Review of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) by Loris R — 02 Jun 2010

Liberty Valance: You lookin' for trouble, Doniphon?

Tom Doniphon: You aim to help me find some?

A solid western that puts a number of great stars and western icons together. The film is well made, well acted, and has the right kind of elements that emphasize why these actors are all well regarded.

Senator Ranse Stoddard, played by Jimmy Stewart, returns to the city of Shinbone in the Wild West, to go to the funeral of his friend, Tom Doniphon. To a journalist, who's wondering what the senator is doing in Shinbone, he tells how his career started as "the man who shot Liberty Valance". As a lawyer he came to Shinbone to bring law and order to the west by means of law books. When the stagecoach is held up by outlaws, he is savagely beaten by Liberty Valance, played by Lee Marvin. He survives the attack and is nursed by his future wife, Hallie, played by Vera Miles. Hallie is being wooed by a local rancher, Tom Doniphon, played by John Wayne, who also starts to help Ranse with his principled grude against Valance. Ranse teaches the people of Shinbone to read and write, all the while trying to find a way of bringing Valance to justice.

I really liked the fact that this film shows me exactly what I find entertaining about each of the three male leads. Stewart is a nice guy, but principled and doing what he believes is right. Wayne embodies the cool cowboy swagger. Marvin is just bad ass throughout, even if he is a pretty big dick in this movie.

Certainly helping is the layout of this story. Flashbacks are handled appropriately and John Ford's direction further shows off the talent of a man who has directed a huge number of films.

Solid flick all around.

Link Appleyard: Did you know Liberty Valance is in town tonight?

Dutton Peabody: I'd be a poor newspaperman indeed if I didn't know what everybody knows!