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So-so remake to the considered to be first adult Western , ¨Stagecoach¨ by John Ford that changed the course of the modern Western turning into adult Western and dealing with a motley crew of roles in a cross-country coach beset by Indians and thieves . A voyage throughout Arizona with varied group of characters with nothing in common are stuck together inside a coach , they form a strange assortment of individuals , such as : a prostitute with a broken heart (Anne Margret who received top-billing , in classic rendition interpreted by Claire Trevor) , a coward swank (Red Buttons , anterior acted by Donald Meek), a crooked card-player (Mike Connors , previously by John Carradine) turned into protector to pregnant young wife (Stephanie Powers), a philosopher alcoholic doctor (Bing Crosby-Thomas Mitchell) , a swindler banker (Robert Cummings-Barton Churchill) , a sheriff (Van Johnson , formerly performed by George Bancroft) taking in his prisoner , a sympathetic coach driver (Slim Pickens who bears a remarkable resemblance physical as well as acting to Andy Devine) and Ringo Kid (Alex Cord , priorly by Wayne) , an outlaw looking to revenge killings . The motley crew pull off a journey through Indian territory passing Apache Wells and towards Lordsburg . All of them riding to greatness Across 2,000 miles of flaming frontier . At the beginning they're protected by a military detachment commanded by a brave lieutenant . The stagecoach is besieged by Apaches and several dangers.....

The plot is plain and simple , as the story follows a stagecoach ride through Old West Apache territory , portraying in depth characters and brooding events with allegorical issues running beneath surface . Slick edition , nice cinematography and rousing musical score make it an acceptable film , but far from original . Based on the story 'Stage to Lordsburg' by Ernest Haycox and this one based on Guy de Mauspassant's novel . Decent main cast and extraordinary support cast , even the artist Norman Rockwell, famous for his Saturday Evening Post covers, appears as a "townsman" in a brief scene . Outstanding cinematography capturing the nebulous skies by William Clothier and thrilling soundtrack by maestro Jerry Goldsmith . The motion picture was professionally directed by Gordon Douglas , though with no originality . He's an expert on adventures genre , such as ¨Black arrow¨ , ¨Fortunes of Captain Blood¨ , ¨Maru Maru¨ , ¨The Sins of Rachel Cade¨ ; Noir Films and Thrillers as : ¨Tony Rome¨, ¨They call Mr Tibbs¨, ¨Lady in Cement¨, ¨The Detective¨, ¨In like Flint¨, ¨The Falcon in Hollywood¨, ¨Dick Tracy vs Cueball¨ and made a classic Sci-Fi : ¨Them¨ . And , of course , realized lots of Westerns with good actors , as he proved in the films starred by Clint Walker such as ¨Fort Dobbs¨, ¨Yellowstone Kelly¨ , ¨Gold of seven Saints¨ , Gregory Peck as ¨Only the valiant¨ , Richard Boone as ¨Rio Conchos¨ considered the best , ¨Chuka¨ with Rod Taylor , ¨The Nevadan¨ with Randolph Scott , ¨The Charge at Feather River¨, ¨Doolins of Oklahoma¨ , ¨The Great Missouri Raid¨ , among others .

The original is a very superior remake in 1939 by John Ford being perfectly played by excellently assembled actors : George Bancroft , Louise Platt , Tom Tyler , Tim Holt and Thomas Mitchell who deservedly won Academy Award for secondary actor , and of course , John Wayne , who arose his career languishing in Poverty Row and being first pairing of Ford and Wayne . And stunningly shot by John Ford in the mythical Monumental Valley , capturing its particular air , a place that Ford was often to revisit and he befriended Indians tribes . Besides , a forgettable adaptation for TV in 1986 by Ted Post with Willie Nelson , Kris Kristopherson , Johnny Cash , Elizabeth Ashley , Mary Crosby , Tony Franciosa , John Schneider and Kris Kristopherson.

Although the 1966 remake of Stagecoach is not quite of the caliber of the 1939 version, this well done and very entertaining western is well worth a look, if only to see the beautiful color scenery in Cinemascope.

Particularly notable among the cast is Bing Crosby, for once in a non singing role. His portrayal of the disgraced doctor with a taste for whiskey is a solid one, it proves that despite some of his later work (Say One for Me - 1959, etc), that the popular crooner could actually act.

Alex Cord, (who is remembered for Gray Eagle - in which he portrays a Native American) is here to be seen as Ringo, and pulling a gun on the marauding "Indians" chasing the stagecoach, while trying to keep the sheriff from shooting him as an escapee, and he is in top form. Cord has not the screen presence of his predecessor in the role, John Wayne, but he carries the role off with a believable grittiness that is convincing, nonetheless.

