Arizona Stage Coach: Gunsmoke, Dust and a Swede’s Confusion

So, Arizona Stage Coach landed in my lap on a rainy Thursday in March (2021 I think), when I was sick in bed with some bland ICA rödbetssallad and the remote in my sweaty hand. Black and white westerns aren’t really my go-to, but there’s something comforting about the old-school Hollywood grit. It’s like a hot cup of Gevalia with too much socker, y’know?

This flick, cooked up by Sam Newfield (that guy sure pumped out films back in the 40s, like more than Arne Weise hosted Christmas shows), isn’t exactly nuanced, but it’s strangely charming. The big names – Bob Steele, Hoot Gibson, and the forever stoic Tom Tyler – they bounce around like they’ve had too much Jolt Cola. Sometimes I wonder if they filmed this between quick lunches, given how sharp their hats look but how tired their eyes seem. There’s an authenticity to their banter, makes me wanna dust off my toy cowboy-hat from midsommarfesten – yes, I still own it. Sue me.

This movie has villains shooting from behind rocks, creaky stagecoaches, and more dry landscape than a trip up to Lappland in May. The pacing? Bumpy. Like that boat to Gotland, when it’s choppy, you know? Still, I loved the sound of spurs on old wooden planks, and honestly, some of those minor characters look a bit like my old gym teacher in Huddinge.

What cracks me up most is how everyone looks so… clean, even after a gunfight. Makes me think about bussresan home from Skara Sommarland, all full of dust and Fruxo stains – definitely less glamorous.

If you’re into simple western fun with a weirdly cosy feel, give this a go. But maybe don’t analyse the plot too hard, especially if you’ve had a couple folköl. And if you get nostalgic, let it happen. Happens to the best of us.

watch the full movie on Mavshack Movies on YouTube

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