John Wayne, James Stewart, Vera Miles and Lee Marvin star in this compelling story of secrets, lies, fame, fortune and redemption.. Entering the then-unincorporated territory as a young lawyer, Ranse is beaten and robbed by infamous outlaw Liberty Valance and his gang. Stoddard also becomes friends with Dutton Peabody (Edmond OBrien), editor of the Shinbone Star, as the two advocate for statehood for the territory. Carleton Young Maxwell Scott, Edmond OBrien as Dutton Peabody, the man who lets Stoddard set up a law office and school in his newspaper building in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), Woody Strode as Pompey, backing up Tom Doniphon as Hallie (Vera Miles) looks on in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), Tom Doniphon: Liberty Valance is the toughest man south of picket wire. As the film opens, U. S. Senator Ransom Stoddard (James Stewart) is arriving in Shinbone by the new railroad with his wife Hallie (Vera Miles). Here, he is practically rendered motionless. Doniphon takes Stoddard aside, and in a flashback within a flashback, confides that he, Doniphon, actually killed Valance from an alley across the street, firing at the same time as Stoddard. But the films of John Ford make no attempt to take us into the past; they are about the past. Wayne had every right to be pissed at the character he was assigned; Tom Doniphon is the most Anti-Johnwayne character that Wayne has ever played. Vera Miles as Hallie Stoddard, concerned about the wounded man Tom Doniphon delivers to her home in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), Lee Marvin as Liberty Valance, upset over an item published in Peabodys newspaper in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), Cast: True Grit: How The 2010 Movie Compares To The Book & John Wayne Version, The Barbarian And The Geisha Had John Wayne Literally Fighting His Director. The character of Tom Doniphon was supposed to be a younger man, and the filmmaker relentlessly mocked and teased Wayne during filming. Comparison of Tom Doniphan and Ransom Stoddard - Essay A Thought on the Ending of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance Stoddard continues to defy Valance and earns the respect of the townsfolk, by first opening a law practice in town and then starting a school for teaching illiterate townspeople. John Ford is regarded as one of the great American filmmakers and has many classics to his name, including Stagecoach, The Quiet Man and The Searchers. Senator Stoddard (James Stewart) comes into town for his funeral, which confuses the. He asks if she wants to move back to the town when they retire, which makes her delighted as she states her heart belongs there. But Pompey won't drink. Vera Miles Hallie Stoddard It takes place in the town of Shinbone, in an unnamed territory that is moving toward a vote on statehood. Stompin Tom Connors dead: Remembering the Hockey Song legend | National Watching the film, we see that Ransom Stoddard is indeed the story true hero and protagonist, and at times, almost a Christ-like figure. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) - Once Upon a Time in a Western Either way,Doniphon destroys of himself in favor of Stoddards elevation, and America is built on a lie. The main conflict in the film, then, is not that between the gunslinger Tom Doniphon and the outlaw Liberty Valance; the real conflict is that between "the Old West" (Doniphon and Valance) and the forces of "progress" (Stoddard). The story focuses on Ransome Stoddard (Jimmy Stewart), an American senator arriving at the town of Shinbone with his wife, Hailey (Vera Miles), to attend the funeral of Tom Doniphon (Wayne). Cattlemen do not. It asks the question: Does a man need to carry a gun in order to disagree or state an opinion? That Stoddard, thus relieved of the sin of murder has no problem committing the sin of dishonesty says as much about the nature of politicians as it does his own character. Doniphan takes it for granted that Hallie will be his wife and resents it when she stars having feelings for Stoddard. Stoddard was inept but courageous. Andy Devine says "he hasn't worn them in years" . It was exacerbated by his failing health and his drinking problem, as the cantankerous Ford became even more of a misanthrope, thus alienating the big studios from hiring him. And the scene where Stoddard (James Stewart) confronts Valance was incredible. After this film, his career would see a meteoric rise and, by the mid 1960s, he would become one of the top stars in the industry. