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Mood:
Captivating Contemplative Sincere
Plot:
Lone Wolves Mysterious Character Good Versus Evil Righting the Wronged Heroes Rivalry Against the Odds Crimes more...
Genres:
Western Drama
Time/Period:
19th Century Old West
Place:
Wyoming Farm
Praise:
Award Winner Classic Critically Acclaimed Essential Oscar Winner
Based on:
Based on Book
Attitudes:
Serious Realistic Slow
Flag:
Violent Content

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Overview

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Shane, 1953

Starring: Alan Ladd, Jean Arthur, Van Heflin

Directed by: George Stevens

Written by: A.B., Jr. Guthrie

Language: English

Country: USA

Runtime: 118 min

MPAA Rating:

Rating:7.8

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Profile of Shane

The mood of Shane is captivating, contemplative, and sincere. The plot centers around righting wrongs, lone wolves, and a mysterious character. It is a western and drama movie. In approach, Shane is serious and realistic. The pacing is slow. It takes place, at least partly, on a farm. Shane is set in Wyoming. It happens in the Old West and in the 19th century. It is based on a book. Shane is known for being a classic, essential viewing, and an award winner. Note that it includes violent content.

Summary of Shane

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.

Details

Language:	English
Country:	USA
Release date:	23 April 1953
Runtime:	118 min
Awards:	Academy Awards

Awards

Loyal Griggs for Best Cinematography at the 1953 Academy Awards

Cast and Crew See all

Alan Ladd

as Shane

Jean Arthur

as Marian Starrett

Van Heflin

as Joe Starrett

Photos See all

Shane (1953)

Users Reviews See all

09.October.2009
|
by: Ethan Clapham
Ethan Clapham rated this movie0/10

When people say that every shot in Shane is composed like a painting, they aren't kidding. If Shane is nothing else, it is at least a beautifully shot film. Of course, with the Tetons as your backdrop, it's hard to make an ugly movie. Combine the sweeping vistas and jaw-dropping scenery with a classic "good versus evil" story, some decent acting, and a fantastic bar room brawl and you've got a pretty darn good movie. Shane is the story of a man looking to settle down. It appears as if he used to be a gunfighter of sorts, although the viewer never really knows any of the man's history. He finds a homesteader in need of a helping hand and settles in to work the land. Unfortunately, a rancher wants the homesteaders off the land he claims as his own. Shane, of course, chooses to stay and stand up against the rancher. The plot isn't terribly original, but when done right, a story doesn't have to be. Emile Meyer plays the evil rancher, and he embodies everything the viewer wants to hate. Shane, on the other hand, is mysterious but kind. You can't help but like the guy. Even though his blond hair screamed "surfer boy," Alan Ladd's generous face was what made him so believable in the part. The highlight for me was the incredible bar room brawl near the movie's half way point. Of course, giving details would ruin it for any potential viewers out there, but this scene makes the entire movie worth watching. If you're into Westerns, then Shane is easy to recommend. Even if you're not a fan, the classic story and moving acting is worth watching. This DVD was labeled a special edition, and if that's true I can't imagine how bad the original DVD must have been! The audio was presented in stereo, and it wasn't completely bad. The sound stage was narrow, but at least the track didn't have any hissing or popping. The video was marred with damage and dirt, and the detail levels seemed to vary from scene to scene.

09.October.2009
|
by: Ethan Clapham

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