Released - April, 1953 

Directed By - George Stevens

Starring- Alan Ladd (Shane), Jean Arthur (Marian Starrett), Van Heflin (Joe Starrett), Brandon De Wilde (Joey Starrett), Jack Palance (Jack Wilson), Ben Johnson (Chris Calloway), Emile Meyer (Rufus Ryker), Edgar Buchanan (Fred Lewis).

Description- A mysterious stranger, who calls himself Shane, stops at the Wyoming homestead of the Starrett family on his way north. It doesn’t take long before an incident reveals him to be a gunslinger.

This revelation makes the Starrett family wary of the stranger and ask him to leave, Moments later, cattle baron Rufus Ryker with some of his men arrive at the ranch and accuse Joe Starrett of squatting on his land. They order Starrett to leave with a threat of violence.

From out of nowhere, Shane re-appears and stands at the side of Joe Starrett preventing the violence, at least for the moment. In gratitude, Shane is offered dinner and a job for as long as he wants at the Starrett ranch.

Shane accepts, and has now placed himself in the middle of what will become a violent confrontation between the homesteaders and the ruthless Ryker. Additional complication’s develop as the Starrett’s young son Joey is drawn to Shane due to the skill he has with a gun, and Shane finds he is becoming attracted to Mrs. Starrett and she to him.

With the arrival of hired killer Jack Wilson by Ryker, things will soon reach the boiling point. Ryker’s attempts to intimidate the homesteaders increases with the presense of Wilson and are followed by murder.

How will it all play out, and will Shane be forced to kill again in order to help protect the Starrett’s and the other homesteaders? It appears that all hope for the weary gunfighter to settle down is gone.

NOTABLE: In 1993, Shane was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

Shane won the Oscar for Best Cinematography, Color, and was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Jack Palance, and Brandon De Wilde), Best Director (George Stevens), and Best Writing, Screenplay.

Director George Stevens had originally cast Montgomery Clift in the role of Shane, and William Holden as Joe Starrett, and possibly Katharine Hepburn as Marian Starrett. However, both Clift and Holden were unavailable at the time of filming. When reviewing the list of available actors under contract, Stevens took only three minutes to decide on Alan Ladd, Van Heflin, and Jean Arthur for the lead roles.

Shane marked the last film appearance for actress Jean Arthur who came out of semi-retirement as a favor to her friend George Stevens and would later appear only on stage and TV. At the time of filming she was 50 years old (possibly a little older); quite a bit older than her costars.

Shane was the first film to be projected in the widescreen format, which was invented by Paramount.

In 2007, the American Film Institutes’s 100 ears….100 Movies list includes Shane as #45; also in 2008 they listed Shane as #3 on their Best in the Western Genre list.

Paramount became so concerned over production costs that they considered selling the film As it turned out, the film was extremely successful with audiences and made a substantial profit.

Jean Arthur was a committed early animal activist and would personally see to it that all the animals used in the film were properly cared for.

Personal Note: This is anything but, “just another western.” Splendid in every way, Shane is a must-see for any serious film fan and rightfully belongs on the list of the best Westerns ever made.

A great story whose ending will pull at your heart-strings.

Shane

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Released - February, 1953 

Directed By - Anthony Mann

Starring - James Stewart (Howard Kemp), Janet Leigh (Lina Patch), Robert Ryan (Ben Vandergroat), Ralph Meeker (Roy Anderson).

Description – Bounty hunter Howard Kemp has been tracking Ben Vandergroat for a long time. Vandergroat is wanted for the murder of a marshall in Abilene.

During his pursuit, Kemp meets and enlists the aid of a couple of questionable characters; a grizzled old prospector named Tate and a dishonorably discharged Union soldier named Anderson. Both believe Kemp to be a sheriff and not a bounty hunter.

The three have come across and trap someone on the top of a hill in the Rocky Mountains. Kemp feels it must be Vandergroat. Sure enough, it is Ben Vandergroat and Lina Patch the daughter of one of Ben’s friends killed during a bank robbery.

After capturing Vandergroat, the prospector and disgraced soldier learn that Kemp is not a sheriff and is just looking for the $5,000 reward on Vandergroat’s head. The two agree to help Kemp claim the reward with an eye on the reward for themselves.

This will be no easy trip as Vandergroat begins to use greed to set the partners against one another as well as using the beautiful Lina to come between Kemp and Anderson. To make things even worse they come upon a group of BlackFeet warriors who, while usually friendly, are out of their area and seem to be looking for someone.

Throw in a brutal rainstorm, a cave in, an attempt to cross a raging river and you have one of the most exciting westerns ever made; possibly James Stewert’s best.

NOTABLE: In 1997, The Naked Spur was added to the National Film Registry.

The Naked Spur received one Academy Award nomination for Best Writing, Story and Screenplay.

Personal Note: One of the best Westerns ever made. A good script, solid acting, and beautifully shot in Technicolor on location in the Rocky Mountains, Colorado.

The Naked Spur

James Stewart – The Signature Collection (The Cheyenne Social Club / Firecreek / The FBI Story / The Naked Spur / The Spirit of St. Louis / The Stratton Story)

James Stewart – The Western Collection (Destry Rides Again / Winchester ?73 / Bend of the River / The Far Country / Night Passage / The Rare Breed)

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Released - July, 1952 

Directed By - Fred Zinnemann

Starring – Gary Cooper (Marshal Will Kane), Grace Kelly (Amy Fowler Kane), Lloyd Bridges (Deputy Harvey Pell), Thomas Mitchell (Mayor Jonas Henderson).

Description – Hadleyville, New Mexico Marshal Will Kane has just married pacifist Quaker Amy Fowler, retires from his duties, and plans to move away and begin a new life as a storekeeper.

