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The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

Play trailer Poster for The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance Released Apr 22, 1962 2h 2m Western Play Trailer Watchlist
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95% Tomatometer 55 Reviews 92% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
Questions arise when Senator Stoddard (James Stewart) attends the funeral of a local man named Tom Doniphon (John Wayne) in a small Western town. Flashing back, we learn Doniphon saved Stoddard, then a lawyer, when he was roughed up by a crew of outlaws terrorizing the town, led by Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin). As the territory's safety hung in the balance, Doniphon and Stoddard, two of the only people standing up to him, proved to be very important, but different, foes to Valance.
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The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

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Critics Consensus

Featuring a trio of classic leading men and a rich story captured by a director at the peak of his craft, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is one of the finest Westerns ever filmed.

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Critics Reviews

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Jake Cole Slant Magazine John Ford regularly made such clear-eyed, unsentimental assessments of the Old West and the lies that forged its mythology that one may wonder how the concept of a “revisionist western” ever took root when the original was already so bleak. May 16, 2022 Full Review Richard Brody New Yorker There's much to say about it; the simplest is that it's both the most romantic of Westerns and the greatest American political movie. Apr 29, 2013 Full Review Roger Ebert Chicago Sun-Times There is a purity to the John Ford style. His composition is classical. He arranges his characters within the frame to reflect power dynamics -- or sometimes to suggest a balance is changing. Rated: 4/4 Dec 30, 2011 Full Review Ian Kane Epoch Times Many believe “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” to be John Ford’s greatest film. It’s somewhat of a farewell letter to a way of life that has faded into history... Rated: 4.5/5 Jul 2, 2023 Full Review Zita Short InSession Film The finale gives you so much to chew on in the way of deconstruction of Western myths and the eternal conflict between anarchism and civilized society... Rated: B- Feb 3, 2023 Full Review Edward Porter Sunday Times (UK) ... A pensive yet ripely entertaining film — proof that he [John Ford] was himself one of his country’s great myth-makers. Sep 26, 2022 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Walt S Almost everything about this movie is perfect, but there were a few times that the story seemed to drag a bit. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 07/25/24 Full Review Audience Member Two Thumbs up to this classic story directed by the great John Ford and top notch performances from John Wayne Jimmy Stewart...this story is just as true today what makes a legend and truth Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/21/24 Full Review Eduardo F Não sei explicar a razão na sua totalidade. Mas um dos meus filmes favoritos. Veja que não se vai arrepender! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 07/17/24 Full Review Merick H A great western but there are a few moments that drag. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/25/24 Full Review Alec B Filled with fascinating contradictions (yeah they say "print the legend" at the end but that is after the movie tells the truth) and its perfectly cast. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/20/24 Full Review James G Although the plot twist at the end was phenomenal, there was a lot of extra scenes and plots in the movies. For example, the love triangle with ranse, Tom, and Hallie was very unnecessary. Also the final scene in the flashback, when a new group tries to put their candidate up over ranse because he is a murder was also unnecessary. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 01/20/24 Full Review Read all reviews
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Cast & Crew

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Movie Info

Synopsis Questions arise when Senator Stoddard (James Stewart) attends the funeral of a local man named Tom Doniphon (John Wayne) in a small Western town. Flashing back, we learn Doniphon saved Stoddard, then a lawyer, when he was roughed up by a crew of outlaws terrorizing the town, led by Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin). As the territory's safety hung in the balance, Doniphon and Stoddard, two of the only people standing up to him, proved to be very important, but different, foes to Valance.
Director
John Ford
Producer
Willis Goldbeck, John Ford
Screenwriter
James Warner Bellah, Willis Goldbeck, Dorothy M. Johnson
Distributor
CIC-Taft Home Video, Paramount Pictures
Production Co
Paramount Pictures, John Ford Productions
Genre
Western
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Apr 22, 1962, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2011
Runtime
2h 2m
Sound Mix
Mono
Aspect Ratio
Flat (1.37:1)
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