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Often described as the "perfect" western, Shane simultaneously reaffirms and transcends genre conventions. This 1953 film's basic premise -- the violent struggle between greedy cattlemen and intrepid homesteaders -- is as old as the horse opera itself and is depicted by director George Stevens in stark, unambiguous fashion. The characters, too, are familiar types: the courageous farmer (played by Van Heflin), the dutiful wife (Jean Arthur), the hired killer (Jack Palance), and so on. Shane himself, played with admirable understatement by Alan Ladd, is positively archetypal. A former gunfighter, he seeks his redemption by helping the homesteaders, only to find them in desperate need of his "professional" skills -- the use of which, he realizes, will make him an outcast. Under Stevens's masterful direction, and bolstered by the Oscar-winning cinematography of Loyal Griggs and Victor Young's evocative musical scoring, every cliché seems fresh and every emotion rings true -- an achievement that ensures Shane a permanent place in the pantheon of great westerns. Ed Hulse

All Movie Guide

The simple story of a Wyoming range war is elevated to near-mythical status in producer/director George Stevens' Western classic Shane. Alan Ladd plays the title character, a mysterious drifter who rides into a tiny homesteading community and accepts the hospitality of a farming family. Patriarch Joe Starrett (Van Heflin) is impressed by the way Shane handles himself when facing down the hostile minions of land baron Emile Meyer, though he has trouble placing his complete trust in the stranger, as his Marion (Jean Arthur) is attracted to Shane in spite of herself, and his son Joey (Brandon De Wilde) flat-out idolizes Shane. When Meyer is unable to drive off the homesteaders by sheer brute strength, he engages the services of black-clad, wholly evil hired gun Jack Wilson (Jack Palance). The moment that Wilson shows he means business by shooting down hotheaded farmer Frank Torrey (Elisha Cook Jr.) is the film's most memorable scene: after years of becoming accustomed to carefully choreographed movie death scenes, the suddenness with which Torrey's life is snuffed out -- and the force with which he falls to the ground -- are startling. Shane knows that a showdown with Wilson is inevitable; he also knows that, unintentionally, he has become a disruptive element in the Starrett family. The manner in which he handles both these problems segues into the now-legendary "Come back, Shane" finale. Cinematographer Loyal Griggs imbues this no-frills tale with the outer trappings of an epic, forever framing the action in relation to the unspoiled land surrounding it. A.B. Guthrie Jr.'s screenplay, adapted from the Jack Schaefer novel, avoids the standard good guy/bad guy clichés: both homesteaders and cattlemen are shown as three-dimensional human beings, flaws and all, and even ostensible villain Emile Meyer comes off reasonable and logical when elucidating his dislike of the "newcomers" who threaten to divest him of his wide open spaces. Hal Erickson

Product Details

• UPC: 097360652246
• Source: PARAMOUNT
• Region Code: 1
• Sound: Dolby Digital, monaural
• Language: English, Français
• Subtitles: English
• Time: 1:57:00
• Sales Rank: 7,228

This DVD is also available as part of a box set:

• Man Who Shot Liberty Valance / Shane

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