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) - Movie Review - John Wayne It's clear they loved him. Doniphon and Valance, then, represent the individuals of Ford's West, Doniphon standing for order, Valance for anarchy. Thus buoyed, Stoddard rushes off to become the heroic figure that will dominate the politics of the territory, and then state, for decades to come. As is the question of who really killed Liberty Valance. As a young lawyer, he comes to practice law in a lawless Western town and on the way into town, hes on a stagecoach thats robbed by Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin). The body of Tom Doniphon is at rest in a plain, wooden casket. An ending where Stoddard finally breaks down and miraculously kills Valance, ironically catapulting him to political success, strikes me as far more interesting. His westerns were all optimistic in nature and concentrated on building a myth, rather than showing the gritty reality. Waynedid not use any scenes shot by Ford in the film (much to the chagrin of Ford) while Wayne was angry with the general impression that was created that it was Ford, and not him, who directed The Alamo; others believed Ford was jealous of Dukes increasing success compared to his own sudden decline. He receives a brutal beating from Valance and is left to die. Liberty Valance cannot abide anyone standing up to him, and the shingle is an affront. So why then does he shoot Liberty Valance? I just had to wander around in that son of a bitch and try and make a part for myself. So the resulting fame for Stoddard was hugely unfair, right? Name the 2010 Western that featured Peter Dinklage of "Game of Thrones" and Jason Priestly of 90210 fame in supporting roles. But what if Doniphon is lying, what if Stoddard really is the man who shot Liberty Valance? Jeanette Nolan Nora Ericson One that almost seemed forced upon the story. And after the flopping of Sergeant Rutledge, Ford found himself out of work. He knows that his cowardice has lost him his chance at happiness. Collin Brendemuehl: Fake history is worthy of exploration if to correct bad history. Hes mocked by Valance who trips him, causing him to spill Doniphans meal. Lee Marvin Liberty Valance Stoddard goes into the street to face Valance. He even takes on the duty of helping out with waiting tables. Denver Pyle Amos Carruthers Is The man Who Shot Liberty Valance based on a true story? His relationship with Wayne was a little strained at the time, mainly because of incidents involving Waynes directorial ventureTheAlamo, in which Ford worked as a second unitdirector. The year is 1910. Escena del funeral de Tom Doniphon tomada del hombre que mato a Liberty Valance. El funeral de Tom Doniphon - YouTube Add to that the fact that he kills the villain, not face to face, but pretty much shooting him from the back- something that he abhorred and always criticized Clint Eastwood for doing. Stoddard raises no complaint when Valance seizes his fathers gold watch and robs him. Keeping to one side, Tom Doniphon observes everything but is slow to act; his strength is silently coiled. He had no hope of success. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Or perhaps, Doniphan didnt care about everyone else, but for whatever reason, Doniphan avoided the conflict. When Doniphan and Valance prepare to have a shootout over who will pick up the food, Stoddard intervenes, humbles himself, and picks up the food. Tom Doniphon tells him that without a gun in his hand and the experience to use it, he will sooner or later certainly be killed by Valance. "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance," the New Yorker's Richard Brody writes, "is the greatest American political movie." Fords westerns portrayed truth, honor, courage, family and community as the chief weapons by which the American West was won. The nave myths and legends (or untruths) that Ford had propagated about the civilizing of the West (and the building of the American nation), through the 70 odd films he made in his lifetime are all overturned by him in this film. His composition is classical. Ford reveals Stoddard as incapable of adjusting to the life of the West: when Tom brings Hallie a "cactus rose," Stoddard, having seen real roses, cannot appreciate the beauty of the desert flower. Doniphon - calling Stoddard 'Pilgrim', an epithet . And so Stoddard tells them the story, one they decide not to print because, in this case, legend has become fact. Marvin enjoyed playing the larger-than-life Liberty Valance, which he did to the hilt, opposite iconic costars like Wayne and Stewart. I dont trust ambiguity. Wayne became surly and aggressive during the shoot and he started taking out his anger on everybody else on the set, except Ford. Stoddard was the only man in town who would stand up to Valance and if Valance wasnt stopped, hed continued to destroy and hurt people. He pays off room and board to her Swedish parents by working in their cafe. The 10 best screen cowboys - in pictures - The Guardian [Spoilers] My thoughts on the ending of The Man Who Shot - Reddit Ken Murray Doc Willoughby You put that thing up, youll have to defend it with a gun. Stoddard believes so firmly in the law that he is willing to lose his life for his principles. Thom Donovan (born Thomas Joseph Donovan; July 24, 1974 in St. Louis, Missouri) is an American guitarist, singer, songwriter and producer.He has released five solo albums and was the lead vocalist and guitarist of the band Lapush.His international performance career has included concerts across the United States as well as cities around the world. In a few characters and a gripping story, Ford dramatizes