The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

To me this is a movie with a wonderful star-studded cast of favorites that I want to love, but just can't stand.Is it just me, or is this the worst cast movie of all time?Of course, it is a John Ford production with his standard crew, but their application in these roles completely destroys the entire movie.Another seemingly minor thing is the makeup. A number of scenes have the players in makeup so they look elderly (like that was needed). But, somehow it just makes the production look like a crappy high school play.I saw this film years ago and remember that I hated it. I saw that it was on the other day and figured I'd give it another try; I love a good western, and was probably too critical the first time around.No, I was right, this movie is appalling.It centers on a young idealist, fresh out of law school, who heads west to practice. That would be someone around 25 years old given the circumstances.The atrocious casting assigns the role to a 54 year-old James Stewart. His nemesis and rival for the hand of the lovely maiden in the story is a local no-nonsense tough-guy rancher. In real life this would probably be a 25 to 30 year-old experienced western man.The god-awful casting gives this role to a rapidly aging 55 year-old John Wayne.So, now we have two men supposedly infatuated with a young woman who would be the age of their grandchildren in real life.Another part is assigned to a ranch hand, also a supposed youth, who in one scene is kicked out of the room because he is "too young to vote."That part is played by 51 year-old O. Z. Whitehead.Again, we have the young and illiterate waitress who is ready to marry - a 16 to 18 year-old in those days.That part is given to 33 year-old Vera Miles. At least she is only one generation older than the part she is playing.So, in the end, this movie had everything going for it: An exciting western adventure full of interesting characters and some good plot twists.Unfortunately it is a great story completely ruined by a cast of geriatric actors.