Not to demean Robert Cummings, whom I respect very much, and once worked with in films, I don't "believe" his character as the dishonest Banker, he has the right stuff, but doesn't seem able to show it off. His portrayal is nonetheless competent and does not detract from enjoyment of the film.

The scenery is outstanding and Gordon Douglas and his cinematographer, William Clothier have done a fine job of giving this film an expansive and authentic look. The music is very good evoking the mood of the film as it changes from tense to exciting and back to tense. The final scenes were a trifle bloodier than the original film, and could have been less drawn out, but overall, the film works well.

Just a word about the supporting cast. Ann Margaret is, as always, very fine; Red Buttons (See "Red" in Poseidon Adventure" for comparison) adds a certain comical manner to his role, which was a weak spot in the 1939 version. Mike Connors is convincing and gives the film a "familiar" feel (due to his many television roles, no doubt). Van Heflin is his usual solid self, giving his role all you would expect, but with a hint that given more to do, he would have pulled that off too.

All in all, a satisfying if not top notch film, any western buff should find it very enjoyable. If you like Ernest Haycox's book (on which this film is based) "Stage to Lordsburg", you will love seeing his story in color, it really helps.

After seeing this version on AMC a few days ago, I took out my copy of the original from 1939. It's the difference between a classic western and a routine action film.

Director Gordon Douglas probably because there is an unwritten rule in Hollywood that no one is ever to shoot a film in Monument Valley but John Ford, shot this thing in Colorado. It's not badly photographed, but you really miss the sweeping vistas of the Arizona desert. The Apache become the Sioux here and instead we have Geronimo jumping the reservation it's Crazy Horse instead. One of the great moments of cinema westerns in the original Stagecoach is when the cavalry sweeps by the passing Stagecoach to engage the Apaches in the rescue. John Ford liked it so much he used the same gambit in Fort Apache. In this version you have to believe that the passengers fought them off themselves and then made it into Cheyenne on three wheels with less horses. No way, Jose.

Poor Alex Cord, a competent actor, is no John Wayne. Of course who is and Cord tries his best, but you can't forget the Duke. Michael Connors as Hatfield lacks fire in his portrayal. John Carradine created a real air of mystery about the gambler. Nothing like that here.

This is one of Bing Crosby's few non-singing roles and he got some deservedly good reviews for reprising Thomas Mitchell's Doc Boone. In fact some of his scenes with Red Buttons as Peacock the whiskey drummer are faintly reminiscent of Crosby's work with Bob Hope. Buttons is not Donald Meek and he plays the part differently. Meek was a man with a Dickensian name and he played mostly parts that fit that name perfectly. After the Indian attack, Buttons is a man with a few drinks under his belt ready to lick the world. It's different, but nicely done.

Another musical performer in this was Ann-Margret. For the life of me I can't figure out why with two people like Crosby and Ann-Margret, they didn't give her and him a song or two, a duet maybe. Especially since in the plot line here, Crosby takes a fatherly interest in Ann-Margret as well as in Alex Cord. Her role of Dallas is as a saloon girl so a musical number would not have been out of place.

The rest of the cast performs adequately. Bob Cummings's Gatewood is more fully developed a character here and a bigger rat. Van Heflin and Slim Pickens are able substitutes for George Bancroft and Andy Devine. Stefanie Powers as the pregnant cavalry officer's wife is adequate. The part itself is as thin as the original version with Louise Platt doing it.

The gunfight between the Plummers and Ringo is more fully developed here. You actually don't see it in the 1939 version. Keenan Wynn as Luke Plummer is also more fully developed than was Tom Tyler. Tyler with a minimum of dialog suggested the menace of Luke Plummer. But Keenan Wynn is one evil man here.

In fact whole pages of dialog are taken from the original. Interesting that 20 years later another version was done. But this Stagecoach is a perfect example of why classics should just be left alone.

You see Bing, Red, Ann, and so forth, and you might skip this, but if you ignore the "fading star" thing and just enjoy it as a little play put on by some true pros, you'll enjoy this. It has one of the best chase scenes ever, with Indians and Helicopter shots of the racing horses and stage, it has a great performance by Bob Cummings and Kennan Wynn, and I actually felt the hair coming up on the back of my neck during the storm on the cliff, even though I knew it was just a process shot against a painting. It's not Shakespeare, but hey, it's a fun 1960's good ole American film just as TV production values and over lit sound stages were taking over film making and as the last reviewer said, just before the Anti Hero revolution.

Dudley Nichols wrote a great screenplay for a great film - 1939's Stagecoach, that is, directed by John Ford, not the 1960s remake we have here.

