The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

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The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

Released Apr 22, 1962

2h 2m

Western

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

95%

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55 Reviews

92%

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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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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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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

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Richard Brody

The 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

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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

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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

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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

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Douglas G

It is not a perfect movie, but it is close.

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

05/13/25

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Vitor O

In a career full of westerns, this is possibly the best one by John Ford. Also, it manages to be, arguably, the best role ever played by John Wayne. It's just an outstanding movie, that merits repetitive watching.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/19/25

Full Review

Lars N

I get it. It has a whole myth-deconstruction thing going on that was probably pretty wild at the time of its release. And though it's pretty good it also drags in certain places.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

03/16/25

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richard a

It’s one of the best westerns ever made as good as Shane , Stardust is difficult to catch , after watching The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance for a short while you will see a glimpse of something special treasure that moment

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/03/25

Full Review

David S

Lots of strengths in this film. A favorite scene is the delight depicted in Jimmy Stewart's face when he realized he could teach someone to read a write. You just know there were a vast majority of people that lived in that era who couldn't read and write- it was a nice little side story mixed in.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

11/30/24

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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

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John Ford

Director

James Stewart

Ransom Stoddard

John Wayne

Tom Doniphon

Vera Miles

Hallie Stoddard

Lee Marvin

Liberty Valance

Edmond O'Brien

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The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance: Official Clip - Showdown with Liberty Valance

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The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance: Official Clip - Ransom Stoddard, Attorney at Law

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The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance: Official Clip - Burning Down Dreams

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The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance: Official Clip - I Hate Tricks

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The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance: Official Clip - A Persistent Cuss

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The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance: Official Clip - Print the Legend

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The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance: Official Clip - Appetite Suppressant

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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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