One of my top five movies of all time, lots of situations are in play for a "western".

The backdrop is good, the friction between farmers and cattlemen in the high western country of Wyoming. The screen views of the Tetons...
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One of my top five movies of all time, lots of situations are in play for a "western".

The backdrop is good, the friction between farmers and cattlemen in the high western country of Wyoming. The screen views of the Tetons are quite beautiful. But the personal issues are best here, and not always because of the actors. I actually think that Alan Ladd is a bit stiff in his performance, but the script more than makes up for it. Often overlooked in the conflict between Shane and Jack Palance's character (which is masterful) is the ambiguous relationship between Shane and the homesteader's wife (Jean Arthur), providing a sad note.

As Shane leaves after his work is done, the greatest tragedy is not that young Joey is losing a role model, but that a man with a combination of Shane's morals and history really has no place in any one place for any time at all.