As the Ringo Kid, Alex Cord lacks the menace, dynamism, and screen presence of the young John Wayne - meaning that the focus of this Stagecoach has to be on other participants. Ann-Margret is very good as Dallas (the part originally played by Claire Trevor); while Stefanie Powers makes her mark as Mrs Mallory. Bing Crosby is the boozy doc with a heart (not a patch on Thomas Mitchell's turn thirty years earlier but Crosby was always worth watching); while Red Buttons is disappointing as the liquor salesman with eight kids (far better was the twittery Donald Meek).

Using the 1939 screenplay, this film is pretty much a straight remake, but in standard class. Slim Pickens does a fair imitation of Andy Devine as the hapless coach driver, and Bob Cummings is just plain irritating as the crook who has a mysterious case he won't let out of his sight.

So, 'Stagecoach' is OK as a time-filler, but was not needed - why bother when the film has already been made and stands as a classic. Liked the end portraits of the cast though, and always good to see Keenan Wynn, however brief a role he has (and it is pretty brief here), although pivotal.

The original 'Stagecoach' from 1939 was, and still is, a benchmark of the western genre, and a wonderful film in its own right too. Considering the generally dodgy track record of how remakes fare in quality, was honestly expecting this 1966 'Stagecoach' to be an insult and with no point or merits.

Expectations that were mostly proved very much wrong. Yes, it is a far inferior film to 1939's 'Stagecoach' (whereas the original is a masterpiece this is just fair), and, yes, one does question the point of it with so much of the content already seen previously and with much more impact. However, it does have a lot of merit, with it being made with competence, with respect being shown and with attempts to bring some freshness or build on what was seen previously (characters like Plummer being richer in characterisation here).

Starting with the faults, not all the casting comes off. Mike Connors sleepwalks through a role in need of so much more intensity than what actually came off. Stefanie Powers is an attractive but rabbits-in-the-headlights blank, but coming off worst is Alex Cord as a pivotal character crying out for much more charisma and personality than what was given in Cord's very wooden and vacuous take on it.

Gordon Douglas' direction is competent with a keen visual eye, but, in terms of momentum and storytelling, it's a case of everything done pleasingly and correctly with nothing offensive but with some lack of invention or oomph and with a sense of routine-ness about it all. The story is actually a good one and the characters are still interesting on the most part, but apart from a few scenes much of it has already been done before and with more excitement.

However, it's a great-looking film. While the scenery doesn't have the magnificence of Monument Valley it's still sweepingly beautiful and the cinematography is similarly striking, especially in the aerial shot and the chase sequence. Production, set and costume design register strongly too and who can't help love those paintings. Jerry Goldsmith's score is rousing, atmospheric and extraordinary in instrumentation, while the theme song is very much a memorable one.

Meanwhile, it's nicely scripted, and there are sequences that register strongly, especially the chase sequence (the highlight), the storm on the cliff and the opening massacre. Also appreciated an ending where what happens is shown with more clarity and less ambiguity. The cast are fine generally, Bing Crosby plays his boozy-doctor-with-a-heart role perfectly in his final screen appearance, while Van Heflin is similarly terrific, Slim Pickens brings some welcome humour and Keenan Wynn is frightening (even though not on screen long).

Ann-Margaret shows how to be an alluring presence while also being able to act with sass and compassion, while Robert Cummings is good enough (he has been better though) and Red Buttons shares a strong touching rapport with Crosby in a remarkably subdued performance.

Overall, inferior and maybe pointless but nowhere near as bad as expected. A lot is done right and nothing offends, but at the end of the day even whether compared to the 1939 film or out of context it just felt a little bland. 6/10 Bethany Cox

The thing about Stagecoach is there was no real reason to remake it. If you watch the 1939 version, it's pretty good. John Wayne is cute, Thomas Mitchell is likable, Donald Meek is funny, Louise Platt is snobby, the story moves along, and there are a few scenes that use exciting camera angles. With all the hundreds of westerns out there, why remake this one?

If you loved it and want to watch the remake, you can look forward to Ann-Margret as the hooker, Red Buttons as the whiskey salesman, Bing Crosby as the doctor, Van Heflin as the sheriff, and newcomer Alex Cord as the Ringo Kid. Stephanie Powers plays the pregnant woman, but she doesn't come across as particularly high-class. Also, movies in the '60s just couldn't help letting audiences know they came from the '60s, so even though this movie stars some old-timers, it doesn't feel anything like the 1939 version.

