Review of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) by George C — 22 Dec 2009

I'll be the first one to admit that I'm not as big of a fan of the Ford/Wayne combo as some, but this is an outstanding flick. It's a film about myths and the changing of the west as Ransom Stoddard (James Stewart) comes to the west and goes from being a Greenhorn to a highly respected political figure all at the expense of the rough and though western figures Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin) and Tom Doniphon (John Wayne). It turns out that whatever is fact and what is fiction doesn't really matter. The west will never be the same after Ransom Stoddard makes his mark.

This wasn't the last time Wayne would star one of the "end of the wild west" films. But for my money, it's the best one. The budget was small, the film is dark and slow burning, but it's never boring. The performances are great and it's a film any western fan should see. A true classic that has only grown more popular over time with western fans.