“Shane” (1953) directed by George Stevens, starring Alan Ladd, Jean Arthur & Van Heflin / Z-View

Shane (1953)

Director: George Stevens

Screenplay: A. B. Guthrie Jr., Jack Sher based on  Shane by Jack Schaefer

Stars: Alan Ladd, Jean Arthur, Van Heflin, Brandon De Wilde, Jack Palance, Ben Johnson, Edgar Buchanan,
Elisha Cook Jr., Douglas Spencer, John Dierkes, Ellen Corby, Edith Evanson and Leonard Strong.

Tagline:  There never was a man like SHANE. There never was a motion picture like SHANE.

The Plot…

Shane (Ladd), a gunfighter hoping to escape his past, befriends Joe Starrett (Heflin), his wife Marian (Arthur) and their young son Joey (De Wilde) when he stops for water at their small farm.  When Joe invites Shane to stay on, Shane sees the possibility of a quieter life.  But when Rufus Ryker’s men show up trying to run Starrett off, Shane knows that his gunfighter days aren’t over.

Thoughts (beware of spoilers)

Shane was nominated for six Academy Awards: Best Picture; Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Palance); Best Actor in a Supporting Role (De Wilde); Best Director; Best Writing Screenplay; and won for Best Cinematography, Color (Loyal Griggs).

Shane is a classic western.  Everything came together to make it so.  George Stevens’ direction, coupled with a first rate story, and top notch cast make for a film deserving the accolades and love it’s received.

Shane is Alan Ladd’s best film and it reinvigorated his career.  It is Jean Arthur’s final feature film.  She came out of retirement to make it as a favor to director George Stevens.

Shane (1953) rates 5 of 5 stars.