Stagecoach-Unforgiven-True Grit Comparison

Stagecoach and True Grit are both similar and different in not only their story, but also their style of filmaking. One of the main themes that is similar in both films is revenge. Revenge plays a major role in True Grit because Haylee Seinfeld's character Mattie Ross, wants revenge on the man that killed her father. Revenge plays a major role in Stagecoach because John Wayne's character Ringo wants to get revenge on the people that killed his family. Another way that these two films are similar is the way in which their stories are portrayed. In both films, action and gun use plays a major role. In stagecoach, a specific scene that stands out is when they are trying to get away from the Indians in the desert. There is a lot of running, shooting, and fighting in that scene alone. In True Grit, in the scene towards the end of the film, Mattie shoots and kills Tom Chaney along with Rooster Cogburn shooting a few people himself. Then when Mattie gets bit by the poisonous snake and has to be taken to a doctor, Cogburn uses all of his horses and his strength to get her there as fast as he can. Both displaying plenty of action.

Not only are Stagecoach and True Grit similar, but also True Grit and Unforgiven. These two films are similar in terms of theme and shot making. In both films, death seems to be the center of most of the film. In True Grit, the death of Mattie's father and in Unforgiven Will is attempting to take the life of the two cowboys that attacked Delilah and ruined her face. In the end though, he ends up taking the lives of more people than he expected. These films are also similar in the way their films were made. Both are created in more of a wide screen  feel. And they both use color to really accent the emotion to be given off for every scene. They are also similar with their two main characters. Both Cogburn and Munny are men that both had a past in killing. Both end up having to go back to their old ways because someone is forcing them to. In True Grit it's Mattie who begs Cogburn to come help her find her fathers killer and in Unforgiven it's the Schofield kid that begs Munny to help him kill the cowboys that committed the crime on Delilah. Both Cogburn and Munny accept the challenge and return to what they had stopped so long ago.

I think the theme of True Grit is more of a classic western with a little bit of revisionist added to it. The characters all seem similar to westerns I have seen in the past. Cogburn and LaBoeuf especially. The rough and tough cowboys with that severe twang accent really remind me of that classic western and also how they are not afraid to kill anyone that steps in their path. Mattie Ross I think is more of a revisionist character. In classic westerns, one usually does not see a girl or woman as tough and powerful as Mattie's character is.  She gives that little power to the woman that many classic westerns do not have. There is also quite a bit of comedy in True Grit that I think gives it more of a classic western stamp. I believe in most classic westerns there is a bit of comedic relief that goes along with a dramatic tale. Also, True Grit is more of a wide screen film like most classic westerns shot on a Steadicam and Dolly or Crane. There usually is not a lot of shaky camera movement that goes along with a hand held.