The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
Short description
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is a classic western film that has stood the test of time. Directed by John Ford, this 1962 movie stars James Stewart, John Wayne, and Lee Marvin in a story about a small town in the Wild West.
The movie begins with Ransom Stoddard (James Stewart) arriving in Shinbone, a small town in the Wild West. He is there to attend the funeral of Tom Doniphon (John Wayne), an old friend who had saved his life many years before. As he reminisces about his past with Tom, we learn that Ransom was once a lawyer from the East who had come to Shinbone to practice law. However, he soon found himself up against Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin), a ruthless outlaw who terrorized the town and its citizens.
Ransom eventually stands up to Liberty and challenges him to a duel. In an iconic scene, Tom steps in and shoots Liberty instead of Ransom, thus saving his life and becoming a hero in the eyes of the townspeople. The rest of the movie follows Ransom as he returns to Shinbone many years later as an important politician from Washington D.C., only to find out that Tom's heroic act has been forgotten by most people in town.
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is an excellent example of classic western filmmaking at its best. The cinematography is beautiful and captures the vastness of the Wild West perfectly. The performances are also top-notch; James Stewart gives an understated yet powerful performance as Ransom Stoddard while John Wayne and Lee Marvin both deliver memorable performances as Tom Doniphon and Liberty Valance respectively. The script is also well-written with plenty of memorable lines that have become iconic over time such as "When the legend becomes fact, print the legend".
Overall, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is an excellent western film that has stood the test of time due to its great performances, beautiful cinematography, and well-written script. It's definitely worth watching for any fan of classic westerns or anyone looking for an entertaining movie night experience!