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Shane
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Shane (1953)

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User Rating: 7.7/10 (10,235 votes)
Photos (see all 20 | slideshow)

Overview

Director:
George Stevens
Writers:
Jack Schaefer (novel)
A.B. Guthrie Jr. (screenplay)
(more)
Release Date:
24 September 1953 (Italy) more
Genre:
Drama | Western more
Tagline:
There never was a man like SHANE. There never was a picture like SHANE. more
Plot:
A weary gunfighter attempts to settle down with a homestead family, but a smoldering settler/rancher conflict forces him to act. full summary | full synopsis (warning! may contain spoilers)
Awards:
Won Oscar. Another 2 wins & 9 nominations more
NewsDesk:
Movie Bad Guy Palance Dead at 87 (From Studio Briefing. 13 November 2006)
User Comments:
Simple peaceful lifestyles threatened by land grabbing ranchers and sinister gunslinger, saved by a weary reluctant gunslinger. more

Cast

  (in credits order) (verified as complete)

Alan Ladd ... Shane

Jean Arthur ... Marian Starrett

Van Heflin ... Joe Starrett
Brandon De Wilde ... Joey Starrett

Jack Palance ... Jack Wilson (as Walter Jack Palance)

Ben Johnson ... Chris Calloway
Edgar Buchanan ... Fred Lewis
Emile Meyer ... Rufus Ryker
Elisha Cook Jr. ... Frank 'Stonewall' Torrey
Douglas Spencer ... Axel 'Swede' Shipstead
John Dierkes ... Morgan Ryker
Ellen Corby ... Mrs. Liz Torrey
Paul McVey ... Sam Grafton
John Miller ... Will Atkey, bartender
Edith Evanson ... Mrs. Shipstead
Leonard Strong ... Ernie Wright
Ray Spiker ... Axel Johnson - Homesteader
Janice Carroll ... Susan Lewis
Martin Mason ... Ed Howells
Helen Brown ... Martha Lewis
Nancy Kulp ... Mrs. Howells
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ewing Miles Brown ... Ryker Man (uncredited)
Bill Cartledge ... Ryker man (uncredited)
William Dyer Jr. ... Homesteader (uncredited)
Chester W. Hannan ... Ryker man (uncredited)
Alana Ladd ... Little Girl (uncredited)
David Ladd ... Little Boy (uncredited)
George J. Lewis ... Ryker man (uncredited)

Clayton Moore ... Ryker (uncredited)
Howard Negley ... Pete 'Yank' Potts, harmonica player (uncredited)
Charles Quirk ... Clerk (uncredited)
Steve Raines ... Ryker man (uncredited)
William Simonds ... Homesteader (uncredited)
Jack Sterling ... Ryker man (uncredited)

George Stevens ... Knock him into that pigpen, Chris! (voice) (uncredited)
Beverly Washburn ... Ruth Lewis (uncredited)
Henry Wills ... Ryker man (uncredited)
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Directed by
George Stevens 
 
Writing credits
Jack Schaefer (novel)

A.B. Guthrie Jr. (screenplay)

Jack Sher (additional dialogue)

Produced by
Ivan Moffat .... associate producer
George Stevens .... producer
 
Original Music by
Victor Young 
 
Cinematography by
Loyal Griggs 
 
Film Editing by
William Hornbeck 
Tom McAdoo 
 
Art Direction by
Hal Pereira 
Walter H. Tyler  (as Walter Tyler)
 
Set Decoration by
Emile Kuri 
 
Costume Design by
Edith Head 
 
Makeup Department
Wally Westmore .... makeup supervisor
 
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John R. Coonan .... assistant director (as John Coonan)
 
Sound Department
Gene Garvin .... sound recordist
Harry Lindgren .... sound recordist
 
Special Effects by
Farciot Edouart .... process photography
Gordon Jennings .... special photographic effects
 
Stunts
Russell Saunders .... stunt double: Alan Ladd
Paul Baxley .... stunt double (uncredited)
Wayne Burson .... stunts (uncredited)
Danny Sands .... stunts (uncredited)
Ray Spiker .... stunts (uncredited)
Henry Wills .... stunts (uncredited)
 
