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Oh Man! What a timeless masterpiece! Today, as I continue transferring my sizeable collection of VHS to DVD, I watchjed SHANE for the first time in a very long time. This film in enigmatic. what a masterpiece! This film has all essential elements of a Timeless classic.The plot is very believeable, and the irony of the main charecters plight is quite essentially modern american alienation borne out in a cinematic western. How it speaks to the modern American man trying to outlive his past , only to find that the more you run, the less you are able to hide. Shane represents all that is good in man- a courageous man who repents of his sordid past,is willing to scarifice his pride and integrity to become a gentle man and decent citizen, yet when all is said and done, is too embroiled in the past to be able to live as he had desired. Yes, the fight scenes are melodramatic-how many times can Shane be hit over the head with a chair and still get up and fight off 6 husky cowboys?.. yet this is not the essence of the film. The last scene of the film is a classic for all time. Shane rides away, while the little boy whom he had secured a future for wails in lament "Shane -COme back Shane!" The way Shene waits untill the last moment to starp on his guns again lets you know that he actually must become the man he had desperatly tried to avoid being any longer. And the way he rides away lets you know that Shane is forever the gunslinger, and never the man who he had wanted to change into.Awesome!
Follow Ups:
Alan Ladd as Shane made the first big impression on me as a kid in the hero sweepstakes. He was my first big icon in the eternal conflict of Good Guys vs. Bad Guys. That was Brandon De Wilde as Joey the little kid. He went onto fame and fortune as the costar of "Hud" although he was tragically killed in a car wreck in his early 30's I think. And how about a very young Jack Palance as the hired killer Wilson and Elisha Cook as the doomed "Johnny Reb" character!
An imperishable masterpiece from George Stevens.
My 2nd favourite western, just behind The Searchers.I believe that Shane is dead by the time he rides over the rise at the end, hence his slumping in the saddle; which puts a different slant on your interpretation of '...the gunslinger forever..'.
My interpretation is that the film is an extension of the 'bravery & grit of the farmer' theme, as also verbalised by Charles Bronson in The Magnificent Seven - allied to the empty life of the gunfighter.
Whatever way you choose to interpret it this is a great film.
(nt)
But for me The Searchers just has so much, and is certainly the one film that JW did for which he deserved an Oscar, as much as I like True Grit - and the highly emotional race on the pony at the end.The sub-text and subtlety is so well done in The Searchers. Is the 'niece' really his daughter? I certainly think so. The wife's fondling of his coat; his obsessive pursuit of Debbie; His prolonged absence after the war.
Such a good supporting cast, with Ward Bond at his best, neatly turning from drama to humour and finally pathos.
But I do think the L.V. is a great movie, and have to say that I prefer Jimmy Stewart to JW as an actor.
Two fine films by a distinguished director.
I have posted before that Wayne himself observed that the Ethan character he played was searching for his daughter (see the last trivia item on IMDB's "Searchers" write up).BTW, of r me, "One Eyed Jacks" edges out "The Searchers: as the best western ever made.
...what i like is the fact that all the information to come to that conclusion is presented, but not crudely thrust in your face.Have to say that I haven't seen One Eyed Jacks for years, but my memory isn't that favourable. I'll take another look.
Martin
There are at least three DVDs of OEJ out and not a one has a good transfer. But the film has many good lines of dialog.
I will have to go back and take a look at the ending of the film Shane. I didnt notice Shane slumping in the saddle when he rode off into the sunset.. I also didnt see him take a bullet in the gun battle towards the end.Possible he died of exhaustion, but doubtful- this was a guy that could beat up 6 husky cowpokes and help plow thwe back 40 later the same day.
Shane was shot and wounded by the old geezer with the rifle or shotgun who was hiding up on the balcony, even though the young kid warned Shane, who was walking out of the saloon after dispatching Palance's character, "Lookout!" Outside the saloon, as Shane prepares to ride off, the kid notices Shane's been shot. "Shane, you're hurt!" ...something like that.
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