Stagecoach is a remake of the 1939 Jon Wayne film. It has an all-star cast of Ann-Margret, Van Heflin, Bing Crosby, Mike Connors, Bob Cummings, Red Buttons, Slim Pickens, Stephanie Powers and Keenen Wynn. But oddly, the only cast member not well known then or now is the film's main character played by Alex Cord. As "the Ringo Kid" in 1939, John Wayne was a powerful presence, dominating the screen and making the Kid seem like the strong, feared, but ultimately good character he was intended to be. Cord seems to play the part as if he's brooding. Maybe trying to be James Dean. He mumbles and seems distracted. Makes you wonder why anyone would fear him or even why Ann-Margret's character would give him the time of day.

This film has much better production values than the 1939 version. The chase scenes and gunfights are well done. The acting is first rate by everyone except Red Buttons, who woefully overacts in a supporting role and Cord, who brings the movie down with his poor acting in the starring role. Overall, the film is worth seeing as an entertaining western. Just be prepared to cringe at Cord's performance.

I really enjoy this version, mainly because of the more up to date actors and actresses in it. I do not understand the nay sayers as it is enjoyable in its own right, and should be viewed only for its entertainment value - and as a comparison I just wish it was more readily available for rent or purchase...such as on Apple TV! Cannot figure out how they and other vendors can be so selective about which movies they offer...surely an any profit is better than no profit. There seems to be a multitude of movies that get little or no coverage that are just as good if not better than some offerings lately.

I saw this movie in 1966 when it was released, and It was one of the few movies that left an impression on me all these years for several reasons. I feel the aesthetics of this movie make it worth watching. The artwork of Norman Rockwell alone is unforgettable. The music is very appropriate for the movie, not overwhelming but rustic and timed well. The scenes that were shot on location are truly breathtaking. You wont find many mattes or computer digitized images in this movie, Forget about the plot, just enjoy the artwork. But I still feel There are a few good lines in the movie. Some are even worth including in ones vocabulary.

Poorly-written remake of the 1939 John Wayne chestnut has stagecoach full of disparate people encountering personal strife and drama on the treacherous route to Cheyenne. Since the characters are such an obvious lot (what with a prostitute, a pregnant woman, a bank robber, a wily alcoholic, an outlaw, etc.) and are written and portrayed as caricatures, there's nobody here to care about. Newcomer Alex Cord broods mightily as the outlaw, but this actorly process of cool non-projection is a snooze by now; Ann-Margret, as the saloon girl with the shady life, is only comfortable in her carefully-posed close-ups, her line readings rendered false by a peculiarly twangy accent and no conviction in her behavior (she reverts too easily on being 'lewd' without giving the character any other dimensions). The direction is sloppy, the pacing leaden, and even the Colorado scenery fails to enliven the proceedings. *1/2 from ****

Good remake of the John Wayne film. While this is not the best western I've ever seen, it did have some of the most exciting scenes around. I really enjoyed the comic relief of Bing Crosby as the boozed out doctor, Red Buttons as the misunderstood drummer, and Bob Cummings playing the frantic embezzler. Good performances by the entire cast kept the show going right along, and the 2 big shoot-outs near the end were dandies. I really liked the part when Alex Cord came crashing through the window of the saloon and a large piece of plastic remained quivering in the frame.

Agree with a comment about another Edition of Stagecoach.....that with Kris Kristofferson, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings etc. DON'T COMPARE this with the John Wayne movie....

Just enjoy it on its own. Alex Cord is cool, Ann Margaret beautiful, Red Buttons and Bing Crosby fun..... I still use Red's lines "la la la la la la etc............." Keenan Wynn is great as usual....

Even at that...let's compare a little..... This movie is IN COLOR....and it has great credit art by Norman Rockwell.... I bought the book....don't remember reading it..... maybe it is good..... BUT the book had the portraits of the main characters by Rockwell and the Stagecoach, as does the movie. Very cool. Jerry Goldsmith's music is quite nice and the song Stagecoach to Cheyenne (Pockriss and Vance) and the twangy jews harp..... memorable!

Also...Remember, this is just on the verge of the Revolution....when the movies went akilter....the antihero came on etc. This is in the last tier of basic Nice Pleasant movies, when you knew who the good guys were and who the baddies were.... 1966. Italian spaghetti westerns were just being made this year, too.

The good writing from the first movie ....the basic plot is still here and it holds together.... This group of people have to or need to go to Cheyenne, even though it could mean attack from Indians. Danger.

Slim Pickens is Great as Buck, the Coach Driver and Van Heflin, the co-star of Shane, is fun to see in a western once more,too..... Enjoy!

This is a remake of John Ford's 1939 film Stagecoach and it has some charming features to recommend it...like it ends with authentic Norman Rockwell paintings of each of the characters. Filmed in and around Nederland, Colorado there is some beautiful scenery in this western film.

