A U.S. Senator (James Stewart) travels to the town of
Shinbone for the funeral of a rancher (John Wayne) and relays to reporters the
legend of how, decades earlier, he made the same journey in hopes of using the
law and democracy to civilize the territory, was menaced by a rabid outlaw (Lee
Marvin), and given assistance from the recently deceased cattleman. John Ford’s
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is a compulsively watchable (even during its
filler sequences), beautifully shot black and white Western with one of the
most memorable finales in history while bringing together the differing
sensibilities of Stewart and Wayne. Marvin ranks up there as one of the nastiest
baddies to ever grace the screen.
**** out of ****