Camera and Electrical Department
Irmin Roberts .... director of photography: second unit
 
Editorial Department
Richard Mueller .... color consultant: Technicolor
 
Music Department
John C. Hammell .... music editor (uncredited)
Franz Waxman .... composer: stock music (uncredited)
 
Other crew
Joe De Young .... technical advisor (as Joe de Yong)
Fred Guiol .... associate director
Howie Horwitz .... assistant to producer
Charles Morton .... script supervisor (uncredited)
Rodd Redwing .... hand double: Alan Ladd (uncredited)
George Stevens Jr. .... production assistant (uncredited)
 
Crew verified as complete



Production CompaniesDistributors
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Additional Details

Runtime:
118 min | West Germany:90 min (cut version)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Technicolor)
Aspect Ratio:
1.37 : 1 more
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Recording)
Certification:
West Germany:12 (f) | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 (1953) | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (PCA #16223) | UK:PG (2003) | UK:U (1960) (cut) | Canada:14 (Nova Scotia) | Canada:PG | Australia:G
MOVIEmeter: ?
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Fun Stuff

Trivia:
George Stevens originally cast Montgomery Clift as Shane, and William Holden as Joe Starrett. When both decided to do other films instead, the film nearly was abandoned before Stevens asked studio head Y. Frank Freeman who was available. Upon seeing a list of actors with current contracts, Stevens cast Alan Ladd, Van Heflin and Jean Arthur within 3 minutes. more
Goofs:
Continuity: After the homesteaders arrive in town, Shane stands by out of the Grafton's store for a while. Then a woman approaches him from behind, right after a man. In the next shot the woman is replaced by a man. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Joey: Somebody's comin', Pa!
Joe Starrett: Well, let him come.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in Tian xia di yi quan (1972) more
Soundtrack:
I Ride an Old Paint (I'm A-Leavin' Cheyenne) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
28 out of 34 people found the following comment useful:-
Simple peaceful lifestyles threatened by land grabbing ranchers and sinister gunslinger, saved by a weary reluctant gunslinger., 6 June 2000
9/10
Author: terminator-3 from Dublin, Ireland

This western epitomises how a film should be made.

Classic scenery and outstanding performances from all. From the various cultures of the farmers bonding together through the harshness of farming life. Happy to raise families on land built and developed by their own hands. This is then threatened by the ranchers unwillingness to share the common land. Brutality and force is their tool, they try to force out the farmers (even resorting to hiring the gunslinger - Jack Wilson - Jack Palance). One farmer holds the other farmers together (Starett - Van Heflin), though even his resistance is weakening until a lone retired gunslinger rides in to save the day...

The sheer quality of characters and acting makes this film. The friendly (though not always) banter over Torrey's rebel background, the bond amongst the children, the affection shown in all families. The turning of Chris Calloway, the cold hearted nature of Ryker.

Finally the performances of the main characters. Van Heflin and Jean Arthur as the Starett's have a simple but loving relationship. Their son Joey loves his parents, but is greatly impressed by the mystery and skill of Shane (Alan Ladd).

Shane is reluctant to return to the way of the gun until Ryker hires a top gunslinger (Jack Palance). Palance is the perfect clinically precise cold hearted killer. Every aspect of his manner portrays cold efficiency (even to drinking water and mounting his horse).

There is simple humour added, for example when Shane is hit with an "Easy Chair".

Even the two dogs could act ! When Shane finally confronts Wilson the dog in the bar skulks with his tail between his legs.

The scenery and music were the icing on the cake.

This film will remain a benchmark for all western's to follow.

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Message Boards

Discuss this title with other users on IMDb message board for Shane (1953)
Recent Posts (updated daily)User
Spot the errors or inconsistencies KindredSouls
Apalling editing, adorable dog aheisler
Marian and Shane? lmcvo
Any other Shanes named after this movie? directingshane
does shane die ? johnpaulgeorgeandringo
Shane-great scenes that go unmentioned. crathie29
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