It was exacerbated by his failing health and his drinking problem, as the cantankerous Ford became even more of a misanthrope, thus alienating the big studios from hiring him. Tom Doniphon came to the rescue and saved Ransom's life. What Doniphon craves most is domesticity, but by finally shooting Valance, he loses that opportunity; thismakes Doniphon the most tragic character that John Wayne has ever. John Carradine Maj. Cassius Starbuckle James Stewart is Ransom Stoddard, an idealistic young lawyer who heads West and quickly runs afoul of an outlaw named Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin). UPDATE: Whoa, looks like I am two days ahead of an official discussion of this film, my apologies. The reputation of the film continues to grow over the years, and it was a big influence on Sergio Leone, who called this his most favorite Ford film. By killing Liberty Valance, facilitating Stoddard's rise to political prominence and the progressive modernization of the West, Doniphon destroys himself. It's Doniphon, offscreen, who breaks our hearts, a man shrunken and made smooth by decades of slow erosion. Pompey had thrown Tom a rifle and at the exact moment of Valance's fourth and potentially-fatal shot, Doniphon killed Valance from a side angle, without anyone knowing at the moment of the blast. Is The man Who Shot Liberty Valance based on a true story? One that almost seemed forced upon the story. Now Hallie has started to like this lawyer-man from the East, who starts up a one-room schoolhouse to teach people how to read. Stoddard raises no complaint when Valance seizes his fathers gold watch and robs him. One night Valance demands a showdown and toys with the lawyer, shooting him in the arm and taunting him before Stoddard finally gets off a shot and Valance drops dead. I said you, Valance; you pick it up. Valance and his gang beat up a drunken Peabody nearly to death, and ransack his office. Doniphon takes Stoddard aside, and in a flashback within a flashback, confides that he, Doniphon, actually killed Valance from an alley across the street, firing at the same time as Stoddard. [Valance looks and sees Pompey at the door holding a rifle] Floyd: I'll get it, Liberty! Design a site like this with WordPress.com, Follow MANK'S MOVIE MUSINGS on WordPress.com. But he hasnt. Funeral of Tom Doniphon taken from the classic The Man Who hot Liberty Valance As the film opens, U. S. Senator Ransom Stoddard (James Stewart) is arriving in Shinbone by the new railroad with his wife Hallie (Vera Miles). Tom could stand up to Valance, but it would suit him to have Stoddard out of the way so that he could bring Hallie home to that porch with its rocking chair. Vera Miles Hallie Stoddard Wayne was always against doing End of the west westerns, because End of the west means end of the western which translates as end of John Wayne. So the resulting fame for Stoddard was hugely unfair, right? On the page, Tom Doniphon was more of a mentor to Ranse Stoddard, easing him along the road from frontier lawyer to state senator. John Wayne Tom Doniphon John (John Wayne) is the gunfighter, Tom (Dean Martin) is the gambler, Matt (Earl Holliman) is the quiet one, and Bud (Michael Anderson Jr.) is the youngest. Padraig has been writing about film online since 2012, when a friend asked if he'd like to contribute the occasional review or feature to their site. He films mostly on sets, but we're not particularly aware. He makes a positive first impression when he brings Stoddard in. Most of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance's story is told in flashback, as Stoddard and Hallie return to the town over 25 years later to attend Doniphon's funeral. There are here to attend the funeral of a man named Tom Doniphon (John Wayne). These westerns are memory films, filled with the traditions of the past, created from the anecdotes, fables, and songs that sprang from American history. And while most of us dont have the talent of Tom Doniphan, perhaps by Gods grace, we can be more like Ransom Stoddard in our towns and communities. [Valance looks and sees Pompey at the door holding a rifle] Floyd : I'll get it, Liberty! Name the 2010 Western that featured Peter Dinklage of "Game of Thrones" and Jason Priestly of 90210 fame in supporting roles. This twist does little to impress the editor, who refuses to run the story revealing the truth, proclaiming When the legend becomes fact, print the legend. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance ends with Stoddard and Hallie - who also knows the truth about Doniphon - on a train ride home. Thom Donovan - Wikipedia The year is 1910. James Stewart Ransom Stoddard All three spend much of their time hanging out in the restaurant kitchen. Stoddard believes so firmly in the law that he is willing to lose his life for his principles. He built a home which he assumed Hally (Vera Miles) would share with him as his wife, but he lost her to the hero of the moment, Stoddard. Rodney King was beaten by the police on March 3, 1991. Meanwhile, throughout the film, Tom has not 'done the right thing' and stood up to Liberty Valance except in circumstances where he felt he had to. Answer, Bart Allison (Randolph Scott) to rancher Morley Chase in 1957's. