The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

[Scott]

THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE (1962) - This was on TV the other day. I had heard alot of people talk about it. The film stars Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne and it was directed by John Ford. .Good film, but not as great as some of the hype about it. The dialogue is good. Good simple story with only one shooting towards the end (interesting one). There was also a whipping towards the beginning. Jimmy Stewart plays a lawyer who just came out West and dosn't know anything about firearms and John Wayne Helps him out in directly. Others who are in this film include Lee Marvin (as the bad guy), Woody Strode, and even Lee Van Cleef has a small role.

[The Burgomaster]

This is one of my top 5 westerns of all time!

[trekgeezer]

This is one of  a few movies where Jimmy Stewart get abused in some way.  I can't remember the movie, but I know there was one where he got shot in the hand.

I don't really think the mystery about who shot Liberty was all that mysterious.

[Scott]

It's definately a very good film without a doubt. (I can't put it in my top 20 though). I can name about 50 great Westerns. I really like this genre.

Burgomaster can't remember which channel is playing it, but I know it's on this Wed. at 8pm. It's a Western called BEND IN THE RIVER starring Jimmy Stewart. I haven't seen it yet, but I think it might be good. Have you seen it?

[The Burgomaster]

I have never seen BEND IN THE RIVER.  Frankly, I'm a pretty big Jimmy Stewart fan, but I don't really like him in westerns (other than LIBERTY VALANCE).

I'm surprised that you can think of 20 westerns that are better than LIBERTY VALANCE.  I put it right up there with:

* SHANE
* RIO BRAVO
* ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST
* THE WILD BUNCH

On the other hand, most people probably rank HIGH NOON a lot higher than I do.  I'd put that one around #12 - #15 or so.

[Bernie]

Saw this about a million years ago as part of a college film class and was VERY impressed.  Didn't think it was so much a Western as a meditation on the questions, Who writes history?  And, what is historic truth?  And, is it more important to get the facts right or to inspire, or to teach life lessons?

Very relevant today, considering how current events are being manipulated....

[Scott]

Bernie wrote:

>Who writes history? And, what is historic truth? And, is it more important to get the >facts right or to inspire, or to teach life lessons?

Good insight. A favorite subject of mine Bernie. A good story is worth embellishing. No doubt other countries many times have a different version of history. The winners are the good guys. Success and failure determine if a man was a genius or madman. Often if they are successful they are a gunius and if they fail they are madmen. Of course we have those who also search out the "truth" and just side with the opposite view point out of spite.

I like Bill Murrays comment in the film GHOSTBUSTERS were he says "I'm alittle fuzzy on the good/bad thing". It may be out of context, but I love the line.

[BoyScoutKevin]

"The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance"

Panned by critics, when it was first released. It has since become a classic. Also with Vera Miles, Edmond O'Brien, Andy Devine, Jeanette Nolan, John Qualen, Strother Martin, and John Carradine.

"Bend of the River"

(IMHO) There was nobody better in a western then James Stewart, unless it was John Wayne. Especially when Stewart's director was Anthony Mann, as he was in this one. Not one star, but three: James Stewart, Arthur Kennedy, and Rock Hudson, before he became a star. Also with Jay C. Flippen, Henry "Harry" Morgan, Royal Dano, Stepin" Fetchit, Jack Lambert, Frank Ferguson, and Francis Bavier.

Enjoy both films.

[BoyScoutKevin]

Who said: "Shot in the hand." That was "The Man from Laramie." Where Jimmy Stewart was shot in the hand by Alex Nicol. Think of it as "King Lear" on the prarie. (Which refers to another topic on this board.) And directed by Anthony Mann, who was also directed Stewart in "Bend of the River." Enjoy!

[Scott]

I have never been a Hudson fan especially after seeing him in the film THE UNDEFEATED (not a bad film) and acouple others , but he does ok in BEND OF THE RIVER.

I always wanted to finish Hudson's film PRETTY MAIDS ALL IN A ROW since the times I caught a sneak peak in those early HBO days of my youth.

[BoyScoutKevin]

I am not much of a fan of Rock Hudson either, but, having said that, catch him in "Seconds," in which he probably gives the best acting job of his life. The scene where he is wheeled down the hospital corridor, strapped to a gunrney, is just heralding. Or catch him in the 1950  western "Winchester 73," where he has one of his first roles as , of all things, an Indian. Also starringJimmy Stewart, Shelly Winters, Millard Mitchell, Stephen McNally, John McIntyre, J. C. Flippen, and Will Geer as Wyatt Earp. Tony Curitis also has one of his first roles as a soldier. Interesting enough, both Rock Hudson and Tony Curtis would appear together that same year in "I Was A Shoplifter."

[Deej]

I could never buy James Stewart in a western role, He just (for me) wasn't believable as a two fisted gunfighter. The guy was gangly as hell and weighed about a buck 10. He was, however, great in Destry Rides Again, a role which seemed tailor made for him. He was a swell actor and I like some of his stuff, but him in a western is like Don Knotts as The Quiet Man.

[Susan]

>>Don Knotts as The Quiet Man<<

I dunno, I always pictured knotts more as Dirty harry

[Scott]

Two Western films that I did like of Jimmy Stewart were WINCHESTER 73
BANDOLERO ! . Especially BANDOLERO ! as the whole film was good. He impersonates a hangman and has some fun dialogue.

[Deej]

Susan wrote:
>
> I dunno, I always pictured knotts more as Dirty harry
>

That just brings on a flood of unpleasant imagery. How about Don Knotts as Roy"Mad Dog" Earle in High Sierra? Or, Knotts as Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull?
"Who's an animal? Aunt Bea's an animal, you son of a b***h! ...NIP IT!!"