the debate about guns that still continues in many Western states. But his luck finally ran out on April 3, 1992 when a jury found Gotti guilty of arranging the assassination . He built a home which he assumed Hally (Vera Miles) would share with him as his wife, but he lost her to the hero of the moment, Stoddard. The character of Tom Doniphon was supposed to be a younger man, and the filmmaker relentlessly mocked and teased Wayne during filming. The newspaper refuses to accept the lamer story and the disconnect between Stoddard and his wife on the train made for a decent ending. Once in the town of Shinbone, he finds allies in the form of tough Tom Doniphon (John Wayne) and his fiance, Hallie (Vera Miles). His illiterate students include Hallie. Rodney King was beaten by the police on March 3, 1991. However, Doniphon died a drunken, dislocated man. Even the impact of this noble deed is lessened by Doniphan indulging himself in bitterness and self-pity. What Doniphon craves most is domesticity, but by finally shooting Valance, he loses that opportunity; thismakes Doniphon the most tragic character that John Wayne has ever. Be sure to vote on the main blog page, not an individual photo page, so theyll tabulate correctly. how did tom doniphon die - vyrosier.org Now obviously this revelation makes the frame story of Old Senator Stoddard work better. After a brutal assault by Valance, Stoddard is saved by Doniphon and nursed back to health by Hallie, who form a romantic connection. Doniphon finds him in Hallies arms. He films mostly on sets, but we're not particularly aware. But Liberty Valance and his guns work for the cattle barons who want to keep the territory for themselves. But the plans of statehood for the territory upset the cattle barons, who recruit Liberty Valance to sabotage the delegation. The Man who shot Liberty Valance (1962) was the last western John Ford made with John Wayne. They soon learn that their father gambled away the family ranch, leading to his own murder. A dejected Doniphon, who was hoping to marry Hallie and move into his new house, gets drunk andburns down his house. As the film opens, U. S. Senator Ransom Stoddard (James Stewart) arrives in Shinbone by the new railroad with his wife Hallie (Vera Miles) to attend the funeral of a man named Tom Doniphon (John Wayne). Ford had lost his faith in notion of community and those good old values and It is at this point that he mooted the idea of filming Liberty Valance. Losing the woman he loved to Ransom haunted Tom for the rest of his life and he was never able to move on from it and find love again with anyone else. Farmers want statehood. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) - Culturedarm Despite his many abilities, he simply will not take part in the community. When the shooting ends, Valance is dead; Stoddard is hailed a hero as the man who shot Liberty Valance.. They're just too good to be stopped. Ransom Stoddard believes in the U. S. Constitution, the rule by law, the trust in government. Has anyone else felt this way upon viewing The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance? Its much more explicit in Sergeant Rutledge, which transposes the incident involving rape and murder in medieval Japan to the American frontier west. The Hero of the Man Who Shot Liberty Valance - Caffeinated Thoughts Recognizing that that kind of cowardice is his own and not Stoddards, he gives him a pep talk and tells him what he wants to hear: that he did not violate his belief in non-violence, that he is the man he always thought he was. Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. [Doniphon kicks Floyd in the face as he bends down to retrieve the tray] Only Pompey and a few others saw him. Personal plans.". There seemed to be a realization. Regardless, it was a great movie, but perhaps could have been greater. One night Valance demands a showdown and toys with the lawyer, shooting him in the arm and taunting him before Stoddard finally gets off a shot and Valance drops dead. Doniphon teaches Rance Stoddard (Jimmy Stewart) how to shoot and fight. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism. Ford started the film full of enthusiasm and fire, but he lost interest in the film almost as soon as shooting began. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) - Plot - IMDb Ransom: Thats why I painted it. And more importantly, why does he do it in secret? Padraig has been writing about film online since 2012, when a friend asked if he'd like to contribute the occasional review or feature to their site. But in Liberty Valance (as well as in his previous filmSergeant Rutledge) I find a strong influence of Kurosawas Rashomon; especially, dealing with the exploration of a particular event (involving a crime) from multiple vantage points. Tom Doniphon shoots the outlaw thug Liberty Valance from the shadows, keeps it a secret, then realizes that his girl Hallie is in love with Ransom Stoddard, whereupon he burns his house to the ground (starting with the new wing hed built for her. