Stagecoach (1939)
12-month trend
12-month trend
Monthly article views
2025-09 to 2026-08
An eclectic group of travelers must survive a dangerous journey across Apache territory in a stagecoach.
The story
In June 1880, stage driver Buck prepares a stagecoach to travel from Tonto, Arizona Territory, to Lordsburg, New Mexico. The diverse group of passengers includes a prostitute, an alcoholic doctor, a snobbish belle from Virginia, and a whiskey salesman. However, the journey is complicated by the presence of Henry the "Ringo Kid," a man who has escaped from prison to avenge his family. As the group travels through dangerous Apache territory, they are joined by a marshal seeking Ringo and a gambler offering protection. The travelers must navigate internal tensions and external threats as they head toward their destination.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
In June 1880, stage driver Buck prepares a stagecoach to run from Tonto, Arizona Territory, to Lordsburg, New Mexico. The passengers include Dallas, a prostitute; Josiah Boone, an alcoholic doctor; Lucy Mallory, a snobbish belle; and Samuel Peacock, a whiskey salesman. They are joined by Marshal Curley Wilcox, who is hunting the escaped prisoner Henry the "Ringo Kid," and Hatfield, a gambler who offers protection to Lucy. During the journey, the group encounters Ringo and takes him into custody. At Apache Wells, Lucy goes into labor, and Doc Boone delivers the baby with Dallas's help. Ringo asks Dallas to marry him, but she is hesitant to leave her new responsibilities. The group eventually reaches a ferry crossing where they are attacked by Apache warriors. A long chase ensues across a dry lake bed, during which Buck and Peacock are wounded. In the skirmish, Hatfield is mortally wounded while trying to protect Lucy. The stage is eventually rescued by the 6th Cavalry. At Lordsburg, Gatewood is arrested for embezzlement, and Lucy learns her husband survived. Ringo guns down the Plummer brothers in a shootout and surrenders to Curley. Finally, Curley and Boone stampede the horses to let Ringo and Dallas escape together to Ringo's ranch.
- First release year
- 1939
- Runtime (minutes)
- 96
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- John Ford
- Writers
- Dudley Nichols · screenplay; Ben Hecht · uncredited screenplay
- Cast and characters
- Claire Trevor · Dallas; John Wayne · Ringo Kid; Andy Devine · Samuel Peacock; John Carradine · Luke Plummer; Thomas Mitchell · Buck; Louise Platt · Lucy Mallory; George Bancroft · Hatfield; Donald Meek · Doc Boone
- Genres
- Western
- Themes
- Archetypal journey; American aspiration toward equality; Chivalry
- Tone and mood
- Adventure; Dramatic
- Setting
- Arizona Territory and New Mexico in June 1880
- Premise and plot tags
- Western; Road Movie; Period Piece
- Source material / true-story basis
- "The Stage to Lordsburg" (1937 short story by Ernest Haycox)
- Reception
- The film was immediately praised by critics and trade papers, cementing John Wayne's status as an A-list leading man. It is widely considered one of the most influential films ever made and was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 1995. It has been lauded for its archetypal characters and mythic representation of American aspirations, though it faces criticism for its depiction of Native Americans.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 100% · review count: 47
- Awards and nominations
- Ten Top Ten · Western genre · Ranked 9th
- Production trivia
- Ford took inspiration from a 1907 painting by Frederic Remington for the chase scene.; The film was the first Western Ford shot in Monument Valley.; The film was initially turned down by several studios because big budget Westerns were out of vogue and Ford insisted on casting John Wayne.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
Your lists
Loading your lists…