Rating: 
Summary: Much more than a genre film
Review: Shane is well more than the classic gunfighter-hiding-from-his-past western, though it is that in part. Both the sombre, striking cinematography and the moral dilemma at the heart of the story are quite modern; they give this movie depth and poignance that make it seem as appropriate in company with, say, The Unforgiven as it is in company with The Virginian.A couple of examples of Shane's depth, hopefully without divulging anything crucial to the potential buyer: There are "good guys" and "bad guys" in Shane, sure. Ryker, the cattle man, intends to push the local "sodbusters" to regain his free range, and he's got the black hat on without a doubt. But the movie gives him his due, in a few ways. The moral question is not one of what the sides want, but of how they go about trying to get what they want. I respect that. A great deal of Shane's themes are almost tacitly told, too. For example, Shane's attraction to Mrs. Starrett is subtle; you're allowed to wonder a little what his intentions are. Above all else, the question of whether Shane will return to his past life is never said aloud, though it's the central plotline. That's the mark of exceptional writing. Add that sort of depth to very fine cinematography in perfect tune with the tone of the movie. No question, this is a great Western and a great film.
Rating: 
Summary: A Powerful Tale of Heroism
Review: If films today possessed just a fraction of the power and drama of Shane, few would find cause to criticize Hollywood for shallowness. Shane tells the tale of a former gunslinger who seeks to abandon his violent past in search of decently. He finds it in a yeoman farmer whose wife and small boy who take him in as a hired hand. Where so many westerns are little more than vehicles for transmitting clichés, Shane offers a serious moral tale with masterful plot-action and lightening-like intensity. In a battle for the ways of the future over the ways of the past, and the use of force in defense of honest values, Shane serves as an outstanding means to visit heroism (and its ending will leave you too saying "Shane! Don't go!"
Rating:
Summary: Superlative film
Review: Many people believe "The Searchers" is the greatest western ever made, but for my money, "Shane" beats it, hands down. The cinematography here is breathtaking, with the Tetons looming majestically in the distance. Alan Ladd never looked or sounded better, and he plays the title role with an understated elegance that belies the inherent roughness of Shane's character. Van Heflin gives his best performance as the long-suffering Joe Starrett and Jean Arthur has her best role since her Frank Capra films of the 1930's. She conveys just the right amount of sexual interest in Shane, combined with restraint and a genuine regard for her husband. There is an abundance of memorable, brilliant scenes: "Tory is dead!" as they deliver "Stonewall's" body back to the settlement. All of Alan Ladd's scenes with little Joey are poignant and beautifully drawn. Of course, the final scene, with Joey shouting, "Shane (echo....) Mama wants you (echo...) I know she does" never fails to brings tears to the eyes, even after multiple viewings. A genuine classic.
Rating:
Summary: memorable
Review: I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT THE JOEY WAS PLAYED BY JAN MICHAEL VINCENT!
Rating:
Summary: exellent western
Review: Ladd is at his best. It has all the qualities of a great western.Palance is a great villian, I wanted to shoot him myself. A truly classic film I can't wait to add this to my dvd collection.I would reccomend this film to any movie lover.
Rating:
Summary: Not all it appears
Review: For 5 yrs. now I've been writing a book about Wyoming's film history & am currently focused on Shane in particular. I live in Jackson, WY where most of the movie was made. I've been to & studied the location sites, gotten background stories from extras & people who worked on the film, studied reviews & the movie, compared it with the book and much more. One thing in particular I learned was about the touted meticulous work of G. Stevens which upon review of the film, isn's so meticulous after all. There are a lot of flubs & flaws in an otherwise classic story. However unfortunate, the movie is one of the all-time greats, at least in the western genre.
Rating:
Summary: Breathtaking achievement
Review: There is little I can add to the other reviews posted. Undoubtedly the finest western ever producted, and quite possibly the finest film. Ladd's performance is heartbreakingly beautiful, the finest of his career. Van Heflin is probably the most under-appreciated actor to grace the screen. His perfomance is flawless. Jean Arthur is wonderful, and DeWilde does a fine job. People say how great John Ford was at making westerns, and he was, but George Stevens, with little if any experience in the genre, comes out of nowhere, like Shane himself, to create this miracle of film-making. A monumental accomplishment.
Rating:
Summary: Classic family entertainment
Review: After reading the novel with my sons, we watched the video. Not surprisingly, the book is better. The movie is beautifully filmed, well-acted, and a great way to get kids into classic films, but as is so often the case when a book is made into a movie, much of the depth and nuances of the characters get cut out. Inexplicably in this film, names of major characters are changed, and major events happen to different characters. The film stands well on its own, but if you have read the novel, you may be a little disappointed. My husband, who had not read the book, loved the movie!
Rating:
Summary: One of the Very Best
Review: I have little to add to the other plaudits already made. A classic film, filled with classic scenes, memorable lines, and fine performances. I have seen it at least 50 times, starting with its original theatrical release when I was a kid, right through its current place in my video library. Highly recommended.
Rating:
Summary: Shane
Review: Shane ... unequaled, unrivalled, and unsurpassed. Forty years after I first saw Shane, I return to it again and again. No other film of the thousands I have viewed captures the American spirit of honor and duty that Shane epitomizes.
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