In 1995, one of the all-time great Westerns, “Stagecoach,” was added to the Registry. Directed by that sagebrush master, John Ford, the film features–not surprisingly–John Wayne.
Writer and archivist Scott Nollen noted of the film’s value and influence by saying:
“Orson Welles, who named John Ford as his favorite filmmaker, claimed that he studied ‘Stagecoach,’ ‘over forty times’ before directing his innovative cinematic debut ‘Citizen Kane’ (1941). This assertion vividly illustrates the impact of ‘Stagecoach,’ a film historically, culturally and aesthetically significant.”
Read the rest of the Nollen’s “Stagecoach” (PDF) essay.
Title: “Stagecoach”
Year of Release: 1939
Year Added to the National Film Registry: 1995 (See all films added to the Registry in 1995)
Trivia: Other John Ford films on the Registry include “The Quiet Man,” “How Green Was My Valley” and “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.”
This blog post is the seventh of 30 in our” 30 Years of the National Film Registry” series which was launched to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Registry. The National Film Registry selects 25 films each year showcasing the range and diversity of American film heritage to increase awareness for its preservation. The 30th National Film Registry selections will be announced on December 12, 2018.
Comments
I enjoy reading about the various films on the National Film Registry and would love an opportunity to view them. Living in Greenville, South Carolina, I am not able to attend Library of Congress events. Could you please tell me how I might view the films reviewed on the Registry from my location? Thank you.