Movie Review of Shane

Shane
Not Rated | 1h 58min | Drama, Western | 1 October 1953 (France)
Director: George Stevens
Writers: A.B. Guthrie Jr. (screenplay), Jack Sher (additional dialogue)
Stars: Alan Ladd, Jean Arthur, Van Heflin

I remember this movie from when I was a kid. The movie was made before I was born, but I watched it in school when I was an impressionable young boy. The movie is available on Amazon, Hulu, and YouTube. I subscribe to three streaming services and I do not want to buy the Starz add on package that Amazon and Hulu charge. To review the movie I rented it from YouTube for $2.99.

The Plot

Enigmatic gunslinger Shane (Alan Ladd) rides into a small Wyoming town with hopes of quietly settling down as a farmhand. Taking a job on homesteader Joe Starrett’s (Van Heflin) farm, he is drawn into a battle between the townsfolk and ruthless cattle baron Rufus Ryker (Emile Meyer). Shane’s growing attraction to Starrett’s wife, Marian (Jean Arthur), and his fondness for their son Joey (Brandon de Wilde), who idolizes him, forcing Shane to realize that he must thwart Ryker’s plan.

The Review

Because it has been more than a few years, I watched the move to review it. I liked the movie as much as I did when I was a kid. Although there are certain aspects of the story line I did not notice or understand as a child.

The whole movie builds to the inescapable fact that Shane must eventually face Wilson and the other gunmen. If Shane is still alive afterward, he will have to leave town. He can’t stay, not simply because he has been “branded” by a killing, but because there is no acceptable resolution for his feelings for Marion.

Roger Ebert – September 03, 2000