Shane 45th

The settlers gather for a July 4th celebration. They hear of Riker's hired gunfighter. That evening Riker show up to make a final offer to Starrett: join him for a good price, and abandon the other small ranchers. This offer is refused. The next day the gunfighter insults Torrey to force a duel, and kills him. Joe Starrett announces he will go into town next, without waiting for the other settlers. The question is: shall the people be oppressed and swindled by a rich powerful landowner? (Most of the large ranches were owned by corporations from back East.) Some of the small ranchers decide to abandon their claims. Yet they have the right to settle and farm the land. "This country wasn't made for just one man." The burning of one home makes the settlers decide to hang on for a while.

Riker makes an offer to draw Starret to his place (for an ambush). Calloway turns up to warn Shane of this trick. Starrett's wife argues for giving up and moving out now. (Credible?). Shane tries to stop Starrett, and they fight in the dark (to hide their body doubles?). Shane wins and leaves to keep the appointment, and force a final showdown. Shane successfully resolves the problem of Jack Wilson, then Riker, and moves on to new territory. [This avoids any retribution by Riker's allies.) {This film uses the dime-novel fantasy of a "fast-draw", which did not occur in historical records.]

This story is loosely based on the Powder River war. In reality, the settler's militia drove off the armed gang hired by the large landowners. The large ranchers tried to get rid of small ranchers by passing a law that gave them sole rights to all cattle in the state! Read the chapter in William Weir's "Written With Lead" for more details. "Unhappy are the people who want a hero."


Two stars. One for each time it put me to sleep.   June 30, 2004
John Candy (Silver Spring, MD)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

Don't get me wrong, folks ,I am A HUGE fan of classic Westerns! This one, it just doesn't make it for me. Don't even get me started about Alan Ladd's "tough but gentle" potrayal of Shane. Ladd is unconvincing to this reviewer not only in the tough guy category, but his dramatic side is very, very "Ward Cleaver." AND THAT KID!!! That blasted kid. Joey, played by Brandon De Wilde. Good gawd, if he wasn't the most annoying little snot that came out of Hollywood. (before the debut of Pauly Shore) "Shane, are you gonna shoot that man? "Shane, are you gonna let me look through your Playboys?" I spent half the film (before I fell asleep) hoping Shane would say, "Come here, Joey, and help me change the wheel on this stagecoach" and have a little "accident." Joey's absence from the second half of this movie MAY have kept me awake. (but I doubt it.)


miscast but still legendary   June 11, 2004
Alan W. Armes (Mountain Home, Arkansas USA)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

SHANE is among the most renowned westerns in motion picture history, inspite of the miscasting of Alan Ladd in the title role. many other more accomplished actors come to mind of whom could have assumed the role, and many of these were offered the role. however it was Alan Ladd who was awarded the role.

Ladd was a formidable actor and delivered a fine performance inspite of the other more accomplished actors who may have given better performances.

regardless of Ladd in the role of SHANE, the movie was legendary and considered a true classic to this day. the other actors, which include: Van Heflin, Jean Arthur, Brandon De Wilde, Emile Meyer and Jack Palance all gave stellar performances. however it was George Stevens, a director whose name is synonymous with great filmmaking who was solely responsible for the renowned success of this truly legendary western classic. a true masterpiece.


Oh, puh-leeeeze!   May 31, 2004
1 out of 3 found this review helpful

If this is the best western ever, then it's a pretty sorry genre. Might as well get the few good points covered first--the scenery, the fights, a couple of scenes that manage a bit of convincing realism--the funeral (despite the corny sentimentality of the dog pawing the coffin), the attempt at some depth of character in the bad-guy rancher about halfway through the movie. That's about it. As for the badd, shall we start with Ladd? He and all the actors talk like they're in a semi-coma. Was this a borrowing from the 50's fad for method acting? And how in the world could that dull little kid have been nominated for an oscar??? Jean Arthur was 50+ and her sqwuaky voice betrays her age, not to mention that awful wig she's wearing (I hope it is a wig!) The subtext of the movie seems to be a case of man/boy love between Ladd and DeWilde (interesting name) and if viewed that way is at least worth a few laughs. Horrible music (loved the borrowing from Stravinsky's Rite of Spring as Shane rides into town at the end!) that tries to manipulate our emotions, stereotypes everywhere, everywhere. Oh, why bother? It's awful, dreadful, miserable. The "lowdown Yankee liar" line put the final nail in the coffin, the last piece of lead in the gunslinger for this hater of westerns generally and this one specifically.