest Haycox’s story Stage to Lordsburg, is shot in colour and widescreen by William H Clothier, is produced by Martin Rackin, and is scored by Jerry Goldsmith.

Release date: June 15, 1966.

© Derek Winnert 2024 – Classic Movie Review 12,914

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