The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

Rating:
Summary: I'm Really Not a Fan of Westerns, But............
Review: John Ford's "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" is a marvelous movie, regardless of how you feel about Westerns. This isn't a movie about outlaws, or something violent, but a study of the fight between old and new in our society. John Wayne's rugged cowboy represents the old, untamed west. Jimmy Stewart's refined and educated lawyer represents the order and civilized nature of a new west. Both clearly love the land they live on in different ways, and when the time comes to protect the people of the west from the evil Liberty Valance (played to perfection by Lee Marvin), they team up to save the day. In the end, Stewart's way of life, the way of progress, wins out. However, as can be seen by the memories the major characters have at the start of the film, the old west never really dies. The movie is just brilliant, with all the leads in top form, especially the forgotten Vera Miles as the woman both Wayne and Stewart love.

Rating:
Summary: "I Told You Liberty...."
Review: John Ford's last great film united him once again with the greatest star of all time, John Wayne! The film is about James Stewart as a tenderfoot lawyer who falls in love with a young women (Vera Miles.) The thing is John Wayne also has a thing for her. However James and Vera get married and leave town. When Wayne dies they return to pay there last respect. (The film starts out with him already dead.) James tells his life story to the towns newspaper. The only reason that James lived was because he had to shoot Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin-in one of his best performances). But the thing that is most important is that Wayne is the one that helped save Stewart. With Wayne's tough guy personality and Stewarts nice-guy style. Both combine to make a memorable film. Look quickly for Lee Van Cleef as one of Marvin's gang members. The last great film by one of Hollywood's biggest legends. John Ford! Remember that "When The Legend Becomes Fact, Print The Legend" Grade:B+

Rating:
Summary: I love this movie!
Review: This is great movie with a great cast.John Wayne,Jimmy Stewart,Lee Marvin,Vera Miles,and Andy Devine as the wimpy sheriff.

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Summary: A parable of Americas war against terrorism
Review: The other day, in a conversation with my brother, he made mention that the underlying theme of this movie was a polemic against big business. Viewing the film again, I can see his point but I came away with quite another viewpoint. Although unintentional, this movie demonstrates what America's response to our war in terror should be.

Think about it, the idealist Ransom Stoddard (Jimmy Steward) comes west to make his fortune and to help civilize the frontier. Before he even arrives in Shinbone, his stagecoach is robbed and the outlaw Liberty Valance mercilessly beats him. Not only is Ransom beaten, but Stoddard's law books, which represent civilization, are torn and thrown into the dust. Ransom determines to find justice through the law, but to no avail.

Throughout the movie, Stoddard endeavors to bring civilization to Shinbone, whether by opening his law practice, teaching people how to read, or accepting nomination for public office. In the end, however, it is not the law books nor the Sheriff that ends Libertys reign of terror, but Stoddard who must abandon his law books and pick up a gun. Of course, we know that it was actually Tom Doniphon (John Wayne) who shot Liberty Valance.

Now about our war on terror. The liberal left has viewed the war on terror as a legal issue to be resolved through the court system. Preemptive strikes against terrorism is considered by the left as brutish Republican behavior. Evidence must be gathered, the terrorist rights must be protected, and courts of law must adjudicate the issues. But, terrorist, like Liberty Valance are evil. They feed off of the fear of others. Until we put the law books down, and pick up our .45s, terror will reign. Civilization was brought to Shinbone only after Liberty Valance lay dead in the street, his body riddled with bullets. The war of terror will only be won by the West when those who perpetrate it are killed. It is not a nice thought, but a necessary one.

Rating:
Summary: One of John Wayne's best
Review: Critics of John Wayne have often said that he only ever played one kind of Western character: a crude, tough-as-nails, trigger-happy, and irrational man who mistreated women but got their love anyway. Well, this movie should silence those critics. Wayne plays a gunslinger all right, but the character here (Tom Doniphan) is a unique one, to be sure.

Also starring in this movie is James Stewart, who plays a young lawyer coming to bring 'law and order' to the West. He manages to get tangled up with a notorious villain, Liberty Vallance (Lee Marvin), and from there he and Doniphan's paths cross until SOMEBODY shoots Liberty.

This is a great film by a great Director (John Ford). It leaves you with something to think about, and will definitely not allow you to think of the Duke's character (Doniphan) as a flat, one-sided gunman. In fact, this is Ford's idea of a sort of Western tragedy, and it is a good one. For storyline and plot, there are few John Wayne movies that top the Man Who Shot Liberty Vallance.

