Stagecoach (1966)

Most people aren't even aware that there was a remake of Stagecoach in 1966.  Despite doing OK at the box office, it has subsequently vanished from view, rarely ever shown on TV and certainly not enjoying the iconic status of the original.  Indeed, contemporary audiences are probably more familiar with the awful 1986 TV remake, which still gets frequent TV outings.  In truth, though, the 1966 version isn't a bad movie judged on its own merits, mustering a decent cast of character actors, boasting some good outdoors photography and some well staged action sequences.  But, in comparison with the original, it lacks a strong leading performance: Alex Cord makes a poor substitute for John Wayne as Ringo, his performance far too bland and low key to provide a focus for the audience.  So low key, in fact, is his performance, that the supporting characters make far more impact and are ultimately far more memorable.  Van Heflin as the Marshal, Bing Crosby as the drunken doctor, Mike Connors as the gambler Hatfield and Red Buttons as the liqueur salesmen all offer far stronger and more sympathetic performances , Van Heflin, in particular, providing far more of a sympathetic focus for the audience than Cord.  Even in his scenes with female interest Dallas (played with vigour and charisma by Ann-Margaret), Cord struggles to make an impression, failing to create any chemistry with her.

Gordon Douglas, a prolific director of big budget star vehicles for the likes of Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope and Jerry Lewis at the time, took the reins of the remake and generally does a decent job.  Never critically lauded, Douglas had a long career in Hollywood, starting out directing shorts and B-movies in the late thirties, (one of his fifties films - Them! (1954) - is now considered something of a low budget science fiction classic), eventually directing three of Frank Sinatra's most enjoyable sixties films:  Tony Rome (1967), The Detective (1968) and Lady in Cement (1968).  Generally seen as a 'safe pair of hands', Douglas' direction on Stagecoach is efficient and professional.  His handling of the action sequences is especially assured, delivering an exciting chase with the titular stagecoach pursued by Indians, which culminates in a tense shoot out, and a climactic gunfight between Ringo and the Plummers which doesn't feel anti-climactic.  Between these scenes, however, the film flags badly, with the script bogging down cast and director in far too many talky and static scenes during which the plot grinds to a halt and all the tension previously built up dispersed.  Of course, the obvious question the film raises is why?  Why was it thought that a remake of the original - already considered a classic by the sixties - was needed at all?  What does the 1966 version bring to the screen that the 1939 film didn't?  In truth, not much, apart from colour photography, a supporting cast more familiar to contemporary audiences and perhaps more frankness with regard to Dallas' profession - we're left in no doubt that she is a prostitute rather than a 'showgirl'.  Nevertheless, in spite of its shortcomings, the 1966 Stagecoach is still streets ahead of that 1986 version, which made numerous changes to both plot and characters and starred a bunch of ageing country and western stars.