Stream it now The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance 1962

 

Forget The Searchers, this is John Ford's masterpiece.

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.

John Ford is the king of the Western film genre, and he doesn't fail in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance consists of an unlikely acting duo, Jimmy Stuart and John Wayne, but they have a great chemistry working together. Ford's camera work and metaphors (such as Liberty getting the dead man's hand in a game of poker) is delightful in this movie. However, the only downside of this movie is the fact that it's very much the same as many of Ford's other movies. The story line is the only downside of the movie, but the characters and terrific acting draw the audience into the movie. This movie will be great for any die hard Western fans or maybe even Jimmy Stuart fans. John Ford's movie making capabilities will never cease to amaze.

The build up is slow, but Wayne and Stewart carry it brilliantly all the way to a fantastic finish.

One of the best movies ever and a memorial to my father, John Clem Johnson.....

Gawwwd damn (spits tobacco juice). I'm going to go ahead and call THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE my favorite western of all time; and, therefore, the best western of all time ;)

I underestimated this one. I really did not like THE SEARCHERS for some reason (I need to rewatch, though), and my opinion of John Ford suffered because of it. I only watched the film because Escapefromalcatraz and I made a deal: I would watch 'LIBERTY VALANCE,' and he'd watch THE MAN WITHOUT A PAST. Win-win situation, because both are fantastic movies, this ultimately eclipsing the other (although that's comparing apples and oranges).

As many have pointed out, the acting in this film is superb. Jimmy Stewart (who I was pleasantly surprised was in it) is pitch- perfect as a city slicker in over his heels. Vera Miles is damn sexy as his wife, Lee Marvin is downright terrifying as a sadistic menace, and John Wayne has one of his best performances (again, in my opinion, his all-time best) as Tom Donovan. It's a tour-de-force, career making performance. Clint Eastwood, hang up your saddle; John Wayne shames you in 'LIBERTY VALANCE'. Illest had a great point, that Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne are fantastic together. In the scene where Tom calls Rance to his house to shame the city-boy at shoot the can, the pair burn holes in the screen.

And those are not easily-spoken words. Eastwood is a monster in THE OUTLAW JOSEY WALES (previously my favorite western) and THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY (which goes without saying). THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE is a timeless film and a superb western.

Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne are fantastic together, but its not just great acting that drives this film- it has an excellent plot and is incredibly well written and directed. I honestly don't know what to say about this movie other than that it does pretty much everything right and knows exactly what it wants to be and where its going at all times. It is much easier to point out short comings in movies than to explain successes I guess. So thats that.

Great movie - it said so much without spending too much time talking. I really felt for the characters, too (I love westerns, but it's not that often that I feel so deeply for the characters.)

this is the only film (post-stardom) in which John Wayne took second-billing

I can't imagine why, as this was hands down the best performance of his career

9/10

The end of the old western and the start of the new era of western heroes who face moral dilemmas that can't be solved by firepower alone. A thinking man's western.