| Product: |
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (DVD) |
| Date: |
30/04/01 (76 review reads) |
| Rating: |
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Advantages: It's got John Wayne.
Disadvantages: A shade too long.
THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE.
A masterpiece for some, an overlong and unrewarding Western for others.
I remember as a child watching “Liberty Valance” on my parents black & white TV. I enjoyed it and watched it again many years later on a colour TV. It was still in black and white.
The movie was directed by John Ford in 1962 and tells the story of a very good guy (James Stewart) who plays a young (I don’t think so) lawyer who is badly beaten up by a very bad guy (Lee Marvin). A good guy (John Wayne) comes across the unconscious Stewart, brings him back to town and drops him off at the local Cafe. A very nice waitress (Vera Miles) tends to his injuries. Throughout the rest of the movie, she serves up gigantic cow pies and Stewart gazes at her with cow eyes. Wayne can’t help putting his foot in his mouth almost every time he visits her.
Lee Marvin has other things on his mind. He has set his sights on Stewart and wants blood. It’s complicated by the fact Stewart has never owned a gun, used one and probably has never even seen one. Wayne wears his like it’s an extension of his hip (explains the funny walk).
There are a few very good scenes and Marvin is in all of them. Wayne beautifully underplays throughout and can’t help getting my sympathy vote every time. You have to feel sorry for a man who walks like that.
I watched it again quite recently on a large screen (still in black and white) and walked out of the theatre convinced it was a very good movie but not deserving a place alongside the “Searchers” and “Red River” in my John Wayne hall of fame.
There is a very good supporting cast including Lee Van Cleef, Andy Devine, Edmond O’Brien and Strother Martin.
If you’re into Spaghetti and Peckinpah, this is not for you but every Western lover should get something from it.
Summary:
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Last comments:
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- 12/10/01 rosebud49: Thanks for the comment. |
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- 10/10/01 I have seen this movie quite a few times. I like watching John Wayne movies and think he is a great actor. Great op. |
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- 25/06/01 As my father used to say, such an old movie needs a lot of explaining. You said it's still in black & white, whew, it's in my era probably. Perhaps you can elaborate on the plot itself. Like any other western flicks, there are guns, pretty girls, daring men, etc, but the main line of the story is important. Oh, sorry for babbling, just want to help... Alex |
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