Shane

Starring: Alan Ladd; Jean Arthur & Van Heflin Director: George Stevens

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Major Awards:

Academy Awards - Best Cinematography (1953)

Description by OLDIES.com:

Acclaimed director George Stevens' legendary rendition of the quintessential Western myth earned six Academy Award. nominations, and made Shane one of the classics of the American cinema. The story brings Alan Ladd, a drifter and retired gunfighter, to the assistance of a homestead family terrorized by a wealthy cattleman and his hired gun (Jack Palance). In fighting the last decisive battle, Shane sees the end of his own way of life. Mysterious, moody and atmospheric, the film is enhanced by the intense performances of its splendid cast.

Product Description:

George Stevens' classic Western, adaptated from the Jack Schaefer novel, stars Alan Ladd in the title role. Riding the ranges of Wyoming's Grand Tetons, Shane stops at the farm of homesteader Joe Starrett (Van Heflin) just before Ryker (Emile Meyer), a powerful and predatory cattleman, arrives with his hired muscle to make the farmer a threatening offer for land that he intends to get by any means necessary. When Shane lets the cattle baron know that his gun will back Starrett if there's any trouble, the grateful homesteader offers the stranger a job as a hired hand, which he accepts. Joe's young son Joey (Brandon de Wilde) is drawn to the quiet stranger, whose difference from the men he knows is confirmed by the accidental revelation of a gunfighter's lightning reflexes. Shane becomes a valuable asset to the farm, but is slowly drawn into the continuing hostilities between the two opposing groups. To complicate matters, Shane feels an unspoken, and unwanted, attraction to Starrett's wife Marian (Jean Arthur). This creates a sense of ambivalence in Joe, whose son already idolizes the gunslinger. Stevens' meticulous artistry imbues the simple Western with the mythic aura of an Arthurian legend, as Loyal Griggs' beautifully composed images provide the canvas for career performances by Ladd, Heflin, Arthur, and de Wilde, in what many regard as the finest western ever made.

Plot Synopsis:

Director George Stevens based this landmark western on Jack Schaefer's best-selling novel.
Shane, a handsome loner, rides into a Wyoming valley seeking refuge from his difficult past. He discovers the Starretts, a pioneer farm family looking for a hired hand. Suddenly, Ryker and his posse of gun-toting ruffians ride by and threaten to run Starrett off his farm. Ryker, a ruthless businessman, has been trying to rid the valley of homesteaders so he can expand his ranch. After witnessing this brutality, Shane decides to stay on and help out. Provoked by Ryker's boys, Shane joins the homesteader's fight, facing off with a hired gunslinger to make the valley safe for civilized folks like the Starretts. Shane's bravery wins Mrs. Starrett's heart. But this honorable horseman is going to ride off into the night alone.

Plot Keywords:

Adventure | Classic | Drama | Essential Cinema | Family Film | Family Interaction | Recommended | Theatrical Release | Western

Production Notes:

• SHANE was added to the Library of Congress National Film Registry in 1993.
• Additional cast: Paul McVey, John Miller, Ray Spiker, Janice Carroll, Martin Mason, and Helen Brown.
• Jean Arthur made her last big-screen appearance in SHANE.
• For the scene toward the end of the movie in which Shane fights with Joe, a man in a bear suit was used to stir up the family's horses in order to add to the drama.

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