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Shane Overview:

Shane (1953) was a Drama - Western Film directed by George Stevens and produced by George Stevens and Ivan Moffat.

The film was based on the novel of the same name written by Jack Schaefer published in 1949.

SYNOPSIS

Considered one of the greatest Westerns, this is Ladd's finest role. Like High Noon, with which it shares some similarity, Shane proposes that the stain of killing can't be washed away, even if the death comes in a righteous cause. Ladd gets involved in a nasty skirmish between ranchers and farmers when he rides up to Heflin's farmhouse looking for water. From the first, he impresses young De Wilde with his instinctual quick draw and then earns Heflin's trust when he backs down bullying Meyer. Ladd seems to be putting down roots as he fights for the farmers. But after a final showdown with steely-eyed Palance, he rides away from the farm he's made secure, knowing that his mere presence will bring more death. A landmark Western, beautifully directed and photographed.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion)

Shane was inducted into the National Film Registry in 1993.

Academy Awards 1953 --- Ceremony Number 26 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best Supporting ActorBrandon De WildeNominated
Best Supporting ActorJack PalanceNominated
Best CinematographyLoyal GriggsWon
Best DirectorGeorge StevensNominated
Best PictureGeorge Stevens, ProducerNominated
Best WritingA. B. Guthrie, Jr.Nominated
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Quotes from Shane:

Joey: Shane! Come back!
Shane: [to Joey] You go home to your mother and your father and grow up to be strong and straight.
Shane: I've heard about you.
Jack Wilson: What have you heard, Shane?
Shane: I've heard that you're a low-down Yankee liar.
Jack Wilson: Prove it.
Shane: You were watchin' me down it for quite a spell, weren't you?
Joey: Yes I was.
Shane: You know, I... I like a man who watches things go on around. It means he'll make his mark someday.
Shane: You speaking to me?
Chris Calloway: I don't see nobody else standing there.
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Facts from Shane
The music cues for the climactic ride that Shane takes to the showdown are from an earlier Paramount film, Rope of Sand.
Shane's fancy gun twirling in the climactic showdown was actually performed by Rodd Redwing. Earlier, when Shane demonstrates his prowess for Joey, and it is clearly Alan Ladd himself on camera, the actor had been given a different, easier-to-use revolver for the scene.
Alan Ladd was only 5'6", and this had to be compensated for. When he is in scenes with Van Heflin the two are about the same height, although Heflin was far taller. When Ladd is shown with Jean Arthur he is perhaps a bit taller than she. When Heflin is shown with her, Heflin is far taller than she.
The last film of Jean Arthur.
The movie was released within a year after another landmark western, High Noon. It was actually made before the Gary Cooper film, but it spent several months in the editing rooms.
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