However, some disturbing news has just arrived. Frank Miller, a criminal brought to justice by Marshal Kane and sentenced to hang, has just been released from prison with no explanation as to why.

When sentenced, Miller vowed to return to kill Kane and that’s just what it looks like he is planning to do. Arriving and waiting at the railroad station are three men, Miller’s brother and two former gang members. They are waiting for the noon train.

The townspeople encourage Kane and his new bride to leave town, which they do. Realizing that he will only be hunted down, Kane returns to town, picks up his badge and tries to put together enough help to deal with the threat of Miller and his gang.

There is no help to be found. The townspeople are to scared to help Kane and it looks like he will have to face the men alone rather than run.

Enjoy the building suspense as the clock gets closer and closer to High Noon!

NOTABLE: This classic western was nominated for seven Academy Awards, winning for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Gary Cooper), Best Film Editing, Best Music, Original Song, and Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture. Other nominations included; Best Picture, Best Director (Fred Zinnemann), and Best Writing, Screenplay.

In 1989, was selected for the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress.

Some believe that the theme of the movie was intended as an allegory of Hollywood’s failure to stand up to the House Un-American Activities Committee during the McCarthy era.

This is former President Bill Clinton’s favorite film.

This was the film debut of Lee Van Cleef who does not have a word of dialogue.

Director Fred Zinnemann fought to never have this film “colorized.” However, a colorized version was made by Ted Turner’s production company and shown several times on his cable network.

The role of Marshal Will Kane, for which Gary Cooper won an Oscar, was turned down by Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston, Marlon Brando, and Montgomery Clift.

No makeup was used on the face of Gary Cooper in order to show the worry and stress related to the films storyline.

Tex Ritter sang “Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darlin.” This was the first Oscar-winning song from a non-musical motion picture.

The American Film Institute has ranked this as #27 on its list of the Greatest Movies of All Time and #2 on the list of Greatest Westerns.

Personal Note: This is one of my favorite films of all time. Often described as a “western for people who don’t like westerns,” it is timeless in its appeal as a great film about a crisis of conscience.

A classic motion picture in every sense of the word!

High Noon (Collector’s Edition)

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Released – February, 1952 

Directed By - Elia Kazan

Starring – Marlon Brando (Emiliano Zapata), Jean Peters (Josefa Zapata), Anthony Quinn (Eufemio Zapata), Joseph Wiseman (Fernando Aquirre).

Description – This is a fictional-biographical film about the life of Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata. In the early part of the 20th century the citizens of Mexico were forced to live under the corrupt and oppressive rule of president Porfirio Diaz.

A Mexican delegation that includes Zapata voice their complaints to Diaz only to be dismissed. This leaves the Mexican citizens only one option – open rebellion. Led by Emiliano Zapata, his brother Eufemio, and Pancho Villa they unite under reform leader Francisco Madero and are able to remove Diaz from control of the country. 

However, nothing changes. Madero rules under the influence of treacherous General Victoriano Huerta in the same corrupt self-serving manner as his predecesor. Under the new rule, even Zapata’s brother Eufemio becomes a part of the problem.

Zapata himself is declared an outlaw and a threat to the government. General Huerta, fearing Zapata to powerful, urges Madero to kill him.

NOTABLE: This film won an Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Anthony Quinn), and was nominated also nominated for Best Actor in a Lead Role (Marlon Brando), Best Writing – Story and Screenplay (John Steinbeck), Best Art Direction-Set Decoration – Black and White, and Best Music , Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture.

In the film, a romanticized Zapata, is portrayed as being illiterate when, in reality, his family were land owners and were able to obtain an education for him.

Viva Zapata!

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Released – February, 1952 

Directed By – Anthony Mann

Starring – James Stewart (Glyn McLyntock), Arthur Kennedy (Emerson Cole), Rock Hudson (Trey Wilson), Jay C. Flippen (Jeremy Baile), Julie Adams (Laura Baile), Lori Nelson (Marjie Baile).

Description – While scouting for a wagon train of settlers heading for Oregon former outlaw Glyn McLyntock come upon a lynching. Emerson Cole is about to be hanged for stealing a horse. McLyntock rescues Cole who now joins the wagon train headed west.

Later that night, their party is attacked by a band of Indians and Cole returns the favor by saving McLyntock’s life. However, settler Laura Baile is badly injured and stays behind to recover in Portland. Cole also stays due to his interest in the woman and the money-making opportunities in the city.

McLyntock and the remainder of the pioneers continue on to establish a settlement and arranging to have additional supplies for the coming winter sent to them. With winter closing in and no supplies in sight, McLyntock and Jeremy Baile return to town to investigate.

They find that the gold rush has driven up the price of supplies and the supplier has chosen to sell to the highest bidder. With the help of Cole and his men they are able to begin to take the supplies back to the settlement.

Along the way they are met by a group of miners who offer a very high price for the supplies tempting Cole and his men. The temptation of all that money proves too much and a double-cross is inevitable.

NOTABLE: James Stewart starred in five classic westerns directed by Anthony Mann. In each, Stewart played a man struggling with his past. These films played a large part of the resurgence of the western genre during the 1950′s.

It is rumored that this was the last film where James Stewart had his own hair.

Though initial reviews of this film were poor, it has gone on to be respected as a fine example of the adult western genre and proved to be a turning point in the career of James Stewart. Previously associated with light comedic roles, he was now able to be cast playing more violent, ruthless characters.

Bend of the River

James Stewart – The Western Collection (Destry Rides Again / Winchester ?73 / Bend of the River / The Far Country / Night Passage / The Rare Breed)

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