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) - Movie Review - John Wayne Lee Marvin Liberty Valance Stoddard's first instinct is to demand the arrest of Liberty Valance; Doniphon tells him that law books mean nothing out West, that if Stoddard wants to take Valance, he'd better start carrying a hand-gun. It is also his most claustrophobic western; shot in Black & White and completely on a studio lot with minimal sets, the film has none of his trademark shots of stunning landscapes and colorful panoramic vistas. So the newspapermen are all surprised, as to why Ranse Stoddard: three-term governor, two-term senator, ambassador to the Court of St. James, would attend his funeral. Scan this QR code to download the app now. Collin Brendemuehl: Fake history is worthy of exploration if to correct bad history. Doniphon: Well, take some advice, pilgrim. The entire film has been Stoddard struggling to remain devoted to law and order, while Tom berates and humiliates him for it. Doniphan is ready to kill Valance over spoiling his steak by tripping Stoddard, but does nothing while Valance oppresses his neighbors, and torments innocent people. In The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, the newspaper editor says, "This is the West. It is made clear in "Liberty Valance" that segregation was the practice in the territory. After this film, his career would see a meteoric rise and, by the mid 1960s, he would become one of the top stars in the industry. In its sparseness and interplay of light and darkness, Ford evokes moments from Film Noirs- where Wayne comes out of the darkness, shoots Marvin, and then recedes back into darkness. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance - Magzter This is all to be seen: The role of a free press, the function of a town meeting, the debate about statehood, the civilizing influence of education. The Man who shot Liberty Valance (1962) was the last western John Ford made with John Wayne. There are here to attend the funeral of a man named Tom Doniphon (John Wayne). The story sees James Stewart's idealistic younger lawyer Stoddard arriving in a remote town with the intention of introducing law, order and education to the townspeople. Even his house is far outside the town (whereas Stoddard lives in its heart: at the restaurant and newspaper office). In another film I might even think this ambiguous element was more important. As a young lawyer, he comes to practice law in a lawless Western town and on the way into town, hes on a stagecoach thats robbed by Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin). On the other end of the scale, Ford portrays Liberty Valance as the archetypal villain. The first time we see it, James Stewart is bullied and wounded but miraculously shoots Valance, who seems to have woefully underestimated him. And more importantly, why does he do it in secret? Years ago Shinbone was held in a grip of terror by the sadistic Liberty Valance (played by Lee Marvin in a performance evoking savage cruelty). I dont trust ambiguity. Wayne became surly and aggressive during the shoot and he started taking out his anger on everybody else on the set, except Ford. They soon learn that their father gambled away the family ranch, leading to his own murder. Trying to defend a woman passenger, Stoddard is beaten by Valance, left for dead, and brought to town by Tom Doniphon. In this movie Ransom Stoddard is a well educated attorney from the East who comes to the West to find new opportunity . When he recovers, the college-education lawyer goes to work as a dishwasher in the hotel that took him in. When Doniphan and Valance prepare to have a shootout over who will pick up the food, Stoddard intervenes, humbles himself, and picks up the food. The story sees James Stewart's idealistic younger lawyer Stoddard arriving in a remote town with the intention of introducing law, order and education to the townspeople. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance at 60: the great American western I will not go into details because the suspense should not be spoiled. /a > Oar. The newspaper refuses to accept the lamer story and the disconnect between Stoddard and his wife on the train made for a decent ending. Four Earn 2023 Harvard Medals for Distinguished Service to the University, As Gay Ascends to Presidency, 61 Percent of Surveyed Faculty Say Theyre Satisfied With Her Election, Harvard School of Public Health Launches Mindfulness Center Through $25M Gift, Ex-Harvard Chemist Charles Lieber Spared Additional Prison Time, Will Serve 6 Months House Arrest, Hundreds of Harvard Affiliates Sign Open Letter for Increased Access to Mental Well-Being Support at HKS. Now with his conscious clear, Stoddard returns to the convention, accepts the nomination, and is elected to the Washington delegation. Seeing how his act of heroism has won Hattie for Stoddard, he becomes disgusted with himself, burning his home, the symbol of his hopes for the future as well as his isolation from the community, to the ground.
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