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The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

Western · 1962

Questions arise when Senator Stoddard attends the funeral of a local man named Tom Doniphon in a small Western town. Flashing back, we learn Doniphon saved Stoddard, then a lawyer, when he was roughed up by a crew of outlaws terrorizing the town, led by Liberty Valance. As the territory's safety hung in the balance, Doniphon and Stoddard, two of the only people standing up to him, proved to be very important, but different, foes to Valance.

Movie details

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

“Together for the first time”

1962 Western 2h 3m

Critical arithmetic

One number, for now.

TMDB

7.8 / 10

Community rating

Questions arise when Senator Stoddard attends the funeral of a local man named Tom Doniphon in a small Western town. Flashing back, we learn Doniphon saved Stoddard, then a lawyer, when he was roughed up by a crew of outlaws terrorizing the town, led by Liberty Valance. As the territory's safety hung in the balance, Doniphon and Stoddard, two of the only people standing up to him, proved to be very important, but different, foes to Valance.

CriticWise case file

What this film says about your taste.

Not a recommendation score. A measure of how closely the film’s taste signals resemble yours.

The archetype split

Who fights over The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance?

The split comes from the same five-axis model used by the test, not audience ratings or review sentiment.

Taste neighbourhood

Nearby on the taste map.

TMDB supplies the candidates. CriticWise reorders them by craft, strangeness, prestige, emotion, and pace.

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Names above the title

The people responsible.

Directed by

John Ford

Written by

James Warner Bellah · Willis Goldbeck · Dorothy M. Johnson

John Wayne

John Wayne

Tom Doniphon

James Stewart

James Stewart

Ransom Stoddard

Vera Miles

Vera Miles

Hallie Stoddard

Lee Marvin

Lee Marvin

Liberty Valance

Edmond O'Brien

Edmond O'Brien

Dutton Peabody

Andy Devine

Andy Devine

Link Appleyard

Ken Murray

Ken Murray

Doc Willoughby

Court is in session

Put The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance on trial.

Two incompatible taste archetypes. One film. Read the arguments, then issue a completely binding cultural ruling.

The defence The Auteur Devotee

“Ambition earns the room.”

The film reaches for consequence and scale, accepting the risk of seriousness instead of shrinking from it.

The prosecution The Popcorn Loyalist

“Importance has entered the chat.”

The production keeps announcing its significance, as though awards-season posture were proof of insight.