Today’s quick review: Shane. Shane (Alan Ladd), a roving gunfighter, decides to settle down and help Joe Starrett (Van Heflin) tend to his homestead. Over time, Shane becomes close friends with Joe, his wife Marian (Jean Arthur), and their son Joey (Brandon De Wilde). But when cattle rancher Rufus Ryker (Emile Meyer) and his men try to drive the Starretts and the other local farmers off their land, Shane steps in to even the odds.
Shane is a classic Western drama about a stranger who changes the lives of a frontier family. Alan Ladd stars as Shane, whose calm demeanor and fighting skill are just what Joe and the other farmers need to bolster their courage. Shane features a capable lead, well-orchestrated drama, and a couple of tense gunfights. But although it paints its story with crisp brushstrokes, some of its choices will be hit-or-miss.
Where Shane excels is the dynamics between the farmers, the ranchers, and Shane himself. The threat Ryker poses goes beyond just the Starretts, and his intimidation tactics gradually wear away at the other farmers, leaving Joe and Shane to rally the few who are willing to fight back. Unlike villains in other Westerns, Ryker has a touch of tragedy to him, an old rancher driven to violence by the arrival of new settlers fencing off what was once his land.
Shane is on shakier ground when it comes to its supporting cast. Depending on your taste, the Starrets can be either a loving surrogate family for Shane or abrasive characters who never quite click. Joe can come across as ineffectual, Marian vocally opposes his efforts on a few occasions, and Joey is a loud and inquisitive young boy. None of these traits are out of place in the story, but they can distract from the movie’s stronger aspects.
Shane is a straightforward Western with clean execution. Its competent hero and dangerous villain make for a satisfying conflict, while the attention Shane pays to its characters’ motivations gives the movie some added depth. How much you get out of Shane will come down to taste. The movie has the most to offer fans of black-and-white conflicts with a serious tone, but its simple story and hit-or-miss characters will not suit everyone.
For a fight against a similar villain, try Tombstone, Hour of the Gun, or Gunfight at the O.K. Corral. For the modern action equivalent, try Road House.
[7.6 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0046303/). I give it a 7.0 for a compelling conflict and a few questionable choices; your score will vary.