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance: Film Analysis | ipl.org Thom Donovan - Wikipedia His sympathy for the townspeople is real, but not enough to motivate him to take action on their behalf. Andy Devine .. Linc Appleyard As Tom Doniphon, Wayne just as ideally symbolizes dogged individualism, playing the simple, old-fashioned kind of Westerner who can pat his gun and say "Out here a man settles his own problems," and who replaces community spirit with personal loyalities and friendships. A man of action and few words (note his instinctive hatred of the rhetoric in the Convention speeches), Doniphon is very much an individual who minds his own business. Stoddard has none of this embarrassment. Flashing back, we learn Doniphon saved. But the very final scene of the film had John Wayne extolling the virtues of the American soldier, and in the background, the Cavalry is seen riding out take on the Indians. Doniphon: Well, take some advice, pilgrim. Here, Doniphon is a horse trader while the bad guy Valance is a stagecoach robber; within the framework of the film, both are from the same world and are pretty much allies; both are trapped in obsolescent careers, neither seems willing to adapt; they represent the best and worst of that old-world. Tom could stand up to Valance, but it would suit him to have Stoddard out of the way so that he could bring Hallie home to that porch with its rocking chair. Some of this motivated by his desire for Hallie (Vera Miles) whose heart was slowly moving towards Stoddard. You helped to make it," we cannot help feeling a deep regret that it had to happen that way. What Hallie Knew | The Smart Set After being one of Hollywoods pre-eminent directors for more than three decades, Fords career was coming to an end. I said you, Valance; you pick it up. As the film opens, U. S. Senator Ransom Stoddard (James Stewart) is arriving in Shinbone by the new railroad with his wife Hallie (Vera Miles). The police tried to pull him over in Lake View Terrace in San Fernando Valley after he was speeding at 110 mph. Because he had murdered Valance, rather than shooting him in self-defence, Doniphon had to conceal his role, lest he be prosecuted. Ford turns the ending into a rousing beginning and constructs an elaborate mythology for the American military. Big studios were giving way to Independents, and a new kind of gritty, violent cinema was being made for an emerging counter-cultural audience. And Miles is also effective as the young woman eager to learn under Stewarts tutelage and hoping that his vision of a West where law and order prevail comes to be. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is Ford's deeply personal farewell to a period in American history he loved, a folklore he helped create. Just finished watching The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. But right on his arrival, he encounters the brutal Valance, who steals all his belongings andalmost whips him to death. He would also emerge victorious (at least temporarily) in his fight against cancer as well,and he would go on to enjoy more than a decade and half of solid superstardom, before he would finally succumb to cancer. Working in the restaurant is young Hallie. Go to the bottom of each blog and youll find a ratings widget. Meanwhile, John Wayne was reeling from the financial setbacks caused by his dream projectThe Alamo (1960), which he directed, produced and starred in. (One stylistic touch: In this film, he habitually calls Stoddard "Pilgrim," which expresses an insight into the lawyer's character.). From thereon, he goes onto even more heights in his political career, and now he is expecting a nomination to be the vice-president of the country. Without Ransom Stoddards courage and convictions, there is no movie. Liberty Valance, who supports cattle barons opposed to statehood. He quickly makes an enemy out of local bully and killer Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin, The Dirty Dozen), who tries to force him to leave town. The deadliest and most sadistic killer in all Ford's films, Liberty Valance has been filtered through all Ford's other villains, emerging as a composite of the worst features in each. He has written words for Den of Geek, Collider, The Irish Times and Screen Rant over the years, and can discuss anything from the MCU - where Hawkeye is clearly the best character - to the most obscure cult b-movie gem, and his hot takes often require heat resistant gloves to handle. But Wayne continued to bristle about the bad experience on making the picture, years later he recollected on his experience: It was a tough assignment for me because dammit, Ford had Jimmy for the shit-kicking humor, OBrien playing the sophisticated humor, and he had the heavy, Marvin. (LogOut/ His films appeared very simple and, at times, very simplistic, but they dealt with huge themes: the expansion of American military might, the conflict between the European settlers and native American civilizations, the establishment of law & order in the wilderness, and the coming of religion, trade and commerce; all these themes are reflected in one way or the other in all his westerns.