Re-Imagining American Communities: Hollywood, Hawks, and Ford in 1939 - Belton, John

Belton summarizes Boardwell who argued that classical Hollywood cinema is character centered and that its narratives are driven by dramatic agents in clearly defined goals. Progress is then built around the central character encountering and overcoming a serious of obstacles and closure occurs with that characters attainment or failure to achieve those goals. Belton also paraphrase Boardwell in that the obstacles that each character faces throughout the plot are set so that the characters may redeem themselves and re-invent their character so that he/she can be accepted by society or to restore the respect of their community that they once had. One of the main points that Belton tries to make about stagecoach and the western genre of the time is that individuals are only successful when they join a
community.

The film which Belton uses to prove these points is Stagecoach. In the film the passengers treat each other according to their positions in the community. Neither the Doc nor Dallas are respected by the other passengers, the Doc for being an alcoholic and Dallas for being a prostitute. While Mallory is highly respected for being considered high class and the wife to a calvery officer. This is proven in the film when their reach their first stop and the officer asks Mallory if she wishes to continue with the trip, due to the danger of Geronimo attacking. The officer doesn’ t think to ask Dallas what she thinks until Ringo points out that she is a lady too and should be asked. Another instance is when they are on the stagecoach continuing the journey and Mallory is offered water, she is served in a silver cup whereas Dallas isn’ t even offered any until Ringo once again points out that she is a lady too and should be offered water, even then she is made to drink out of the canteen instead of the silver cup.

As the film progresses these characters are faced with the obstacle of having to help Mallory give birth. The Doc is forced to sober up and deliver the baby and Dallas stays up to help Mallory take care of the child as she sleeps. The Doc is thanked and cheered after the deliver and Dallas is accepted as a kind and caring lady after helping Mallory in her time of need.