Review of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) by Ross B — 08 Jan 2012

Another classic western from the master of the genre, John Ford. The film stars Jimmy Stewart as Ransom Stoddard, a current senator who visits his hometown of Shinbone for the funeral of an old friend named Tom Doniphon (John Wayne).

When the local paper gets wind of Senator Stoddard's arrival, they instantly want to do a story on him and about the man whose funeral he is here for. What Stoddard decides to tell them though is the true story of the life changing moment of his life, the moment when he shot Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin).

What follows is mostly a flashback to show how the pacifist lawyer/educator Stoddard came to Shinbone and stirred up hope within the town, much to the disdain of the outlaw Valance. Stoddard has also caught the eye of a local waitress named Hallie (Vera Miles), who is also in love with Tom Doniphon.

Doniphan himself is a local farmer and tough guy who seems to be the real muscle of the town. Stoddard and Doniphon have a sort of friendship and yet also a rivalry. Wayne and Stewart play off of each other nicely with both of them standing as great representatives of two different forms of law and order.

Marvin though steals the screen every time he is on. As the drunk and terribly violent Liberty Vallance, Marvin strikes true fear in his enemy and shows that he truly has no conscience whatsoever. Another classic western and a film that explores what the truth really is.