Review of Shane (1953) by Bill T — 09 Feb 2008
'Shane' is a western told on an incredibly grand scale. It tells the tale of a would-be-retired gunfighter who gets a job as a farm hand on a farm which is trying to eke out a living despite a land-owner's claim that the land is his! Soon, tensions boil over and Shane has to make tough decisions on whether he wants to continue old habits.
What really makes 'Shane' work, I believe are the performances, everyone from Van Heflin as the rancher, to Jean Arthur as his wife, and Jack Palance as Shane's gun-slinging foil. All are dynamite here. The one minor glitch I had, ironically enough, is the guy playing Shane himself, Alan Ladd. I felt Ladd, while good in this, just wasn't believable as a gritty character. He's just too soft lined for me.
Oh, one more thing. Brandon De Wilde.. Now THERE'S a child performance for you. He's just awesome in the movie, I'm just surprised he didn't get nominated for an Academy award for best supporting actor. Sacriledge!
This review of Shane (1953) was written by Bill T on 09 Feb 2008.
Shane has generally received very positive reviews.
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