Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Shane



















My dad was a huge movie buff and had many favourites which he would happily watch over and over.
 "Shane" (1953) was one of his most loved movies.
The mysterious Shane (Alan Ladd) arrives at the Wyoming homestead of Joe and Marian Starrett (Van Heflin and Jean Arthur) and their son Joey ( Brandon DeWilde) and begins working for them as a farm hand. Before long, he becomes involved in a feud which is going on between the Starretts and a local cattle baron who is trying to drive them and other homesteaders off their land.
Best scene is the very moving funeral of one of the homesteaders. As it is taking place, the murderous thugs responsible for the homesteader's death are watching ominously from a distance.
Beautifully done. 
 
***
 
My next cinematic experience was "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" (1954). Talk about going from the sublime to the ridiculous.
Yes, it's another musical, and yes, I did like it when I was younger. Now all I can notice is the very fake sets and how annoyingly submissive the women in this movie are.
Oh well.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Come back Shane! : )

p.s I'll phone you after work tonight xoxo

Anonymous said...

You forgot to mention "The White Bus" as its other title