The local military and stagecoaches are having trouble traveling through Indian country, so on the next stagecoach to Cheyenne the town's Marshal (Curly Wilcox/Van Heflin) rides shotgun with the driver Buck (Slim Pickens). Along for the ride arem: captured convict Ringo Kid (Alex Cord), who has a vendetta against the Plummer family Dallas (Ann-Margaret), a saloon girl who was asked to leave town by the head of the local military Mrs. Lucy Mallory (Stephanie Powers) the pregnant wife of local military leader Mr. Peacock (Red Buttons), a traveling whiskey salesman Hatfield (Mike Conners) the southern dandy card player Henry Gatewood (Robert Cummings) back employee turned thief Doc Josiah Boone (Bing Crosby) the local drunk doctor who was also asked to leave town.

Filled with characters, some trying to turn a new leaf, some happy with their lot in life...all who rally together for this arduous journey rife with peril.

I thought the filming of the treacherous nighttime Cliff side descent with the wagons and horses was amazing and did an excellent job showing not only the danger but building the tension. I also really appreciated the high speed chase that ended with a broken wheel and a shootout. I think fans of westerns will really appreciate this film. Different than it's predecessor, but no less enjoyable to watch. I had never seen the actor Alex Cord and I particularly enjoyed his performance as the young outlaw looking for revenge. This is a recommendation especially to fans of classic westerns.

When ever one watches a remake of a film, one always wants a movie that advances on prior treatment of the subject. The original movie was about unspoken prejudice, but for some reason the makers of this film wanted it to be a pointed film. Making Ann-Margaret's Dallas to be only a bar hall girl not the prostitute of the original. For some absurd reason Dallas is kicked out of town because she was the reason for a quarrel between two men that ended in a killing. So now Dallas hates the Army....The mystery of the characters is not to be found...they are now a stereo-typed. They all now have met and have preconceived animosity instead of creating relationships good or bad. Bing Crosby's doctor is terrible, Alex Cord as the Ringo Kid is flat and lifeless; Red Buttons attempting to be a frightened and shy person is way beyond his capacity to play Mr. Peacock. Finally, Mike Conner's can in no way hold a candle to the acting of Carradine. Also, Curly the sheriff is in it for the money and not a character of law and order but of selfishness. Sad to see that this film ever made it to the screen, it should have stayed unmade.

The thing to remember about remakes prior to the advent of home video is the originals were mostly only available cut for time and the square TV screen. Black and White films were mostly relegated to late nights. This is why it was easier to remake films in the past as most didn't have something to compare them to.

As to this film. It's a mostly competent western and the cast performs their roles admirably. Van Heflin and Slim Pickens give their usual solid performances. Bob Cummings is notably unlikable as the roll requires. They even make the choice to tie his storyline to the Ringo/Plummer story which is a good choice. Bing Crosby is excellent as Doc Boone. Powers, Buttons, and Connors are adequate but all are capable of better. At least with Powers, the role is supposed to be bland to contrast with Ann Margaret's Dallas. Margaret is also pretty good.

Alex Cord does his best, but is miscast. People tend to underestimate John Wayne's acting and it's sometimes justified in that he did tend to play the same character more or less. However the original film is where he fully formed that character for the first time and his screen presence is undeniable. There's a reason it was not only his breakout role, but a breakout for Westerns in general. The genre shaped Hollywood for decades to come. Cord just couldn't live up to that and wasn't suited to the role. He's got the nice guy part of the role down and his scenes with Margaret are probably the best. He just doesn't have the tough guy part down.

The 1939 film; "Stagecoach" is a historical treasure, one of the greatest films ever made. So remaking it is like tearing down the historic home of Thomas Jefferson (Monticello) and replacing it with a condo!

I kind of liked this movie better than the original. First, it was in color; I realize some films are better in black and white, but I'm not a purist and most films benefit with the addition of color. Second, I thought Bing Crosby did a great job as the drunken doctor, better than the original actor. Third, I felt the roles were played with more believability -- for instance Lucy Mallory actually seems to be pregnant. And last, I like the song at the end. Maybe it was only worth a "7" rating, but I gave it an "8" because it was panned so bad by others.

Despite Technicolor, some famous performers, and a modern score, this remake is a pale imitation of the original. The 1939 film starred accomplished actors and featured a moving score based on traditional melodies including 'Bury Me Not on the Lone Prairie.' My advice: skip this noodle and look for a streaming version of the original Stagecoach, with John Wayne, Claire Trevor, Thomas Mitchell, and Donald Meek.