The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

Director:

John Ford

Writers:

James Warner Bellah (screenplay) and
Willis Goldbeck (screenplay) ...
(more)

Release Date:

22 April 1962 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance | Western

Tagline:

Together For The First Time - James Stewart - John Wayne - in the masterpiece of four-time Academy Award winner John Ford

Plot:

A senator, who became famous for killing a notorious outlaw, returns for the funeral of an old friend and tells the truth about his deed.

Plot Keywords:

Senator | Friend | Funeral | Outlaw | Stagecoach

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 3 wins & 2 nominations

US TV Schedule:

Fri. Jan. 1

3:00 PM

TCM

Cast

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
Ken Murray	...	Doc Willoughby
John Carradine	...	Maj. Cassius Starbuckle
Jeanette Nolan	...	Nora Ericson
John Qualen	...	Peter Ericson
Willis Bouchey	...	Jason Tully - Conductor
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 - Reporter for 'The Star'
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Charles Akins	...	(uncredited)
Mario Arteaga	...	Henchman (uncredited)
Gertrude Astor	...	(uncredited)
Leonard Baker	...	Man (uncredited)
Danny Borzage	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Robert Donner	...	(uncredited)
Larry Finley	...	Bar X Man (uncredited)
Shug Fisher	...	Kaintuck (uncredited)
Helen Gibson	...	(uncredited)
Sam Harris	...	(uncredited)
Chuck Hayward	...	Henchman (uncredited)
William Henry	...	(uncredited)
Bryan 'Slim' Hightower	...	Shotgun (uncredited)
Earle Hodgins	...	Clute Dumphries (uncredited)
Stuart Holmes	...	(uncredited)
Eddie Juaregui	...	Drummer (uncredited)
Jack Kenny	...	(uncredited)
Anna Lee	...	Mrs. Prescott - Widow in Stage Holdup (uncredited)
Jacqueline Malouf	...	Lietta Appleyard (uncredited)
Ted Mapes	...	Highpockets (uncredited)
Montie Montana	...	Politician on Horseback (uncredited)
Bob Morgan	...	Roughrider (uncredited)
Charles Morton	...	Drummer (uncredited)
Eva Novak	...	(uncredited)
Jack Pennick	...	Jack - Barman (uncredited)
Dorothy Phillips	...	(uncredited)
Stephanie Pond-Smith	...	(uncredited)
Chuck Roberson	...	Henchman (uncredited)
Buddy Roosevelt	...	Townsman in diner (uncredited)
Charles Seel	...	Election Council President (uncredited)
Slim Talbot	...	(uncredited)
Ralph Volkie	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Max Wagner	...	Poker Game Dealer (uncredited)
Blackie Whiteford	...	(uncredited)
Jack Williams	...	Henchman (uncredited)

Directed by
John Ford

Writing credits
James Warner Bellah		(screenplay) and
Willis Goldbeck		(screenplay)
Dorothy M. Johnson		(story)

Produced by
John Ford	....	producer
Willis Goldbeck	....	producer

Original Music by
Cyril J. Mockridge		(as Cyril Mockridge)

Cinematography by
William H. Clothier		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Otho Lovering

Art Direction by
Eddie Imazu
Hal Pereira

Set Decoration by
Sam Comer
Darrell Silvera

Costume Design by
Edith Head
Ron Talsky		(uncredited)

Makeup Department
Nellie Manley	....	hair styles supervisor
Wally Westmore	....	makeup supervisor

Production Management
Don Robb	....	unit production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Wingate Smith	....	assistant director

Art Department
Gene Lauritzen	....	construction coordinator (uncredited)

Sound Department
Charles Grenzbach	....	sound recordist
Philip Mitchell	....	sound recordist

Special Effects by
Farciot Edouart	....	process photography

Stunts
John Epper	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Hayward	....	stunts (uncredited)
Tom Hennesy	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bryan 'Slim' Hightower	....	stunts (uncredited)
John Hudkins	....	stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Juaregui	....	stunts (uncredited)
Ted Mapes	....	stunts (uncredited)
Louise Montana	....	stunts (uncredited)
Montie Montana	....	stunts (uncredited)
Bob Morgan	....	stunts (uncredited)
Hal Needham	....	stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Roberson	....	stunts (uncredited)
Jack Williams	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Denis Cameron	....	still photographer (uncredited)

Editorial Department
Stu Linder	....	assistant editor (uncredited)

Music Department
Irvin Talbot	....	conductor
Jack Hayes	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Leo Shuken	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Paramount Pictures
• John Ford Productions

Distributors

• Paramount Pictures (1962) (USA) (theatrical)
• Paramount (1962) (West Germany) (theatrical)
• CIC Victor (2002) (Japan) (DVD)
• CIC Video (19??) (West Germany) (VHS)
• CIC-Taft Home Video (19??) (Australia) (VHS)
• Columbia Broadcasting System (CBS) (1967) (USA) (TV) (broadcast premiere)
• Continental Home Vídeo (19??) (Brazil) (VHS)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2002) (Brazil) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Entertainment (2002) (Netherlands) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (19??) (USA) (video) (????)
• Paramount Home Video (2001) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Paramount Home Video (2002) (USA) (DVD) (widescreen)
• Paramount Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Paramount Home Video (2007) (USA) (DVD)

Runtime:

123 min | Brazil:124 min | West Germany:113 min (cut version)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

Spain:T | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Australia:PG | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved | Netherlands:12 | Brazil:12 | Argentina:13 | Finland:K-16 | Norway:16 | South Korea:12 | UK:U | West Germany:12 (w)

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

At the time of release, this was dismissed as a lesser work from a once-great director and was stuck on the bottom half of double-bills.

Goofs:

Incorrectly regarded as goofs: In the flashback, Tom Doniphon tells Stoddard that he killed Liberty Valance, it is Stoddard who shoots first, than Doniphon. But since we've been shown that Stoddard can't hit the broad side of a barn (and in fact, his aim is wild), Doniphon's probably right.

Quotes:

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

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Monty Python's Flying Circus: Salad Days (#3.7)" (1972)

Soundtrack:

Main Theme

The greatest movie ever.

Starring the greatest actor ever in Jimmy Stewart and the man who defined Western acting in John Wayne, one knew the movie was going to be good. But this movie tops them all. The movie continues through many great plot twists and unexpected events to arrive at a moving and stunning conclusion. Love, violence, politics, law, law-enforcement: this movie has it all. It is a western drama with action and even a little mystery topped off with a few comedic moments. Start to finish, you won't find anything like it anywhere else. Make sure you see this movie.