Initially I'm not a fan of the western cinema but I do appreciate exceptional acting and chemistry among great actors. My Late Father-In- Law who was born in Europe had a fascination for the old west. Whenever I came over to visit him he had a western on the television. Western giants the likes of Cooper, Eastwood and Scott filled his last years of life as the Western Channel had an endless supply of movies for him to enjoy. One afternoon My Father-In-Law sitting in his regular perch overlooking 47th street in Queens,New York, in his familiar raspy voice said, "Hey Rob their a John Wayne movie and it's a classic lets go watch it. I"ll even order the Chinese food." That sold me. Not the film . The Chinese food. Paramount Pictures proudly presents The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. The movie starts out with an elderly well dressed Senator, Ransom Stoddard (Jimmy Stewart) and his wife Hallie (Vera Miles)as they arrive via the locomotive to the town of Shinbone? Somewhere in the American Southwest. The Stoddards came all the Way from Washington D.C. to pay their last respects to an old friend and rancher Tom Doniphon (John Wayne).The well dressed couple is recognized the moment they stepped off the train by a young reporter. The young journalist wants to know why the Senator returned to Shinbone? Then the Reporters's boss and the Mayor show up and take over the interview but the Senator says, "A man is more willing to give an interview in the comfort of the Shinbone Star office.", as he tells the others that he once worked there. The five convene at the Newspaper office as the Senator goes on about things in Washington (Not Shown). A familiar face of a generation before shows up. The paunchy cowardly Marshall Appleyard played by the colorful Andy Devine takes Mrs. Stoddard over to Tom Donophin's ranch via horse and buggy or what's left of the place out in the desert. Meanwhile the Editor wants to know why the special trip out west? Stoddard breaks down and confesses it's for a dear friend Tom Doniphin. The reporters asked why the long trip for a dead rancher? Stoddard gives in and tells the story and recounts the events that happened twenty five years earlier on that faithful night traveling westward involved in a stagecoach robbery and his first encounter with the beady eyed, mean and dastardly Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin). Valance and his henchmen rob everyone of their belongings which is too much for the young idealistic Attorney Ransom Stoddard to bear. With his life savings and huge supply of law books heads out west to serve justice in a gun crazy west? Valance holds up the stage and takes everything from our defenseless passengers. Stoddard tries to fight back but Valance whips the poor Lawyer to no end and leaves him for dead. Found and carried to the nearby Shinbone restaurant where he is tended to by Hallie (Vera Miles) and two Swedish immigrants the Ericson's Nora (Jeanette Nolan) and Peter (John Qualon). The Town seems in disarray with a Doc Willoughby (Ken Murray) who is a lush, The Newspaper editor Mr. Peabody (Edmund O'Brien)who quotes everything from Shakespeare to Greely for a nip at the bar.The chickenhearted Marshall Appleyard who I mentioned earlier has every excuse not to deal with the evil Valance. The only men with spines in that helpless hamlet are Tom Doniphin and his muscular sidekick Pompey (Willie Strode). Just love the "Pilgrum" characterization of the typical western tough guy as Wayne is a natural and handles the dialogue methodically. It appears that Wayne didn't sleep much during production as you see noticeable bags under his eyes. Probably spending the late hours after filming with Director John Ford doing excessive drinking and playing poker as fellow actors say,"What did you expect.Your in John Wayne's world." Stoddard is grateful to the Ericson's and Hallie for getting him back on his feet.. Stoddard wants to pay the town back by setting up a law practice and school as Stoddard is stunned to learn the most of the townspeople are illiterate. Doniphin has plans to marry Hallie as he and Pompey are fixing an extension on his Ranch a few miles out of Shinbone. Stoddard tells the stoic Doniphin that the law books will put Valance behind bars but Doniphin chuckles and says that guns put the man in check out here. Doniphin also notices that Hallie has her attentions to Stoddard teaching her how to read. In all truthfulness Doniphin could have blown away Valance from the start and there would be no story. This movie shot in black and white had such colorful characters that you didn't even notice the distinction. This makes for a great showdown as Marvin, Stewart and Wayne meet up for the showdown at sundown as the result of a dropped steak. Jimmy Stewart performance reminds me of the self righteous man he played earlier in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington film. Vera miles fresh off her role in Psycho gives a softer side yet she a sturdy woman who stands up well against the confident Wayne. Andy Devine's comedic timing adds for some reassurance during some rough scenes. Lee Marvin sustains his range of cold blooded hostility. Lastly our stand out performance goes to our alcoholic baritone Edmund O'Brien. As for the Duke is there anyone who could out take him? Maybe a lucky sock to the jaw by James Stewart. Now where's the Chinese food?

It's all been discussed, and I'm just too lazy to wade through 273 reviews. I'm just gonna say this. If any of you actually watched this movie, the only actor that was truly outstanding was Edmund O'Brien who played Mr. Dutton Peabody, the newspaper editor. Oh, sure, there were some other good actors, but O'Brien's performance in this movie is fantastic. I read the actors who were nominated for this Oscar; and okay, fine, they were great; Just NOT AS GREAT as Edmund. He's one of the ones who always turned in a fine performance, even when you hate him, you're recognizing the fact that it's his acting that makes it possible. R.I.P., and Thank you, Mr. O'Brien ...

Stewart plays Ransom Stoddard, a peaceful and idealistic attorney. Wayne plays Tom Doniphon, a tough sharp-shooter and complete opposite to Ransom. Both men share a common interest in the same woman, but also share a common dislike to the town's local thug, Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin). Lee Marvin plays Liberty Valance, a local thug who bullies the town with violence and intimidation, which is more than enough for Ransom to pair.But what was thought to be a miraculous moment for Ransom was actually a surprising twist near the end. Tom let Ransom take credit for killing Valance because he was a good man, and people had looked up to him for standing up to a bully, whereas Tom himself would've just be remembered as a gun-slinger who was always at odds with Valance, and it would've been a matter of time if one of them killed the other. Tom also knew that the same woman the two men vied for loves Ransom, so he accepted that the best man won her heart (and that's why he wanted Ransom to live, for her).Stewart and Wayne were both brilliant in the film. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance was one of the greatest western films of all. In 2007, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".