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The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance appreciation
Posted on 6/29/22 at 4:21 pm
Posted on 6/29/22 at 4:21 pm
In my 42 years I have seen many John Wayne movies watching with Dad and Grandpa, but for some reason this one I missed.
I watched this yesterday for the first time, and I must say, what an amazing movie for any time but especially 1962. It's one of those universally acclaimed movies that for some reason I never got around to catching.
First of all, the casting was perfect. Any film that John Wayne can be put as almost a side character while the others shine is something special in itself. The way he alpha dog refers to Jimmy Stewart the whole time as "pilgrim" basically as an insult, but not really because he is in fact a traveler, but just to let him know that he is "the man" around here...basically being John Wayne.
But Jimmy Stewart and Lee Marvin were just outstanding.
While watching this I realized that Powers Boothe, when playing Bill Brocius in Tombstone, was basically playing Lee Marvin as Liberty Valance.
The story stands up even today as not just a western, but a commentary on the press and politics (when the legend becomes fact, print the legend).
The movie itself was beautifully shot and the script could have been written today. I knew John Ford was an awesome film maker as I have seen other movies of his, but this one was his best in my opinion. It has really does have it all...violence, comedy, romance, inspiration.
If you are among the few that haven't caught this masterpiece please do yourself a favor and see if you can find it streaming (i watched it on EPIX)...or if you have seen it, watch it again !
I watched this yesterday for the first time, and I must say, what an amazing movie for any time but especially 1962. It's one of those universally acclaimed movies that for some reason I never got around to catching.
First of all, the casting was perfect. Any film that John Wayne can be put as almost a side character while the others shine is something special in itself. The way he alpha dog refers to Jimmy Stewart the whole time as "pilgrim" basically as an insult, but not really because he is in fact a traveler, but just to let him know that he is "the man" around here...basically being John Wayne.
But Jimmy Stewart and Lee Marvin were just outstanding.
While watching this I realized that Powers Boothe, when playing Bill Brocius in Tombstone, was basically playing Lee Marvin as Liberty Valance.
The story stands up even today as not just a western, but a commentary on the press and politics (when the legend becomes fact, print the legend).
The movie itself was beautifully shot and the script could have been written today. I knew John Ford was an awesome film maker as I have seen other movies of his, but this one was his best in my opinion. It has really does have it all...violence, comedy, romance, inspiration.
If you are among the few that haven't caught this masterpiece please do yourself a favor and see if you can find it streaming (i watched it on EPIX)...or if you have seen it, watch it again !
11
Posted on 6/29/22 at 4:43 pm to LSUfan0420
We've had a few threads on this Masterpiece and I'm thankful when someone brings the subject back.
I agree with everything you said..
This was surprisingly filmed in Black and White in 1962 when color was common in Westerns..It was a great decision because B&W really makes this film pop.
I agree with everything you said..
This was surprisingly filmed in Black and White in 1962 when color was common in Westerns..It was a great decision because B&W really makes this film pop.
Posted on 6/29/22 at 4:50 pm to LSUfan0420
Great movie. A toss up between this and The Searches as my favorite John Wayne movie. Probably lean towards The Searches a bit though. Also my two favorite John Ford movies.
Oddly enough I just read an article yesterday about how John Ford is Quentin Tarantino's least favorite director. I guess Ford projects Indians in a really bad light in all of his movies. Something I never really gave any thought to. So I guess he thinks he was a racist. Who cares, the dude has been dead for 50 years
So one of my favorite directors can't stand one of my other favorite directors.
Oddly enough I just read an article yesterday about how John Ford is Quentin Tarantino's least favorite director. I guess Ford projects Indians in a really bad light in all of his movies. Something I never really gave any thought to. So I guess he thinks he was a racist. Who cares, the dude has been dead for 50 years
So one of my favorite directors can't stand one of my other favorite directors. 
Posted on 6/29/22 at 4:50 pm to LSUfan0420
John Ford is the GOAT western director.
Posted on 6/29/22 at 4:55 pm to LSUfan0420
I love discovering great works which were made before my time.
This was definitely one.
This was definitely one.
Posted on 6/29/22 at 5:09 pm to iwyLSUiwy
Tarantino is nowhere near John Ford.
Posted on 6/29/22 at 5:21 pm to CU_Tigers4life
quote:
We've had a few threads on this Masterpiece and I'm thankful when someone brings the subject back
my bad, i did a search but my Tiger Droppings search didn't show anything...at least not a thread i could easily find
quote:
This was surprisingly filmed in Black and White in 1962 when color was common in Westerns..It was a great decision because B&W really makes this film pop
this goes exactly to my point on how it was beautifully shot...the black and white in a modern color time was really something that made it a great film
This post was edited on 6/29/22 at 5:24 pm
Posted on 6/29/22 at 5:59 pm to LSUfan0420
Jimmy Stewart actually thought he was far too old to be playing a "young attorney taking Horace Greeley's advice to head west" in that film.
And he's pretty much right when you look at the film objectively. His appearance really doesn't change even though decades pass with the exception of the head full of gray hair.
One of my all-time favorite movies and I've seen it dozens of times and will still watch it when it is being aired.
