The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Drama, Western
Paramount Pictures  (1962) 123 mins Approved

8.1 (18,405 votes) Top 250: #242
Ranking with Stagecoach as one of the greatest of its genre, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is the modern-day western to beat all westerns. John Ford, whose very name is synonymous with "westerns," directed the ideal cast. Jimmy Stewart plays the bungling but charming big-city lawyer determined to rid the fair village of Shinbone of its number one nuisance and bad man: Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin). And as if all that weren't enough, the biggest star that ever aimed a six-shooter plays the Man of the title: John Wayne. Super sincere Stewart and rugged rancher Wayne also share the same love interest (Vera Miles). One gets the gunman, but the other gets the gal....

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Cast and Crew
John Wayne  ......  Tom Doniphon
James Stewart  ......  Ransom Stoddard
Vera Miles  ......  Hallie Stoddard
Lee Marvin  ......  Liberty Valance
Edmond O'Brien  ......  Dutton Peabody
Andy Devine  ......  Marshal Link Appleyard
Director  .....  John Ford
Producer  .....  Willis Goldbeck; John Ford
Writer  .....  Dorothy M. Johnson; James Warner Bellah; Willis Goldbeck
Notes
Goofs:
Audio/visual unsynchronized: When Stoddard is setting the paint cans on the fence posts, they make a tinny sound that clearly indicates they're empty. Yet when shot by Doniphon, they discharge a great amount of paint. (more)

Trivia:
In the scene where Stoddard is carried into the "Peter's Place" kitchen wounded, Nora (Jeanette Nolan) gives him a cup of coffee laced with what she describes as "Akvavit, Swedish brandy" - the bottle is, in fact, a quite recognizable Akvavit bottle. The drink is found in all of Scandinavia but is largely considered to stem from Denmark. (more)

Filming Locations:
California, USA (more)

Quotes:
[first lines]
Ransom Stoddard: [descending from railway carriage and consulting pocket watch] Thanks, Jason. On time.
(more)

Awards:
Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 2 nominations (more)