The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
Questions arise when Senator Stoddard attends the funeral of a local man named Tom Doniphon in a small Western town. Flashing back, we learn Doniphon saved Stoddard, then a lawyer, when he was roughed up by a crew of outlaws terrorizing the town, led by Liberty Valance. As the territory's safety hung in the balance, Doniphon and Stoddard, two of the only people standing up to him, proved to be very important, but different, foes to Valance.
Critics Sentiment
Tom tells Ransom he actually killed Liberty Valance with rifle
Ransom works as dishwasher at Ericson's restaurant with Hallie
The film's biggest emotional shift occurs when Tom reveals he killed Valance, transforming the story from a traditional Western triumph into a meditation on sacrifice and myth.
The film maintains consistently high regard from critics who praise Ford's mature reflection on the death of the American frontier. While some reviewers note issues with casting choices and pacing, the overwhelming consensus celebrates it as a masterful deconstruction of Western mythology, with particular acclaim for the central revelation and the famous 'print the legend' theme.
Full cast
Showing 20 of 90
John Wayne
Tom Doniphon
James Stewart
Ransom Stoddard
Vera Miles
Hallie Stoddard
Lee Marvin
Liberty Valance
Edmond O'Brien
Dutton Peabody
Andy Devine
Link Appleyard
Ken Murray
Doc Willoughby
John Carradine
Cassius Starbuckle
Jeanette Nolan
Nora Ericson
John Qualen
Peter Ericson
Willis Bouchey
Jason Tully
Carleton Young
Maxwell Scott
Woody Strode
Pompey
Denver Pyle
Amos Carruthers
Strother Martin
Floyd
Lee Van Cleef
Reese
Robert F. Simon
Handy Strong
O.Z. Whitehead
Herbert Carruthers
Paul Birch
Mayor Winder
Joseph Hoover
Charlie Hasbrouck
Crew
Write a Review
Rate each story beat:
