Released in 1962, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance was directed by the great John Ford and starred Hollywood legends James Stewart and John Wayne. The screenplay by James Warner Bellah and Willis Goldbeck, was adapted from a short story by Dorothy M. Johnson. The film was a big hit upon its release, and Edith Head received an Academy Award nomination for best costume design; one of the few westerns ever to be nominated for the award. Along with The Searchers, My Darling Clementine, and Stagecoach, Who Shot Liberty Valance is widely considered to be one of director John Ford’s best westerns. In 2007, the film was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”

The only occasion James Stewart and John Wayne would truly make a film together, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance centers on the changing of the guard, the measure of a man and the need for a hero. It’s the late 1800’s, an aging Senator named Ransom Stoddard (Stewart) has just returned to the town of Shinbone to attend the funeral of Tom Doniphon (Wayne). Everybody in Shinbone has heard of Stoddard but none remember the recently departed Doniphon. Using flashbacks, Ford has Stoddard tell the story of his friend to a local newspaper reporter and over the course of two hours, three minutes we are told the story of these two very different men who have enough common interests to coexist.

Stoddard is a young law school graduate who dreams of changing the world. He is traveling by stagecoach to the town of Shinbone when he is violently attacked by a gang of men led by the ruthless Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin). After struggling to get into town, Stoddard is cared for by Hallie (Vera Miles), a woman who runs a local restaurant. While recuperating, Stoddard earns his keep as a dishwasher for Hallie. During that time, he meets Doniphon, a cowboy who laughs at the idea of law and order; preferring to let his six shooters do the talking. Stoddard, the bleeding heart, and Doniphon, the old school tough guy, have their differences but they have two very important things in common: a love for Hallie and a disdain for Valance.

Eventually, Stoddard starts a school for the local citizens. There, they not only learn the three R’s but are instilled with a sense of civic pride in their community. When a convention is held to select two delegates to the territorial capital city, Valance wishes to be voted one himself and attempts to bully the townspeople. Stoddard, along with the publisher of the Shinbone Star, Dutton Peabody (Edmond O’Brien), are selected. After being thwarted in the meeting, Valance challenges Stoddard to a gunfight. Though he has little experience with a gun, Stoddard accepts the challenge. There is a final showdown, the results of which I won’t reveal here; wait for it, even though there’s a little too much extraneous action following it, it’s one of the scenes you’ll remember.

In The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, John Ford effectively combines drama, excitement and humor to make an atypical Western of substance and enduring power. And to his credit, Ford creates a final moment that’s as touching as anything you’re likely to find in any movie, Western or not.

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance looks wonderful in 4K UHD. There’s been lots of talk about too much grain, but I think those thoughts are due to the stellar clarity. The 2160p resolution offers superior grayscale structure. Depth and definition are top notch, whether its facial features or clothing textures. The filmic image is the best way to view this Western classic.

The solid DTS HD track provides a welcome level of clarity. True surround is rare but its pleasing when the rears kick in. action scenes are particularly memorable. Dialogue is clear and doesn’t interfere with environmental effects.

English, English SDH, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, Danish, Finnish, Korean, Mandarin (Simplified), Norwegian, Polish and Swedish subtitles are available.

The following special features are included.

  • Feature Commentary with Peter Bogdanovich, including archival recordings of John Ford and Jimmy Stewart: This is a scene-specific commentary, with Bogdanovich critiquing and discussing the elements of most scenes. Bogdanovich also includes various recorded interviews he did with Ford, Stewart and Wayne.
  • Filmmaker Focus: Leonard Maltin on The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (HD, 7:37) in this familiar feature in the Paramount Presents line, Leonard Maltin discusses Ford’s career, the film’s history, shooting locations, legacy and more.
  • Selected Scene Commentary by Dan Ford, including archival recordings of John Ford, Jimmy Stewart and Lee Marvin (22:44) Dan Ford, grandson of the great filmmaker, contributes his own recorded interviews as commentary to several scenes from the film.
  • The Size of Legends, The Soul of Myth (HD, 50:55) SOME SPOILERS IN THIS FEATURE! – This is a 7-part featurette that efficiently covers the making of the film, from John Ford’s attempts to get backing for it through the production, to its eventual reception. Various critics and family members of the principals are interviewed on-camera, buttressed by recorded interview material with John Ford, Jimmy Stewart and Lee Marvin. Footage from the film is intercut with stills taken on the set of John Ford at work with the actors. This is an honest piece of work – John Ford is not idealized here – he comes across as a demanding director and a difficult person, both in the discussions about him and in his own answers to Bogdanovich’s questions on the recordings.
  • Trailer (HD, 2:43)