Rating:
Summary: John Ford's most profound work of art.
Review: "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" is for my money the most profound and deeply felt work of art in John Ford's filmography. Lacking the scenic values of "The Searchers" or even "Stagecoach," the movie zeroes in on what may be the most complex and fascinating group of characters in any Western. James Stewart plays Ransom Stoddard, newly credentialed lawyer and greenhorn in the rough frontier town of Shinbone; John Wayne is Tom Doniphon, longtime town resident famous for settling disputes with his fists and his six-gun. Their differing ways of dealing with Liberty Valance, one of the lowest, meanest, most sadistic outlaws in Western movie history (played by Lee Marvin in perhaps the best bad-guy turn of his career) sets up the central conflict from which emanate all the themes of this uncommonly rich, satisfying film. Here in one two-hour film is the entire story of how the Western frontier gave way to civilization, and what precisely was gained and lost in the taming of the West. There are scenes of palm-sweating suspense here--particularly the central showdown with Valance--as well as performances as brilliant as Ford ever coaxed from an ensemble cast. Stewart, Wayne and Marvin at least equal their career bests here, as do such estimable veterans as Edmond O'Brien, Vera Miles, Woody Strode, Andy Devine, John Qualen, Jeanette Nolan and John Carradine. The final, breathtakingly ironic line of dialogue will stay with you for a long, long time.

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Summary: Saddest western ever made -box of tissues
Review: So sad to die of a broken heart. The cactus rose will alway be of keen meaning. The ending is so tearfull. The simple musical chords tug on the heart. Nothings too good for the man who shot Libert Valance.

Rating:
Summary: John Ford's most profound work of art.
Review: "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" is for my money the most profound and deeply felt work of art in John Ford's filmography. Lacking the scenic values of "The Searchers" or even "Stagecoach," the movie zeroes in on what may be the most complex and fascinating group of characters in any Western. James Stewart plays Ransom Stoddard, newly credentialed lawyer and greenhorn in the rough frontier town of Shinbone; John Wayne is Tom Doniphon, longtime town resident famous for settling disputes with his fists and his six-gun. Their differing ways of dealing with Liberty Valance, one of the lowest, meanest, most sadistic outlaws in Western movie history (played by Lee Marvin in perhaps the best bad-guy turn of his career) sets up the central conflict from which emanate all the themes of this uncommonly rich, satisfying film. Here in one two-hour film is the entire story of how the Western frontier gave way to civilization, and what precisely was gained and lost in the taming of the West. There are scenes of palm-sweating suspense here--particularly the central showdown with Valance--as well as performances as brilliant as Ford ever coaxed from an ensemble cast. Stewart, Wayne and Marvin at least equal their career bests here, as do such estimable veterans as Edmond O'Brien, Vera Miles, Woody Strode, Andy Devine, John Qualen, Jeanette Nolan and John Carradine. The final, breathtakingly ironic line of dialogue will stay with you for a long, long time.

Rating:
Summary: Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne's Definitive Western
Review: John Wayne was never more of a tough cowboy than in this John Ford Masterpiece, Pilgrim, and James Stewart was never more the aw-shucks embodiment of educated idealism. Together they are rivals for Vera Miles, but they are also united against the outlaw who terrorizes the territory, Lee Marvin's Liberty Valance. Marvin is almost over the top as the evil Valance, but that is sort of the point - that he is a man universally recognized as evil. The question isn't "is Liberty Valance bad?" but rather which approach is more appropriate to combat him - fighting fire with fire (as exemplified by John Wayne's Tom Doniphon, the only man in the territory who is not intimidated by Liberty Valance) or whether "law and order" should prevail, as personified by Mr. Stewart's newly arrived Eastern Lawyer, Ransom Stoddard. The first time I saw this film the way that this central conflict was resolved surprised me - one of the biggest "twists" in the Western genre.

In my humble opinion it wasn't until Clint Eastwood's "Unforgiven" that another Western even approached the stature of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.

Rating:
Summary: DON'T FORGET LEE!
Review: Most like to think of this one as a John Wayne/Jimmy Stewart classic (both of whom are splendid in the movie), forgetting the wonderful part that Marvin played as the sinister gunman, Liberty Valance. More than his role in CAT BALLOU I believe that this film truly showcases Marvin's abilities as a western actor.

THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE, a John Ford western classic, tells the story of Ransom Stoddard (Stewart), an eastern lawyer come west at the behest of the legendary Horace Greeley (Go west, young man...). Looking for an idyllic paradise where law and order could flourish Stoddard finds, instead, a wild country governed by the good and the bad (some ugly) with intimidation and guns.

The best of the good is a man name Tom Doniphon (Wayne) who befriends Stoddard despite the interest his girlfriend, Hallie (played by Vera Miles) shows in the newcomer. Doniphon looks to the future while accepting the fact that in order to survive at the time a gun and a willingness to use it is mandatory.

Prairie politics lead to violence as Liberty Valance plies his deadly trade as a hired gun. When Stoddard seemingly keeps Valance from being elected as a territorial delegate to the state convention Valance calls Stoddard out. Who will win the gunfight? The "dude" lawyer who is determined to stick it out and without a gun? Or will the ornery hired gun have his way? And who gets the girl? Who did shoot Liberty Valance after all? You'll have to watch this one and find out.

A great supporting cast includes Edmond O'Brien (THE WILD BUNCH), Andy Devine (famous for his voice in Disney cartoons), John Carradine (THE SHOOTIST), and Woody Strode (ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST).

THE HORSEMAN