What Is a Western? | The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962), directed by John Ford and starring James Stewart and John Wayne, is a profound, elegiac Western that questions the myths at the heart of American identity. Departing from the action-driven style of earlier Westerns, the film explores themes of justice, legend, and political transformation through a gripping tale of morality and memory. With its stark black-and-white cinematography and powerful performances, it marks a turning point in the genre—reflecting a more introspective, revisionist tone. As one of Ford’s final masterpieces, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance helped redefine the Western as a vehicle for serious, reflective storytelling. 

Introduced by Dr. Drew Casper, Professor Emeritus and the first holder of the Alma and Alfred Hitchcock Chair in American Film, USC School of the Cinematic Arts.

Directed by John Ford | Starring James Stewart, John Wayne, and Vera Miles.