Screening Report 3: Stagecoach

1. Relate what was discussed in class or the text to the screening.
When discussing Western films, it's difficult not to mention Stagecoach. The 1939 film featured John Wayne, a name that would later become synonymous with the most recognized face in Western movies; his trend of playing unwavering gunslingers continued decades after his first role. Director John Ford's formula for the successful movie included ideas influenced by his religious convictions: the traditional roles of men (dominant) and women (submissive), the struggle between good (the Americans) and evil (the Apaches, financial institutions), and redemption (Dallas leaving prostitution, the Kid getting his revenge).

2. Find a related articles and summarize the content.
A short essay entitled "The Promotion of Masculinity in Western Films" by John Timko briefly examines how masculinity is represented in the Western film genre. Not only does he surmise that masculinity is celebrated, but he explains that the ultra-masculine representations of cowboys also works to undermine the role of women as passive characters who need saving. Timko goes on to say that:

"Westerns have been expressly created to encourage men to hold on to their masculinity when it is threatened by modern society." (p. 3)

He argues that the often heroic frontiersmen possess skills to handle the Wild West allow them be dominant in their settings. They rarely speak in comparison to the other characters; the absence of dialogue gives their actions much more meaning (p. 4). Their lifestyle contrasts that of men who lead white-collar lives like bankers and businessmen, who are not usually portrayed on screen in a positive light. Thus masculinity is represented by a narrow definition: an outdoorsy man who lives dangerously, shoots guns like a pro, and rarely shows emotion.

3. Apply the article to the film screened in class.

Pictured: Harlot with a shrieking voice.

Pictured: Doting wife and insufferable character.

Stagecoach prominently displays an extreme difference in gender roles and expectations. For example, there are only two developed characters in the film who are women, and their representations greatly differ. Dallas, who follows the "hooker with a heart of gold" archetype, has been cast out of town for being just that: a prostitute. Her entire story revolves around her seedy past and her attempts to hide that part of her life from the hero of the story. We then have Mrs. Mallory, the woman who has traveled countless days and thousands of miles to see her husband who is serving out West in a battle against the Apaches. She is presumed to be pregnant for the entirety of the daunting journey, a journey that would be tiring for the average person, but would be especially stressful for a woman in that condition. Thus, there are only two worthwhile female characters with no middle ground; the doting, loyal wife and the woman scorned by society (who is eventually saved from her ways by the hero).

We then meet the star of the movie, the Ringo Kid. He is out for vengeance, determined to get it, and most certainly will with his gun prowess. He is the ultimate man, stoic even in the most stressful of times. Whether he is under attack or under arrest, his emotions never bubble past the surface, as this would compromise his rough, masculine exterior. Despite his tough personality, he falls in love with prostitute Dallas and asks for her hand in marriage. He is the fairy tale White Knight of American folklore, arriving on horseback, risking his own life to save others, and acquiring a damsel in distress along the way. Don't forget, he never breaks a sweat and does this while handcuffed half the movie. The Kid is an example of male perfection: intimidating, courageous, attractive, and emotionally distant.

4. Write a critical analysis of the film, including your personal opinion, formed as a result of the screening, class discussions, text material, and the article.
I had difficulty suspending my disbelief and immerse myself for many parts of the movie. It seemed implausible to me that a woman so far along in her pregnancy would be tempted to ride across the country in a stagecoach, even if it was to see her husband. Dallas also came off as overdramatic in times of emotion, possibly to contrast the Ringo Kid's completely emotionless personality. Alas, the acting at times struck me as either cold or over the top (quite like the representations of the characters themselves). I overall found the characters inhuman, like robots programmed to act like real people but ultimately unable to completely trick the viewer.

Through a modern lens, it's also difficult to ignore the stereotypes of Native Americans that are seen in this film and other Westerns. The racism is obvious, perhaps to reflect the feelings of the time of the film's settings, but when Native Americans are consistently portrayed as the villains of American history to be extinguished, it starts to feel less like "historical accuracy."

Bibliography

• Ford, John (Director). 15 February 1939. Stagecoach [Motion Picture]. United States: United Artists.
• Timko, John. "The Promotion of Masculinity in Western Films".

CHECKLIST FOR PLAGIARISM   1) (X) I have not handed in this assignment for any other class.   2) (X) If I reused any information from other papers I have written for other classes, I clearly explain that in the paper.   3) (X) If I used any passages word for word, I put quotations around those words, or used indentation and citation within the text.   4) (X) I have not padded the bibliography. I have used all sources cited in the bibliography in the text of the paper.   5) (X) I have cited in the bibliography only the pages I personally read.   6) (X) I have used direct quotations only in cases where it could not be stated in another way. I cited the source within the paper and in the bibliography.   7) (X) I did not so over-use direct quotations that the paper lacks interpretation or originality.   8) (X) I checked yes on steps 1-7 and therefore have been fully transparent about the research and ideas used in my paper.

Name: Alison Coppola
Date: 10/1/15