MovieChat Forums > Stagecoach (1939) Discussion > Another puzzling scene I can't quite...

Another puzzling scene I can't quite...

posted 18 years ago by karmala2
8 replies | jump to latest

figure out. Has anyone noticed in the scene when the stagecoach is under siege by the Indians and all of the men take arms to fight them off Dallas is holding the baby with her back exposed and actually blocking the window (rather than crouching on the floor where I would assume would be less vulnerable to a hit).

But even more strange, Mrs. Mallory, in the midst of the chaos, bullets and flying arrows, is seated and positioned looking out the window with a rather bland/serene look on her face, looking as if she were merely watching a sunset or just enjoying the view. I mean, it looks so deliberate on her part as to give the impression that she is purposely trying to get herself harmed. I could never quite figure out her (and Hatfield's) m.o.'s.

I still love the movie, though.

"I told you a million times not to talk to me when I'm doing my lashes"!

[–] LionHearted99 18 years ago

Mrs. Mallory was pretty much a drag throughout this film. I suppose it could be argued that she was close to term with her pregnancy and not feeling her best. Nevertheless, she seemed a bit of a bore to me. Recalling that she had just given birth the night before, the calamitous indian attack perhaps had her in a state of shock...which might account for her bland look.
I watched this movie again for the upteenth time today. It still holds together wonderfully. It seemed to me that all of the main characters had dark sides, as well as good sides...except Any Devine...interesting.

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[–] RomaVictorrrr 18 years ago

Mrs. Mallory was praying, wasn't she?

Chaos all around her, seemingly no hope, her newborn baby in jeopardy, her husband and the cavalry close but not close enough. All she can do is look to God and pray.

Major drag, i guess, but i liked that touch.

Hatfield's move was great! In a creepy sort of way. It was a self-centered move. He completely believed he was doing the right thing in using his last bullet to spare the Lady, using his own outdated code of honor. I loved it. I was cringing when i saw this, feeling for both him and her, but hoping to God someone would STOP HIM! It was suspenseful.

Sorry. I love, love, love this movie.

As for the fiery Dallas, i figure there was so much activity and moving about inside the stagecoach that at one point she had to have her back to door. Who knows?

WHat a fun scene, though.

[–] Wakanohana 17 years ago

thatbugsy wrote: "Hatfield's move was great! In a creepy sort of way. It was a self-centered move. He completely believed he was doing the right thing in using his last bullet to spare the Lady, using his own outdated code of honor."

I would not describe Hatfield's code of honor as "outdated". If capture by savages/barbarians/terrorists was imminent, and it was known that they routinely raped and tortured women, then it would only make sense to ensure that the women NOT be taken alive. (Note, however, that Hatfield did not save a second bullet for Dallas. I guess he did not feel obliged to keep her from being raped and tortured.)

None of them were going to survive -- they were outnumbered and out of ammunition. In any frontier society -- Arizona, the Caucusus, parts of Africa or South America -- what Hatfield intended would be standard procedure. I would hope that if I were in a similar situation, and the woman was my wife or sister, that I'd be able to do what needed to be done. (Or I could take the coward's way out and put the last bullet in my own brain.)

[–] karmala2 17 years ago

In this case, Hatfield was being a bit premature. That, and the non-sympathetic look on his face as he aims his gun is why I always felt that something was amiss.
As for me, I would rather be handed the gun and let me make my own decision regarding my own fate rather than take a premature bullet.

"I told you a million times not to talk to me when I'm doing my lashes"!

[–] theFoss 18 years ago

I feel that Ford composed the shot with Dallas' body position to demonstrate her total willingness to self-sacrifice to protect a baby that is not even her own. The shot of Mrs. Mallory shows her looking up, out of the window, in prayer for deliverance. Hatfield, a son of a southern judge, had stated that he had served with Mallory's father in the Civil War. As the son of a gentleman, he probably was an officer, and on the same social level as Mrs. Mallory. He extended his protection to her, as a chivalric gentleman would, and would function as a chaparone/bodyguard.

The screenplay develops the characters with the apparently flawed, lower social classed characters, Prostitute, Alcoholic, and Felon, as actually being morally superior to the alledged upper class Characters, Mrs. Mallory (arrogant and bigoted), Hatfield (also a bigot, somewhat self-serving, and a slave to outdated ideals of class and Chivalry), and Gatewood (a selfish, greedy, grasping coward)

The three neutral characters...Buck, Sheriff and Peacock...are a greek chorus of tolerance and common sense.

[–] karmala2 18 years ago

Thanks.
All very interesting takes, esp. Dallas as the self-sacrificing surrogate mother and the morally superior lower classes. I agree.

"I told you a million times not to talk to me when I'm doing my lashes"!

[–] wadetaylor 17 years ago

I love the fact that you both mention Dallas' self sacrifice. I am in the middle of watching all of John Ford's films, and the theme of self sacrifice is present in literally every movie that he made.

[–] vinidici 16 years ago

karmala2:
In this case, Hatfield was being a bit premature. That, and the non-sympathetic look on his face as he aims his gun is why I always felt that something was amiss.

Are you refering to Hatfield's look of glee as he's firing on the Indian attackers? Seems to me he was re-living his "Confedarate glory days," there. He was probably visualizing the pursuing Apaches as "damn Yankees!"

I don't think Hatfield could forsee any outcome to this predicament other than the womenfolk being violated, then mutilated and murdered by the Apaches as their spoils of war. Remember, the stagecoach crew were all out of ammo, except for that last bullet that Hatfield reserved for the purposes, if need be, of euthanizing Mrs Mallory. And how was anyone to know that the Cavalry would come charging to the rescue at the last minute? After all, the stagecoach had long since parted company with an escorting Cavalry unit.

As for me, I would rather be handed the gun and let me make my own decision regarding my own fate rather than take a premature bullet.

Fortunately, Mrs Mallory probably never learned what Hatfield was about to do before a sudden mortal wound prevented him from carrying out his intentions. But a sense of reverence and indebtedness toward his old C.O. obliged him to save his captain's daughter from a much more horrible form of death than a swift bullet through the brain would provide.

It's one of those things that's so uncomfortable to think about, really; what would, or should, ANYONE do when confronted with what seems to be insurmountable odds and no apparent hope of escape? And how could anyone choose to allow those for whom they care to face the sole alternative to dying quickly, i.e., being raped before dying ANYWAY in a horrible and unthinkable manner?

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