Stagecoach

The thing to remember about remakes prior to the advent of home video is the originals were mostly only available cut for time and the square TV screen. Black and White films were mostly relegated to late nights. This is why it was easier to remake films in the past as most didn't have something to compare them to.

As to this film. It's a mostly competent western and the cast performs their roles admirably. Van Heflin and Slim Pickens give their usual solid performances. Bob Cummings is notably unlikable as the roll requires. They even make the choice to tie his storyline to the Ringo/Plummer story which is a good choice. Bing Crosby is excellent as Doc Boone. Powers, Buttons, and Connors are adequate but all are capable of better. At least with Powers, the role is supposed to be bland to contrast with Ann Margaret's Dallas. Margaret is also pretty good.

Alex Cord does his best, but is miscast. People tend to underestimate John Wayne's acting and it's sometimes justified in that he did tend to play the same character more or less. However the original film is where he fully formed that character for the first time and his screen presence is undeniable. There's a reason it was not only his breakout role, but a breakout for Westerns in general. The genre shaped Hollywood for decades to come. Cord just couldn't live up to that and wasn't suited to the role. He's got the nice guy part of the role down and his scenes with Margaret are probably the best. He just doesn't have the tough guy part down.