Stagecoach

This version of Stagecoach is a lesser version of 1939 John Ford classic. But greater than the 60's remake starring Bing Crosby and Anne-Margret.

The Highwaymen and few other stars. Took a shot at actually acting. Now they didn't quit their day jobs. But Kris and Willie did have silver screen experience. This doesn't make this made for TV movie any worse. If you have time to kill and are fans of the Waylon, Willie, Kris or Johnny.

Stagecoach (1986)

** (out of 4)

Made-for-TV remake of John Ford's classic 1939 film is pretty lifeless from start to finish but fans of country music (or at least the actors here) will find some mild entertainment to be had. Willie Nelson (Doc Holliday), Kris Kristopherson (Ringo Kid), Johnny Cash (Marshal Curly Wilcox) and Waylon Jennings (Hatfield) lead the stagecoach into Apache territory where Geronimo is wanting some scalps. I'm somewhat shocked that they even bothered calling this STAGECOACH as it owes very little to the John Ford film. Sure, the entire set up is the same but it seems this film was more interesting in dialogue than any sort of action or drama. I think a lot of people will hate this movie with a passion or turn it off at the half way point unless they're fans of the cast and if that's the case they'll probably be able to make it through simply on their charm. I've always found Cash to be a fairly good actor (see THE GUNFIGHT with Kirk Douglas) and he clearly steals the film with his down to earth qualities that really come off quite charming. I think he fit the role perfectly well and there's not a second where you see Johnny Cash but instead you see the character. Kristopherson also comes off pretty well as he should since he's the most credited member of the cast. Nelson, as Doc Holliday, isn't going to go down as one of the greatest to ever play the role but he's not too bad and he does manage to get a few laughs with that dry sense of humor. Jennings doesn't get as good of a role but he's not too bad either. Fans of the Ford film really shouldn't compare the two movies as they're clearly both trying to do something different. This film here just wants to be fun and the cast delivers that but I think the screenplay is still full of holes and I have to wonder why they waited until the very end of a 100-minute movie to throw in some action. I think the film would have been better had some been sprinkled in towards the start of the film. With that said, country music fans will certainly want to see these legends acting together in one film and we even get the title song sung by Nelson. Look fast for other country folks including June Carter Cash and David Allan Coe.

This film begins with several passengers boarding a stagecoach in Tonto, Arizona which is heading east to Lordsburg, New Mexico. As they begin their journey they are told that Geronimo and his Apaches are on the warpath and that the stagecoach is possibly headed right into that general vicinity. Although this news causes some concern to the passengers they all agree to proceed as they each have important matters to attend to at their final destination. However, to make matters even more complicated, one of the female passengers by the name of "Mrs. Lucy Mallory" (Mary Crosby) is pregnant and due to have the baby at any time. Now rather than reveal any more I will just say that this remake of the 1939 classic is notable for having several Country-Western singers to include , Waylon Jennings (as the gambler named "Hatfield"), Willie Nelson ("Doc Holliday"), Johnny Cash ("Marshal Curly Wilcox"), Kris Kristofferson ("the Ringo Kid"), June Carter ("Mrs. Pickett) , and Jessi Coulter ("Martha"). Somewhat surprisingly, they all performed rather well with Willie Nelson and Johnny Cash probably standing out the most. In any case, while this film might not be quite as good as the original, it was still enjoyable enough and I have rated it accordingly. Slightly above average.

Some movies just shouldn't be remade. Gone With the Wind, Casablanca . . . and Stagecoach. For some reason, though, Hollywood can't keep its hands off it. It was remade (badly) in 1966, and this one is even worse. It looks like a bunch of wannabe cowboys with some money decided they could make a western better than John Ford could (Willie Nelson was the executive producer of this), and they couldn't possibly have been more wrong. Everything, absolutely EVERYTHING, about this movie is pathetic. Ted Post is normally a first-rate director, especially of westerns (he did most of the "Rawhide" series with Clint Eastwood), but he either had a really bad day, or (what seems to be more likely) everyone in the cast simply ignored what he told them; there doesn't appear to be any discipline at all in this film. Everybody keeps trying to out-ham everyone else, or they're either so laid-back they're practically comatose. The photography isn't particularly good, the editing is horrendous, the scenery around Old Tucson (where this was shot) is completely wasted . . . and on and on. A really sad waste of time and money. Skip it.

The acting is fine. The scenery is great. The plot is famous. The directing is good. The country music is fantastic. And if you can't watch Willy, Waylon, Kris, Johnny, and a great cast you should stick with the Hollywood crowd cause you don't understand fine movies by legendary entertainers of several skills. Personally, I love all these guys and they made a thousand movies I'd watch them all.