Stagecoach Essay Questions

What does Boone mean when he says, at the end, "Well, they're saved from the blessings of civilization"?

In this line Boone is referring to Ringo and Dallas riding off into the sunset to a life of freedom together. He says that they are "saved" from civilization, which suggests that he thinks they are lucky to have escaped Lordsburg and the town, in which they would undoubtedly be judged for their unlikely union, one between a former prostitute and an ex-outlaw. He refers to the "blessings" of society sarcastically, suggesting that societal expectations are themselves a kind of confinement. Boone certainly knows about this confinement, having been kicked out of his former home for not meeting the standards of his community.

What does the film seek to communicate about morality and respectability?

The film puts many different people, of varying class positions and reputations, into the same stagecoach, and sends them on their way into the wilderness of the American West. Along the journey, we learn that people who are allegedly reputable and noble individuals, like the banker Gatewood, can actually be corrupt hypocrites. We also learn that people who have bad reputations, like Dallas, Boone, and Ringo, can be mindful and admirable moral subjects. Thus, the film shows us that one's position within society, or one's reputation, has very little to do with whether one is a good person.

Describe the trajectory of Lucy and Dallas' relationship.

At the start of the journey, Lucy is exceedingly snobbish towards Dallas, who she views as beneath her. At the rest stop, Lucy will not even sit at the same table as Dallas, and Hatfield protects Lucy from having to drink out of the same canteen. Once Lucy has her baby, however, Dallas steps in and proves herself to be a very helpful and understanding nurse, supporting Lucy in a vulnerable time. Lucy, needing the help, softens on Dallas, and begins to see that they aren't so different after all. When they finally make it to Lordsburg, however, Lucy thanks Dallas for her help and tries to offer her help to the wayward prostitute, but they are once again driven apart by the class-based forces of society.

How does John Ford signify that the stagecoach is in danger?

Throughout the film, Ford uses music and photography to show the viewer that the stagecoach is in danger of being set upon by the dangerous Apaches. When characters see war signals on the hill, or the sign of warriors heading their way, or evidence of the warriors' destruction at the ferry, ominous music plays. This technique is used most notably immediately before the Apaches attack. We hear the lighthearted theme music of the stagecoach, before the camera abruptly pans over to Geronimo and his warriors, and the music takes a far more ominous tone. We see the Apache faces in closeup, accompanied by scary music, which cues the viewer that danger is afoot.

What about John Wayne's performance pegs him as the quintessential American cowboy?

Wayne's performance is especially understated, consistent, and unemotional. He has an unflappable quality, a gritty and rugged bravery, that suggests that he is up for anything, able to face any challenge thrown his way. This is communicated largely through his affect, the gruff indicators of white American masculinity. Wayne speaks in a drawl and isn't the most articulate, but what he says his clear. John Ford said of Wayne, "He will be the biggest star ever because he is the perfect 'everyman.'" Ford was right.