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     The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
1962  NR  WESTERN  2h 3min
CAST— James Stewart, John Wayne, Vera Miles, Lee Marvin, Edward O’Brien, Andy Devine, Woody Strode, Jeanette Nolan, Ken Murray, John Qualen, Strother Martin, Lee Van Cleef, John Carradine, Carleton Young
MUSIC— Cyril J. Mockridge, Alfred Newman  DIRECTOR— John Ford  BASED ON— The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (story), by Dorothy M. Johnson

     Just who did shoot that notorious outlander? James Stewart stars as a prominent politician returning to the town of Shinbone, the town where it all began. In flashback he tells the tale of a younger Stewart, fresh out of law school, ambitious, headstrong, a real go-getter. This younger version of himself runs afoul of a band of marauders led by one Liberty Valance, played by Lee Marvin. Seeing this as one big unjustified mess Stewart tries to use morals and law on Marvin, all to no avail. On the other hand Stewart does gather support from the local populace, who view him as teacher, mentor and man of the people; they even go so far as to elect him into their legislature. A fine cast (including John Wayne as the brawny but trustworthy ally) highlights this simple Western that has a stage-like quality not seen very often in John Ford pictures. Deemed “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant” by the United States Library of Congress National Film Registry.
OUR RATING— ***