• Latest
Downton Abbey

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

December 8, 2020

Vermont Public Service Department Releases A New Consumer Information Resource

January 26, 2021

Hunger Free Vermont Receives over $59,000 in Nourishing Neighbors Donations Made at Shaw’s Stores throughout Vermont

January 26, 2021

LGBTQIA Alliance of Vermont Partner Organizations Announce 2021 LGBTQ+ Town Hall Series

January 26, 2021
Barre Elks Essay Contest Winners Divisions I and II

Barre Elks Essay Contest Winners Divisions I and II

January 26, 2021

Bojack Horseman (Netflix)

January 26, 2021

Dirty Harry (1971)

January 21, 2021
F&W’s 2021 Conservation Camp Registration is Open

F&W’s 2021 Conservation Camp Registration is Open

January 19, 2021
Ice Fishing FUNdamentals How to Enjoy Yourself and Stay Safe on the Ice This Winter

Ice Fishing FUNdamentals How to Enjoy Yourself and Stay Safe on the Ice This Winter

January 19, 2021
This Old House

Mouse in the House

January 19, 2021

Buffalo Plaid Fundraiser to Support Local Nonprofits

January 19, 2021

Free Tax Filing at Capstone Community Action for Tax Year 2020

January 19, 2021

Leahy-Led Bipartisan Bill Promoting Affordable Health Insurance Is Signed Into Law

January 19, 2021
  • Home
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
Thursday, January 28, 2021
The World Online
  • Home
  • News & Features
    • Local News
    • Letters & opinions
    • George Shuman
    • Max’s View
    • Local Sports & Outdoors
    • Births
    • Weddings & Engagements
  • Calendar
    • Art Exhibits
    • Calendar of Events
    • Ongoing Events
  • Obituaries
  • Submit
    • Submit Calendar Listing
    • Submit An Article To The World
    • Submit Letter To The Editor
    • Submit Sports News/Photo
    • Submit Birth Announcement
    • Submit Engagement Announcement
    • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Advertising
    • World Rates and Ad Sizes
    • World Distribution Map
    • World Deadlines
    • Audit and Reader Surveys
    • Advertising Inquiry
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ads
    • View Current Classifieds
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News & Features
    • Local News
    • Letters & opinions
    • George Shuman
    • Max’s View
    • Local Sports & Outdoors
    • Births
    • Weddings & Engagements
  • Calendar
    • Art Exhibits
    • Calendar of Events
    • Ongoing Events
  • Obituaries
  • Submit
    • Submit Calendar Listing
    • Submit An Article To The World
    • Submit Letter To The Editor
    • Submit Sports News/Photo
    • Submit Birth Announcement
    • Submit Engagement Announcement
    • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Advertising
    • World Rates and Ad Sizes
    • World Distribution Map
    • World Deadlines
    • Audit and Reader Surveys
    • Advertising Inquiry
  • Classifieds
    • Place Classified Ads
    • View Current Classifieds
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
No Result
View All Result
The World Online
No Result
View All Result

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

4 Stars

vt-world by vt-world
December 8, 2020
in Max's View
0
Downton Abbey

John Ford … he’s that guy who directed John Wayne westerns, right?”

Sort of. Mr. Ford’s day job was directing westerns. But his passion was political philosophy.

Yes, “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” is set in the Old West. But this is an intellectually ambitious film.

John Ford tries nothing less than to tell the political history of the United States. He describes the fundamental institutions that bring order, security, and freedom to a formerly lawless and violent land.

“Liberty Valance” has more in common with Plato’s “Republic” than “True Grit.” And more in common with Thomas Hobbes’s “Leviathan” than “Wild Wild West.”

Jimmy Stewart plays Ranse Stoddard: an idealistic lawyer who is moving to the frontier town of Shinbone. Before he even makes it there, a band of ruffians led by Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin) robs Ranse and beats him half to death.

Ranse wants justice. And his idea of justice is very specific: arrest, prosecution, and imprisonment. But Shinbone has no court and the sheriff is a hilarious coward who sleeps in the town’s only jail cell.

Local tough guy Tom Doniphon (John Wayne) tries to set Ranse straight. According to Tom, Ranse has three choices: leave town, submit to Liberty Valance, or get a gun.

Jimmy Stewart is the heart, the soul, and the brains of the movie. And he’s the hero. But it’s John Wayne who gives the most sophisticated performance. Tom believes that the only way to live with dignity in a world run by outlaws is to be a macho bully yourself.

In the film’s finest scene, Tom has lost the girl he loves; he is confused and overwhelmed. He responds by drinking hard and bullying everyone in the bar. It is not admirable behavior, but it is completely understandable and heartbreaking.

In his own way, Ranse is as every bit as tough and fearless as Tom. And he has a forward-thinking plan to save the town.

First, the locals need to be educated and become informed voters. Second, the local power must rest with police officers working for the people rather than hired guns working for rich cattlemen.

John Ford makes an astute observation about the media. In Shinbone, the one newspaper man is a self-important drunkard. If you want the unbiased truth, you’re not likely to find it in the Shinbone Star. Nevertheless, the film argues forcefully that a free press – no matter how flawed – is absolutely fundamental to a great society. Those who call a headline ‘Fake News’ are generally correct. Those who want to use their power to censor a newspaper are enemies of a free people.

“The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” is less cynical and more substantive than any political film made in the post-Watergate era. Ford assumes that you think America is a good and relatively free country; he wants to tell you how it got that way and what a mighty accomplishment it was.

“But what about the genocide of Native Americans,” you ask… “what about slavery and white supremacy?!” Hey, fair enough. No one is saying that US history isn’t pockmarked with shameful racism. Indeed, Tom explicitly states that racial segregation is idiotic.   

But Mr. Ford’s argument is that American civilization is freer and safer and more admirable than most. And I agree with him.

John Ford did a lot more than just direct westerns. He was one of the most important political philosophers of the 20th Century.

Previous Post

In Cautious Optimism

Next Post

6th Annual Granite City 5K Run/Walk for Veterans

Next Post
6th Annual Granite City 5K Run/Walk for Veterans

6th Annual Granite City 5K Run/Walk for Veterans

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This Week’s Ads

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
The World
403 US Route 302
Barre, VT 05641
Phone: (802) 479-2582

Copyright © 2019 The World Online. All Rights Reserved. Powered by CoolerAds.

No Result
View All Result
  • Art Exhibits
  • Audit and Reader Surveys
  • Births
  • Calendar
  • Contact Us
  • Daily Horoscope
  • Fall Dining Guide
  • Food & Recipe
  • Home
  • Obituaries
  • Ongoing Events
  • Pay Your Bill Here
  • Senior Living Edition
  • Showtimes
  • Submit Birth Announcement
  • Submit Calendar Listing
  • Submit Engagement Announcement
  • Submit Listing to our Local Directory
  • Submit Sports News/Photo
  • Submit Wedding Announcement
  • Testimonials
  • The World Coupons
  • Weather Forecast
  • World Deadlines
  • World Distribution Map
  • World Rate Card
  • World Rates and Ad Sizes
  • Disclaimer
  • Privacy
  • Sitemap
  • About Us
  • Vermont Lottery
  • Advertising Information
  • The World Staff
  • Advertising Inquiry
  • Submit Letter To The Editor
  • Local Directory
  • Poll Results
  • Local Deals
  • Classifieds
  • Submit An Article To The World
  • Events
  • The World – This Week’s Online Digital Edition
  • The World Auto & Sports

Copyright © 2019 The World Online. All Rights Reserved. Powered by CoolerAds.

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In