Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
starring: James Stewart, John Wayne, Vera Miles, Lee Marvin, Edmond O'Brien
directed by: John Ford
directed by: John Ford
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"When the legend becomes fact, print the legend." That's more than the code of a newspaperman in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance; it's practically the operating credo of director John Ford, the most honored of American filmmakers. In this late film from a long career, Ford looks at the civilizing of an Old West town, Shinbone, through the sad memories of settlers looking back. In the town's wide-open youth, two-fisted Westerner John Wayne and tenderfoot newcomer James Stewart clash over a woman (Vera Miles) but ultimately unite against the notorious outlaw Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin). Ford's nostalgia for the past is tempered by his stark approach, unusual for the visual poet of Stagecoach and The Searchers. The two heavyweights, Wayne and Stewart, are good together, with Wayne the embodiment of rugged individualism and Stewart the idealistic prophet of the civilization that will eventually tame the Wild West. This may be the saddest Western ever made, closer to an elegy than an action movie, and as cleanly beautiful as its central symbol, the cactus rose. --Robert Horton
"When the legend becomes fact, print the legend." That's more than the code of a newspaperman in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance; it's practically the operating credo of director John Ford, the most honored of American filmmakers. In this late film from a long career, Ford looks at the civilizing of an Old West town, Shinbone, through the sad memories of settlers looking back. In the town's wide-open youth, two-fisted Westerner John Wayne and tenderfoot newcomer James Stewart clash over a woman (Vera Miles) but ultimately unite against the notorious outlaw Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin). Ford's nostalgia for the past is tempered by his stark approach, unusual for the visual poet of Stagecoach and The Searchers. The two heavyweights, Wayne and Stewart, are good together, with Wayne the embodiment of rugged individualism and Stewart the idealistic prophet of the civilization that will eventually tame the Wild West. This may be the saddest Western ever made, closer to an elegy than an action movie, and as cleanly beautiful as its central symbol, the cactus rose. --Robert Horton
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Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: 
- A Film for American Studies Departments
There is good reason to believe that the reviewer M. S. Anderson is as right as right can be. Having just edited an encyclopedia concerned with the Old West, I can confirm that the professorial class is keeping this movie alive. After several months of reading seemingly hundreds of worshipful citations of this routine film and especially of its signature cliché--the meaningless line about printing the legend when the legend becomes fact (as if newspapers routinely print the truth!)--I began watching ... Read More
Rating: 
- Print The Legend
Stylistically, this is a very interesting film from director John Ford.The film begins with alot of colorful characterizations familiar to audiences with films as diverse as "Stagecoach" and "The Searchers".There's also alot of brutal realism which would anticipate the work of Sam Peckinpah.It's also interesting that Ford contrasts the traditional western as represented by John Wayne with the new west represented by James Stewart who made a series of "psychological" westerns in and around this time. ... Read More
Rating: - A parody
This is an unintentional parody of the Western movie.The cliches, stereotypes, corny lines, and macho nonsense are present in abundance.There are signs of trouble from the beginning, when we learn immediately that there will be a flashback: Jimmy Stewart is shouting his lines.Later, John Wayne swaggers and sniggers, Andy Devine whimpers and attempts to be amusing, Edmund O'Brien does an awful drunk act, things are rowdy in the local saloon...well, you understand if you're over 13.Watch how fast Stewart ... Read More
Rating: - One of the best
One of the best John Wayne movies, and Stewart is miscast, but still does a fine job.
Rating: - "Nothing is too good for the man who shot Liberty Valance!"
As the "Old West" is dying and statehood and a new, more complex society looms, a Senator, played by Jimmy Stewart returns to his humble beginnings of Shinbone to attend the funeral of his friend, played by John Wayne.
As a journalist interviews Stewart, he reveals how his career got it's ultimate boost because he was known as "the man who shot Liberty Valance," a violent criminal. In a flashback, we see what really happened. Stewart was not the man who shot the criminal, but it was John Wayne, who ... Read More
- A Film for American Studies DepartmentsThere is good reason to believe that the reviewer M. S. Anderson is as right as right can be. Having just edited an encyclopedia concerned with the Old West, I can confirm that the professorial class is keeping this movie alive. After several months of reading seemingly hundreds of worshipful citations of this routine film and especially of its signature cliché--the meaningless line about printing the legend when the legend becomes fact (as if newspapers routinely print the truth!)--I began watching ... Read More
- Print The LegendStylistically, this is a very interesting film from director John Ford.The film begins with alot of colorful characterizations familiar to audiences with films as diverse as "Stagecoach" and "The Searchers".There's also alot of brutal realism which would anticipate the work of Sam Peckinpah.It's also interesting that Ford contrasts the traditional western as represented by John Wayne with the new west represented by James Stewart who made a series of "psychological" westerns in and around this time. ... Read More
- A parodyThis is an unintentional parody of the Western movie.The cliches, stereotypes, corny lines, and macho nonsense are present in abundance.There are signs of trouble from the beginning, when we learn immediately that there will be a flashback: Jimmy Stewart is shouting his lines.Later, John Wayne swaggers and sniggers, Andy Devine whimpers and attempts to be amusing, Edmund O'Brien does an awful drunk act, things are rowdy in the local saloon...well, you understand if you're over 13.Watch how fast Stewart ... Read More
- One of the bestOne of the best John Wayne movies, and Stewart is miscast, but still does a fine job.
- "Nothing is too good for the man who shot Liberty Valance!"As the "Old West" is dying and statehood and a new, more complex society looms, a Senator, played by Jimmy Stewart returns to his humble beginnings of Shinbone to attend the funeral of his friend, played by John Wayne.
As a journalist interviews Stewart, he reveals how his career got it's ultimate boost because he was known as "the man who shot Liberty Valance," a violent criminal. In a flashback, we see what really happened. Stewart was not the man who shot the criminal, but it was John Wayne, who ... Read More
