Review of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) by Stuart K — 17 Jan 2012

From the great John Ford, who was the original master of portraying the old west, comes this adaptation of Dorothy M. Johnson's short story, that brought together two of the biggest actors of it's day.

It's a very offbeat western as well, but it's two stars play off each other well, and it has a memorable baddie as well. U.S. State Senator Rance Stoddard (James Stewart) recalls the time he came to the border town of Shinbone, where he was attacked by outlaw bandit Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin).

He was left for dead, but he was found by local rancher Tom Doniphon (John Wayne), who has him taken in with restaurant owner Peter Ericson (John Qualen), his Swedish wife Nora (Jeanette Nolan) and illiterate daughter, Hallie (Vera Miles).

But, Rance settles in, and works for Ericson and his family. But, it's not long before Liberty Valance comes back to town, and threatens Rance and the Ericson family, but Tom wards him off. Meanwhile, Rance falls for Hallie, and he even goes as far as setting up a school in the town of Shinbone.

But, when newspaper man turned political delegate Dutton Peabody (Edmond O'Brien) is beaten nearly to death by Liberty and his men. Enough is enough. This is a very good western, it's very engaging and it has a good sense of humanity too, Wayne plays his tough guy well, Stewart is the everyman we've come to expect, but Lee Marvin nearly steals it with relish as the evil Liberty, it's one of Ford's better films.