Stagecoach (1986 film)

Stagecoach
DVD cover for Stagecoach
Based on	The Stage to Lordsburg 1937 by Ernest Haycox
Screenplay by	James Lee Barrett
Directed by	Ted Post
Starring	Willie Nelson Kris Kristofferson Johnny Cash Waylon Jennings
Theme music composer	David Allan Coe Willie Nelson
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Producers	Hal W. Polaire Jack Thompson
Cinematography	Gary Graver
Editor	Geoffrey Rowland
Running time	100 minutes
Production companies	Heritage Entertainment Inc. Plantation Productions Raymond Katz Production
Original release
Release	May 18, 1986 (1986-05-18)

Stagecoach is a 1986 American made-for-television western action drama film and a remake of the classic 1939 film Stagecoach starring Kris Kristofferson as the Ringo Kid, the role originally played by John Wayne. Willie Nelson portrays famous gunslinger and dentist Doc Holliday. Johnny Cash portrays Marshal Curly Wilcox and Waylon Jennings plays the gambler, Hatfield. The four main stars of the film were associated as members of the country supergroup The Highwaymen.

Plot

In 1880, a group of strangers boards the east-bound stagecoach from Tonto, Arizona Territory to Lordsburg, New Mexico Territory. The travellers seem ordinary, but many have secrets that they are running from. Among them are Dallas, a prostitute who is being driven out of town; an alcoholic doctor, Doc Boone; pregnant Lucy Mallory who is meeting her cavalry officer husband; and whiskey salesman Samuel Peacock. As the stage sets out, U.S. Cavalry Lieutenant Blanchard announces that Geronimo and his Apaches are on the warpath; his small troop will provide an escort to Dry Fork.

Cast

• Willie Nelson as Doc Holliday
• Kris Kristofferson as Ringo / Ringo Kid / Bill Williams
• Johnny Cash as Marshal Curly Wilcox
• Waylon Jennings as Hatfield (Gambler)
• John Schneider as Buck (Overland Stage Driver)
• Elizabeth Ashley as Dallas
• Anthony Newley as Trevor Peacock (Old John's Whiskey Salesman)
• Anthony Franciosa as Henry Gatewood (Tonto Banker) (as Tony Franciosa)
• Merritt Butrick as Lieutenant Blanchard
• Mary Crosby as Mrs. Lucy Mallory
• June Carter Cash as Mrs. Pickett
• Jessi Colter as Martha

Production

Writing

There are some character name changes, but the plot is roughly based on that of the original film:

• The Doc character is Doc Boone M.D. in the original, but he is Doc Holliday, a dentist in the remake.
• In the original, Peacock, the whiskey salesman, travels all the way to Lordsburg, but here he leaves the coach at the first stop.
• Hatfield, the gambler, survives, whereas he is killed in the original.
• Gatewood the banker, meanwhile survives in the original but is killed here.
• Ringo deals with Luke Plummer alone in the original, but in the remake he is assisted by the Marshal, Hatfield and Doc.
• Ringo is still technically a jail-breaking criminal when the Marshal allows him to escape in the original, but his innocence has been proved when Luke Plummer asks the Marshal "How'd they find out he didn't do it?" in the remake.

Awards and nominations

Won

• Western Heritage Awards 1987: Bronze Wrangler for Fictional Television Drama
  • Raymond Katz (executive producer)
  • Willie Nelson (executive producer/actor)
  • Waylon Jennings (actor)
  • Kris Kristofferson (actor)
  • Johnny Cash (actor)
  • Elizabeth Ashley (actress)

Nominated

• American Cinema Editors, USA 1987 for Best Edited Television Special
  • Geoffrey Rowland

External links

• Stagecoach (1986 film) at the Internet Movie Database