Territory. Driven by Buck (Andy Devine), the passengers include
the "notorious gambler" Hatfield (John Carradine), the drunk
Doc Boone (Thomas Mitchell), the wife of cavalry man Lucy
(Louise Platt), the marshal Curley (George Bancroft), the whiskey
salesman Mr. Peacock (Donald Meek), the banker Gatewood
(Benton Churchill), and lady of ill repute Dallas (Claire Trevor).
They are joined by Ringo (John Wayne), an escaped convict who
offers to protect the stagecoach against the Apaches. Another of
director John Ford's tales of redemption, each character finds his
or her own way along their shared journey.
1940 novel is a critique of the socioeconomic impact of the
Great Depression. Henry Fonda leads the Joads, a family of
tenant farmers, on their odyssey westward to the "Promised
Land" of California. Filmed with low-key lighting and expert
cinematography, the film captures rural America in the 1930s.
The film was nominated for seven Academy Awards, winning two
(Ford's Best Director Oscar is housed within IU's own Lilly Library).
at the O.K. Corral. This historical battle between the Earp family
(starring Henry Fonda as Wyatt) and the Clanton family has come to
symbolize the collision of the "wild" west with "civilization."
families, the contrast between different racial and ethnic groups,
and the juxtaposition of the frontier landscape with modern fixtures
such as a church, saloons and barbershops. Throughout the film,
there are scenes of thrilling adventure, suspense, and drama, all
representative of life along America's western frontier.
character of a man and the nature of convenient truths. Ransom Stoddard (Stewart) rises to power when he is
credited with ridding his town of a murderous villain (played by Marvin). Stewart and Wayne represent two competing
codes: one seeking peaceful solutions, the other looking to shoot first and ask questions later. Though both are vying
for the love of Miles, they must unite against Marvin's villain, who represents pure evil.