SHANE (1953)

Studio: Paramount Pictures

Producer: George Stevens

Director: George Stevens

Music: Victor Young

Release Date: April 23, 1953

Awards: It received the Best Cinematography Oscar and was nominated for five other Academy Awards: Best Supporting Actor (Brandon De Wilde), Best Supporting Actor (Jack Palance), Best Director, Best Picture & Best Writing. It was also nominated twice for a BAFTA Award, once for a DGA Award and also a WGA Award. It won two NBR Awards and was placed in the National Film Registry in 1993.

Origination: Based on the 1940 novel Shane written by Jack Schaefer.

Interesting Fact: Jean Arthur came out of retirement to be in this film as a personal favor. This then became her final film.

Joey: Shane! Come back!

I had heard that this was a popular classic among western fans, so when I found it on sale I purchased it and watched it that night. It became an immediate favorite since the beginning and in the end I placed it in my top ten westerns. First of all the background is breath-taking. I could have cared less on what was happening in the scene when a majestic mountain was towering in the distance. The message, itself, expressed the uselessness of violence through the eyes of a little boy. The scenes of fighting and gun play were not presented in it's glorious and sometimes humorous fashion. Instead you view a young boy chewing on candy in the background as his eyes grow wider.

Another thing that I appreciate is that Jean Arthur came back into acting one last time for this film. I could see that she had aged a bit, but she hadn't lost any of her talent. It also has some of my favorite supporting stars like Jack Palance, John Dierkes & Edgar Buchanan. This film makes you want to go out and buy some land in the mountains.

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS MOVIE?