bmkaisil

Alan ladd never better. having seen this movie as a child, i defy any movie going guy not to say that Shane isn't the coolest cowboy/gunslinger in any movie. he's not the big heroic duke or the laconic Gary cooper cowboy, he's more one of the first anti hero cowboys.He knows he's cool but doesn't seem to need to advertise it. Jack Palance is incredible as the direct opposite of ladd. ladd is light colored and clothed, palance completely dark. ladd is short to palance's being a good 7 to 8 inches taller. you want to root for Shane while there is nothing to like about Palance's Jack Wilson. Van Heflin is terrific as usual as the homesteader leader and Jean Arthur was equally Oscar worthy. The Riker brothers, whoever they were, were perfectly cast and the Riker speech about carving out the frontier to Joey was even sympathetic. Don't forget Elijah Cooke JR. playing the bragging johnny reb or the other dozen or so perfectly cast character actors. Ben JOhnsons scenes with Shane are also brilliant, especially the last when they shake hands as brothers. great George Stevens movie-making.