Shane (1953)

 Shane (1953)

George Stevens, the film auteur behind Giant and A Place in the Sun, revolutionized the ‘Western” genre in his 1953 feature, Shane. Like many westerns, it follows the tropes which gives it a level of predictability at times. However, the film was different in other ways. Do you think you would get the graphic violence from Sam Peckinpah’s The Wild Bunch without this film? I think not. Stevens came up with ways to show how horrid violence can be from gunshots, so the intensity factor increased. Also, he developed the main character in a unique way. Shane is not your typical, masochist leader. He is a more mysterious, feminine type which of course goes against Western mythology. All of the changes allowed for changes to be made in a dying genre.

 

At the time of release, the movie was the most expensive Western ever produced. A miniscule budget by today’s standards, but it did carry a hefty three-million-dollar price tag which it did eventually recoup at the box office. The film is also noticeable for being one of Paramount’s first “flat” widescreen films which was invented by the studio because it gave the audience a more panoramic view.

 

Like many westerns to come before and since, this movie can be described as a moving oil painting. Loyal Griggs’s camerawork capturing the beautiful landscape of Wyoming really opens your mind. His work actually earned him a much-deserved Oscar win. In addition to stunning cinematography, we can call this a complex character study. I mentioned briefly how Shane is different from most leading men in the genre. I do not want to over analyze anything, but psychologically complex characters were created. Shane and the farmer’s wife show mutual attraction for one another but they don’t act upon it out of respect for the farmer, Joe. Shane also becomes a father figure towards their son, Joey. There are many complex situations that arise over the course of the film which gives this film extra dimensions. Then again, Stevens always knew his way around complicated characters.

 

The mysterious Shane (Alan Ladd) rides into the Jackson Valley where he hopes to settle as a farmhand. He works for a farmer Joe (Van Heflin), his wife Marian (Jean Arthur), and his son Joey (Brandon De Wilde). He soon becomes drawn into the family’s conflict with the cattle baron, Rufus Ryker. There is bad blood between both sides with Rufus wanting to take over the farmland so the cattle can roam freely. Shane realizes that he must protect the family from Ryker and his gang, which includes the famous gunslinger Jack Wilson (Jack Palance).

 

The performances are excellent. Alan Ladd never reached the heights of movie star in his career, but he always had solid acting skills and people went gaga over his charming looks. Stevens had to recruit the 50-year-old Jean Arthur out of retirement. She did a great job, and this ended up being her final film. Jack Palance, despite a few lines, gave you a very menacing aura. His character was the one that made the violence more graphic. Hollywood lore has it that he looked so awkward on a horse that out of desperation, Stevens made him walk the horse during his introduction. That actually worked because his intro gave me the chills. Van Heflin did well as Farmer Joe. Brandon de Wilde, who played Joey, was nominated for an Academy Award. My reaction is how?? I liked the father figure angle between Shane and him, but his annoying and screeching voice made his character unbearable at times. “Shannnnnnneeeeeee, come back!” is a line that will sadly never leave my mind.

 

Shane is a really good movie that changed the style of how Westerns were made. It has your typical saloon fights and drama between farmers and barons, but the violence is more graphic, and the characterizations of some key characters were changed. I also liked the film’s ending. Not only is it emotional in terms of line delivery, but it is ambiguous. It is up to the audience to really believe what happened. Excellent cinematography, direction, and musical score. That said…my gosh, Joey, you really need to take a chill pill.

 

My Grade: B+