Shane: The second best Western in movie history?
Based on the (then) recently published book of the same name, Shane immediately set a new standard for quality cinematography. which won the 1954 Academy Award. It’s a beautifully shot movie which uses the backdrop of the Grand Teton range in Wyoming to splendid effect and exploits the full scope of the new cinema widescreen format (1.66:1) to emphasise the comparison to smaller and squarer TV screens which were then gaining popularity.
The story is simple enough; a drifter arrives looking for a billet, ends up more as a friend, and finally emerges an avenger / saviour figure who resets the proper balance for other’s peace at the expense of his own. The homesteaders, or “sodbusters” as they are nicknamed, emerge as solid characters and believable individuals who make it easy to support Shane’s decision to defend them. Even the ranch-hands are allowed some room to show humanity rather than be one-dimensional “black-hats”.
Ladd was 5ft 6 in tall and slightly built, but his stoical, unflustered portrayal gives the gunfighter role a quiet menace and many scenes were shot from a low angle, making Ladd look taller, and sharing our view with Starret;’s son, Joey (Brandon De Wilde). Shane has many of the standard Western tropes – the lonely drifter anti-hero, the understated love triangle tension, the admiration of a youngster, the comeuppance of bullies, and the ambiguous ride off into the sunset, but these never feel like cliches. The editing and the script give the cast room to breathe, develop character and encourage the viewer to feel as if they are part of it all, and ride along.
Director: George Stevens
Cast: Alan Ladd, Jean Arthur, Jack Palance, Van Hefflin, Brandon De Wilde
Cinematography: Loyal Griggs
PRIME | YOUTUBE
1 hour 58 min
