The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

[Edgy MD]

An aging Senator of a Western State returns from Washington for the funeral of a friend, a forgotten cowboy of the old school, and looks back on the confrontation that made his career --- a showdown from when he was a young idealistic lawyer facing down a ruthless gunfighter.

John Ford directing at the end of his career, Jimmy Stewart, John Wayne, Vera Miles, and Lee Marvin, who's always drunk and violent.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I haven't seen this in a while. (I watched it in 2000 on a transatlantic flight and it kept me nicely entertained.)

I'll say 3.5 stars, but it's a fuzzy vote, given that it's been almost 11 years.

[Edgy MD]

This almost seems to be the film from which sprung all the elements of the classic John Wayne imitation: his gestures hitting different beats than his words, referring to his buddy as "Pilgrim," turning on the charm as if he believes he's 25 years younger and 40 pounds slimmer.