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Trailer

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

1962Movie2 h 3 minPG-13

Western
89
ExcellentGoodWatch score
IMDb8.1Metacritic948.4Rotten Tomatoes95%92%

An intriguing, moving western movie about history and politics, with standout direction and performances.

Good for friends night · party vibe · teens

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Not for laughs or scares.

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Story

Together for the first time

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.

Feels like

  • Classic Western
  • Political Allegory
  • Truth vs. Myth
  • Frontier Justice
  • Iconic Performances
  • Moral Dilemma
  • Character Study
  • Legendary Storytelling
  • Foundational Film

Cast

24 of 59

Crew

Directed by
John Ford
Written by
James Warner Bellah, Willis Goldbeck, Dorothy M. Johnson
Produced by
John Ford, Willis Goldbeck
Music by
Cyril J. Mockridge, Irvin Talbot

Everyone

Pick a department, or search for a name or a job (“editor”, “stunt”).

Facts

April 13, 1962 · 2 h 3 min · PG-13

Released
April 13, 1962
Runtime
2 h 3 min
Age rating
PG-13
Content
Violence
Genres
Western
Original language
English
Made in
United States
Budget
$3 million
Box office
$8 million
Available in
81 countries

Tropes

A Taste of the Lash, Ax-Crazy, Oh, Crap! +9

  • A Taste of the Lash
  • Ax-Crazy
  • Oh, Crap!
  • Anti-Hero
  • You're Cute When You're Angry
  • The Greatest Story Never Told
  • Evil Is Hammy
  • Blasting It Out of Their Hands
  • Settling the Frontier
  • Changed My Mind, Kid
  • More than Just a Teacher
  • Never Learned to Read

12 of 118 tropes. From TV Tropes.

Q&A

5 questions, like "Where can I stream The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance?"

Questions about The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance?

fuboTVMGM+Fawesome

In the United States, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance streams on fuboTV and MGM+, and it is free with ads on Fawesome. You can rent or buy it from Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, and Fandango At Home. It also streams in 26 other countries.

Is The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance worth watching?

89
ExcellentGoodWatch score

Yes, it's widely acclaimed, with a GoodWatch score of 89 (IMDb 8.1, Rotten Tomatoes 95%, and Metacritic 94).

Is The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance okay for kids?

PG-13Violence

Not for young kids: it's rated PG-13 in the United States for violence, and the viewing guide lists it for teens and adults.

Is The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance plot-driven or character-driven?

CharactersPlot

Mostly character-driven: it leans on character depth (9 of 10) and dialogue centrality (9 of 10) more than on its plot.

What tropes does The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance use?

A Taste of the LashAx-CrazyOh, Crap!Anti-HeroYou're Cute When You're AngryThe Greatest Story Never ToldEvil Is HammyBlasting It Out of Their HandsSettling the FrontierChanged My Mind, KidMore than Just a TeacherNever Learned to Readand 106 more

TV Tropes lists 118 tropes for it, including A Taste of the Lash, Ax-Crazy, and Oh, Crap!.