Film “Stagecoach” Analysis

Stagecoach The Revolutionary western lavatory ford built a standard that more afterlife directors would follow with his classic 1939 photographic film Stagecoach. Although there were a embarrassment of western films made before 1939, the film Stagecoach revolutionized the western genre by elevating the genre from a B film into a more(prenominal) serious genre. The film challenged non only western stereotypes but in like manner class variabilitys in society. Utilizing specific aspects of mise-en-scene and cinematography, John Ford displays his views of society.The film consists of many cliche western characters. There is a banker, an outlaw, a prostitute, a doctor, a gambler, and a expectant woman. These characters ar categorized by social class. The banker, the pregnant woman, and the gambler are considered upper class. The outlaw, the prostitute, and the doctor are considered get down class. Ford emphasizes the social prejudice that is present between the two classes by use composition of mise-en-scene. In the dinner table scene, Lucy Mallory cannot bear eating succeeding(prenominal) to, Dallas, the prostitute.Therefore, Hatfield escorts Lucy Mallory to the opposite wind up of the table. The use of space in the scene depicts the division between the upper class and the lower class. Because of the social status of Ringo churl and Dallas, the characters in the upper class try not to associate themselves with them. John Ford similarly illustrates that prejudice can also occur indoors the same social class. In one of the earlier scenes, Lucy Mallory is in the hotel with her friends. The television television camera is in a medium range slash and the shot is from the interior of the tearoom.In this scene, Lucy Mallory asks her friends who the strange man outside of the window is. Her friends reply that the man is zero point but a notorious gambler. In this shot, the curtains of the window class Hatfield. The office that Hatfield is judge d immediately is similar to picking up a picture frame and judging a picture. Ford is trying to illustrate the fact that sluice at first glance, Lucy Mallory is given a negative perspective of Hatfield. throughout the film, the characters in the lower class are not respected by the others.Doc Boone is not taken seriously and considered a fool because he is invariably drunk. Dallas is always forgotten and all the attention is given to Mallory. In a scene where the stagecoach is headed towards Apache Wells in the cold, Hatfields facial fashions come on that he is worried and concerned whenever he looks at Lucy Mallory. Hatfield, being a gentleman, offers Lucy Mallory water and serves water to her in a fancy silver shape but does not bother to ask Dallas. However, Ringo gull makes sure Dallas also gets a drink of water.This demonstrates that even though Hatfield is considered a gentleman, he does not show any concern for Dallas because she has a lower social status. at a time th e stagecoach arrives in Lordsburg, Lucy Mallory is carried out on a stretcher. At first, the camera shot is wide-angled and the street is crowded with soldiers and civilians. Then there is a close-up shot of Mallory on the stretcher as she speaks to Dallas. The shot reveals Mallorys facial expression of remorse. Mallory looks apologetic and offers any help to Dallas.This is one of the final scenes in the film and illustrates how Mallorys view of Dallas completely changed by the resolution of the film. Throughout the film, Mallory matte up uncomfortable being around Dallas. Once Dallas helped take care of Mallorys baby, Mallory realized that her judgment of Dallas was completely wrong. John Ford challenges societys views of people based on class. Most people would expect the characters in the upper class to be more compassionate and respectable compared to the lower class.However, as the film progresses, the stereotypes are broken down and the characters true intentions are revealed . Everyones view of Ringo Kid and Doc Boone also changed by the end of the film. Although Doc Boone was always intoxicated, he was able to deliver the baby of Mallory. Ringo Kid was considered just an outlaw but he helped defend the stagecoach and press out the Indians. Ford shed new light on the western cliches and helped shift the western genre.