The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

Starring: James Stewart, John Wayne, Vera Miles, Lee Marvin, Edmond O'Brien, Andy Devine, Ken Murray
Directed by: John Ford
Rating: Not Rated
Genre: Western
1962

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: In a series of flashbacks, a Governor (James Stewart) recalls his attempt to civilize an unruly town plauged by Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin). An experienced cowboy (John Wayne) helps him get rid of the corruption caused by Valance.

Review:

Tim: Any movie pairing up two iconic figures like James Stewart and John Wayne is worth checking out. Luckily, their talent isn't wasted, because this is a very good movie. It is generally regarded as one of the best Westerns of all time, and for good reason.

Stewart just plays himself, the role that people love him in. He makes a sharp contrast to the softer spoken, tough-as-nails John Wayne. The two actors seemed to enjoy working together and every scene with the both of them is fascinating to watch. They make a very interesting team.

The story is superb about a town dealing with a troublemaker (played very well by Lee Marvin) and how two very different men- Stewart and Wayne- deal with him. Like all good Westerns, this one deals with honest men facing off against corrupt ones. This coupled with an interesting subplot about a territory's big for statehood, offers up plenty of fine entertainment.When you put in a love triangle between Stewart, Wayne, and the woman they both care about- well my friends, you have the makings of a classic on your hands.

Stewart and Wayne are two of the Western genre's biggest stars and they only get better when they're both on screen together. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is a towering achievement and one of the genre's best films. No matter how you feel about Westerns, you really should love this movie. If you're not a fan, this might be the one that changes your mind.



Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating- 8



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