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Title: The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| John Wayne | ... | ||
| James Stewart | ... | ||
| Vera Miles | ... | ||
| Lee Marvin | ... | ||
| Edmond O'Brien | ... | ||
| Andy Devine | ... | ||
 |
Ken Murray | ... | |
| John Carradine | ... | ||
| Jeanette Nolan | ... | ||
| John Qualen | ... | ||
| Willis Bouchey | ... | ||
|
|
Carleton Young | ... | |
| Woody Strode | ... | ||
| Denver Pyle | ... | ||
| Strother Martin | ... | ||
Storyline
When Senator Ransom Stoddard returns home to Shinbone for the funeral of Tom Doniphon, he recounts to a local newspaper editor the story behind it all. He had come to town many years before, a lawyer by profession. The stage was robbed on its way in by the local ruffian, Liberty Valance, and Stoddard has nothing to his name left save a few law books. He gets a job in the kitchen at the Ericson's restaurant and there meets his future wife, Hallie. The territory is vying for Statehood and Stoddard is selected as a representative over Valance, who continues terrorizing the town. When he destroys the local newspaper office and attacks the editor, Stoddard calls him out, though the conclusion is not quite as straightforward as legend would have it. Written by garykmcd
Taglines:
Together For The First Time - James Stewart - John Wayne - in the masterpiece of four-time Academy Award winner John FordParents Guide:
View content advisory »Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
28 May 1962 (UK) See more »Also Known As:
Un tiro en la noche See more »Box Office
Budget:
$3,200,000 (estimated)Company Credits
Technical Specs
Runtime:
| (cut)Sound Mix:
Mono (Westrex Recording System)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.85 : 1Did You Know?
Trivia
John Ford: [cards] Liberty Valance plays the Dead Man's Hand (Aces and Eights) before going out to duel Ransom Stoddard. See more »Goofs
In the flashback, Tom Doniphon tells Stoddard that he killed Liberty Valance, it is Stoddard who shoots first, than Doniphon. But since we've been shown that Stoddard can't hit the broad side of a barn (and in fact, his aim is wild), Doniphon's probably right. See more »Quotes
[first lines]Ransom Stoddard: [descending from railway carriage and consulting pocket watch] Thanks, Jason. On time.
See more »
Soundtracks
"A Hot Time in the Old Town"(1896) (uncredited)
Music by T'heo. A. Metz'
Played in the saloon and often in the score
See more »
Other reviewers, aside from seeing this as the end of the classic western, saw the plot as myth granting to one man that which was rightfully another's. I disagree. I see TMWSLV as a tale of a man stepping aside for the sake of a better man and a better world, at great personal cost.
I view Tom as someone who has lived a cynical life--kill it before it kills you. With the advent of Ransom he recognizes that there is a better way, and that Ransom, by defying evil from a position of weakness, is far braver than Tom, who has merely defied evil from a position of strength. Additionally, Ransom brings about an answer to the question "must the sword rule forever?" with a resounding "no," a denial that at first seems foolish to Tom, but who then realizes that things really should be Ransom's way.
And so Tom, knowing that one of them is the better man, allows that better man to receive the fame attendant to heroism; and in fact Ransom, for daring what Tom never did dare, is the true hero of the tale. Like all honest men must, Tom steps aside for the better man, knowing what it will cost him to do what is right.
An earlier reviewer said that the depiction of the politics was a parody; in fact, the politics of the early portion of the republics was even more lively (read: pugnacious) than is depicted in the film.