Actor John Wayne and director John Ford are made for one of the most iconic duos of American Western cinema, but their best collaboration was their first movie, Stagecoach. Released in 1939 and considered one of the best Western movies, Stagecoach remains a memorable film over 80 years later.
John Wayne and John Ford symbolize an important period of Hollywood’s golden era, and their collaborations have remained highly influential in Western movies. Their longtime friendship is highlighted by the many films they worked on together over the years. However, despite their incredible portfolio of shared work, nothing comes close to Stagecoach.
John Wayne & John Ford Never Topped 1939’s Stagecoach
Stagecoach Was Wayne’s First Leading Role In A Ford Movie
Wayne and Ford worked on a total of 14 movies together, with Wayne largely in the leading role, over their longtime professional friendship. Their portfolio includes classics like The Searchers and Rio Grande. The duo even excelled at creating non-Westerns together, with a total of five out of their 14 movies being outside the Western genre. However, of all the movies they created, Stagecoach remains their best one.
Stagecoach follows the journey of a group of passengers traveling together on a stagecoach as they pass through Apache territory. Filled with scenery of the Western American landscape and tales of morality and justice, Stagecoach is symbolic of all the classic elements that have made Westerns so popular. The movie also highlights Ford’s skills at directing and Wayne’s classic cowboy persona that helped launch his career as a Hollywood star. Even though Wayne had starred in Westerns before, it was Stagecoach that pushed Wayne into true stardom.
John Wayne & John Ford Began Working Together Long Before Stagecoach
Wayne and Ford’s Friendship Began Years Before Stagecoach
While Stagecoach is often credited as Wayne’s first time in a Ford movie, it was only his first time in a leading role with the director. In fact, the two professionals worked together for years before the 1939 classic. Wayne was first hired as a film extra and prop boy. Soon after, Wayne began acting in bit parts where he had minor interactions with leading stars, which was a huge upgrade from his role as an extra. Wayne’s Hollywood promotion was largely due to Ford’s interest in Wayne, as Ford was the one who helped Wayne land the new roles.
It was Ford’s help that gave Wayne his first role as an uncredited guard in Bardelys The Magnificent in 1926. Shortly after, Wayne had his first appearance in a Ford movie. Wayne was an uncredited extra in the 1928 movie, Mother Machree, 11 years before Stagecoach. It was Wayne’s friendship with Ford that helped cement Wayne as one of the most memorable actors of the twentieth century. Without it, he would never have starred in Stagecoach, which laid the foundation for his future collaborations with Ford.