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Stagecoach
DVD cover for Stagecoach
GenreAction
Drama
Western
Based on"The Stage to Lordsburg"
1937 Collier's
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 originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
Executive producersRaymond Katz
Willie Nelson
ProducersHal W. Polaire
Jack Thompson
Robert Michael Steloff (associate producer)
Production locations Sonoran Desert
Old Tucson - 201 S. Kinney Road, Tucson, Arizona
Sierrita Mountains
Cascabel, Arizona
Mescal, Arizona
Tucson Mountains
Ironwood Forest National Monument
Santa Cruz River
San Pedro River
Rincon Mountains
Santa Rita Mountains
Redington, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Cinematography Gary Graver
Editor Geoffrey Rowland
Running time100 minutes
Production companiesHeritage Entertainment Inc.
Plantation Productions
Raymond Katz Production
Original release
Network CBS
ReleaseMay 18, 1986 (1986-05-18)

Stagecoach is a 1986 American made-for-television Western action drama film and remake of the classic 1939 film Stagecoach, directed by Ted Post and 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 (Nelson, Kristofferson, Cash and Jennings) were associated as members of the country music supergroup The Highwaymen. The supporting cast features Elizabeth Ashley, Anthony Newley, Tony Franciosa, Mary Crosby, June Carter Cash and Jessi Colter.

Plot

In 1880, a group of strangers boards the east-bound stagecoach from Tonto, Arizona Territory, to Lordsburg, New Mexico Territory. The travelers seem ordinary, but many have secrets from which they are running. Among them are Dallas, a prostitute, who is being driven out of town; an alcoholic dentist, Doc Holliday; pregnant Lucy Mallory, who is meeting her cavalry officer husband; and whiskey salesman Trevor 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

Production

Writing

The plot is roughly based on that of the original film, but some character changes were made:

  • The "Doc" character is Doc Boone, M.D., in the original, but is Doc Holliday - a dentist - in the remake.
  • In the original, Peacock, the whiskey salesman, travels all the way to Lordsburg, but leaves the coach at the first stop in the remake.
  • Hatfield, the gambler, is killed in the original, but in the remake, he survives.
  • Gatewood, the banker, survives in the original, but is killed in the remake.
  • Ringo deals with Luke Plummer alone in the original; 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 proven 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