John Badham on

Stagecoach

Released 1939
Distributor United Artists

John Ford’s enduring milestone (his first sound western) was the film that Orson Welles studied over and over before embarking on Citizen Kane. Dudley Nichols’ adaptation of Ernest Haycox’s story for Collier’s magazine,”Stage to Lordsburg,” was the first of many Ford films shot in Monument Valley, then one of the least accessible locations in the southwest. By 1970 the original negative had been lost but John Wayne, who played the star-making role of Ringo, donated his personal 35mm print which has become the basis of all subsequent releases including the Blu-ray from Criterion.

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About John Badham

John Badham, is the director of Saturday Night Fever, War Games, Stakeout, Short Circuit and Point of No Return, among others, as well as the TV series, Nikita, Heroes, Psych, The Shield and Criminal Minds. A Professor of Media Arts at Chapman University, his book “I’ll Be In My Trailer” has become the go-to source on directors working with Actors.   September 2013 will see the publication of his new book “John Badham on Directing”.

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Patrick Bennat

Okay, this is coming eleven years too late, but still: pretty perfect commentary to a pretty perfect western (putting aside the at the time sadly typical portrayal of the native americans for the moment). Also thank you, Mr. Badham, for many of your movies, especially WHOSE LIFE IS IT ANYWAY?, BLUE THUNDER & the two STAKEOUTs! And your great book on directing to me is among the best of the bunch. Kudos!