Community on the Margins: Stagecoach (1939) w/ Anthony Esolen

John Ford's Stagecoach is a classic of the American Western that both elevated the genre and catapulted the career of its breakout star, John Wayne.

Well-known Catholic writer and cultural commentator, Anthony Esolen, joins James and Thomas this week to discuss the film against the backdrop of the civil unrest incited by the death of George Floyd.

Of Ford, Tony observes: "He makes movies about the way people come together to form a real society with their common good in mind, and he shows how that can fall apart because of human stupidity or selfishness — their pride, their avarice, their hardheartedness.”

Next time, we discuss A Man for All Seasons, the film adaptation of Robert Bolt's play about St. Thomas More. Join the discussion in our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CatholicPods/

Links

Tag Gallagher on Stagecoach: https://vimeo.com/40092986

Anthony Esolen interview on The Catholic Culture Podcast: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/episode-55-hundredfold-anthony-esolen/

Jonathan Roumie interview on The Catholic Culture Podcast: https://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/ep-76-playing-jesus-on-chosen-jonathan-roumie/

Sex and the Unreal City: https://www.amazon.com/Sex-Unreal-City-Demolition-Western/dp/1621643069/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=the+Unreal+city&qid=1591137583&s=books&sr=1-4&fbclid=IwAR3uI9d9Mdu_o9lMVSsqy_9QJsFJIWLdCaqP3YgROTiDG8MeqkJ5llescx4&pldnSite=1

The Hundredfold: https://www.ignatius.com/The-Hundredfold-P3358.aspx

Music: The Duskwhales, “Take It Back”, used with permission. https://theduskwhales.bandcamp.com/