Hell of a cast with Woody Strode, Strother Martin, Lee Van Cleef, Lee Marvin, Andy Devine, Vera Miles, Edmond O'Brien, John Carradine, and of course John Wayne and James Stewart.
I also like that it is filmed in black and white. Another of my favorites, "On The Waterfront" is also filmed in black and white, giving it a gritty feel.
And he's pretty much right when you look at the film objectively. His appearance really doesn't change even though decades pass with the exception of the head full of gray hair.
One of my all-time favorite movies and I've seen it dozens of times and will still watch it when it is being aired.
Hell of a cast with Woody Strode, Strother Martin, Lee Van Cleef, Lee Marvin, Andy Devine, Vera Miles, Edmond O'Brien, John Carradine, and of course John Wayne and James Stewart.
I also like that it is filmed in black and white. Another of my favorites, "On The Waterfront" is also filmed in black and white, giving it a gritty feel.
Posted on 6/29/22 at 6:14 pm to SouthEasternKaiju
quote:
I love discovering great works which were made before my time.
Check out some of these if you've not already seen them.
All Humphrey Bogart Movies.
"African Queen"
"Casablanca"
"The Treasure of The Sierra Madre"
For something not Bogart.
The whole cast of "On The Waterfront" is great.
Pick just about any Alfred Hitchcock movie from the 50's and 60's.
"Mister Roberts" with Henry Fonda and Jack Lemmon leading the cast.
This post was edited on 6/29/22 at 6:16 pm
Posted on 6/29/22 at 6:33 pm to LSUfan0420
Great post.
As an aside, I don't think I've ever seen a movie with Jimmy Stewart that was not excellent.
As an aside, I don't think I've ever seen a movie with Jimmy Stewart that was not excellent.
Posted on 6/29/22 at 6:46 pm to LSUfan0420
quote:
Great movie. A toss up between this and Rio Bravo as my favorite John Wayne movie. Probably lean towards The Rio Bravo a bit though
Posted on 6/29/22 at 7:15 pm to gumbo2176
1950s John Ford/John Wayne collaboration that is a must-see is "The Quiet Man".
Posted on 6/29/22 at 7:18 pm to CU_Tigers4life
quote:This wasn't intended. Ford wanted to shoot it in color, like a standard Wayne outdoor epic of the period. But the studio would not give the money for that.
This was surprisingly filmed in Black and White in 1962 when color was common in Westerns..It was a great decision because B&W really makes this film pop.
So Ford shot it like a film noir, mostly set at night and/or inside, with few of the daylight exteriors (notably the how to shoot a gun scene) that you expect in a western.
Posted on 6/29/22 at 7:22 pm to gumbo2176
quote:Also by this time he was an established western star, which works against his being cast as a newcomer "pilgrim".
Jimmy Stewart actually thought he was far too old to be playing a "young attorney taking Horace Greeley's advice to head west" in that film.
And he's pretty much right when you look at the film objectively. His appearance really doesn't change even though decades pass with the exception of the head full of gray hair.
Ford had not wanted him for the film but was forced to cast him by the studio, who insisted on a Western name -- which of course damages the attempted portrait of a tenderfoot out west.
Posted on 6/29/22 at 7:40 pm to Bearcat90
quote:
don't think I've ever seen a movie with Jimmy Stewart that was not excellent
Greatest show on earth is vastly overrated but not a knock on Stewart. It’s a Return of King type of award when it won best picture. I have no desire for repeated viewings.
It could be just me bing butt hurt over it winning instead of The Quiet Man, which I love and will watch any time.
This post was edited on 6/29/22 at 7:42 pm
Posted on 6/29/22 at 9:56 pm to SoFla Tideroller
quote:
Tarantino is nowhere near John Ford.
Posted on 6/29/22 at 10:18 pm to DaleGribble
quote:His greatest achievement was inspiring one of my all time fave quotes
Tarantino is nowhere near John Ford
Back in the day TCM was doing their feature The Essentials w/co-host Rose McGowan. The movie was Akira Kurosawa's 7 Samurai and Robert Osborne went into detail on why it was significant. McGowan followed him by saying she didn't like Kurosawa, but she recognized his importance "as an influence on Tarantino".
Posted on 6/29/22 at 10:20 pm to DaleGribble
it was Fords acknowledgment of the mythos of the old West that the stories he was famous for telling weren't history but the tales that we tell ourselves.
But also that the heroes we create are still heroes and we need heros
But also that the heroes we create are still heroes and we need heros
Posted on 6/29/22 at 11:12 pm to LSUfan0420
Guess I’m in the minority. Thought it was a very overrated movie. Cliche ridden with wooden acting.
To me all Westerns were overrated until the late 60s or early 70s when realism caught up with the genre. See Cowboys, The Shootist, True Grit, and the advent of Clint Eastwood.
To me all Westerns were overrated until the late 60s or early 70s when realism caught up with the genre. See Cowboys, The Shootist, True Grit, and the advent of Clint Eastwood.
Posted on 6/29/22 at 11:21 pm to LSUfan0420
It’s one of the greatest films ever made.
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