Stage Coach Final Scenes

After finishing Stagecoach I couldn't help but think about the final moments. Immediately after the action-packed chase sequence between the Indians and the passengers on the stagecoach we find the group of characters finally making there way into Lordsburg. The interesting aspect of this section of Stagecoach is how director John Ford was able to create just as much action and suspense in a scene that is almost the complete opposite of an upbeat chase sequence.

One thing that instantly struck me was the sudden change of mood in the film. As soon as we get to Lordsburg (in the last 15 minutes of the movie) it is night time, one of the few dark scenes of the film. Ford manages to make the scene crowded yet desolate at the same time as we switch between intimate moments between the Ringo Kid and Dallas and hectic moments between the Plummer brothers and the other inhabitants of the bar. The lighting is fairly bright (looking incredibly staged) but also controlled as shafts of light emphasize certain parts and shadows cover others. 

Another interesting aspect of the scene is the music. Up until now the film has been filled with beautifully orchestrated music that is full and dramatic much like the stars of the film. But now, Ford uses much less non-diegetic sounds and fills the scene with people playing the piano and various voices speaking on and off-screen. The film seems to become much more realistic and dramatic in the final moments simply because of the lighting and lack of overly dramatic music numbers. The most tense moments of the film come in these final minutes that build towards the shootout between the Ringo Kid and the Plummers. Whenever Luke and his brothers are shown waiting, there is barely any music heard. This lack of audio makes people watching feel just as tense as the brothers are feeling as they wait for the Ringo Kid.

It's watching scenes like this that really make me admire director John Ford. Every moment of the film, whether it deals with the plot or the characters, was done for a reason. Once again the one thing I love more than anything else is the unconventional story of Stagecoach. The last scene of the film, although technically impressive, is also interestingly placed and set up inside the story.