That character referred to in the title is obviously Joey Starrett, played by Brandon de Wilde. Kids in main roles in movies is generally a bad idea and it has only been succesful so little times, yet it has been done ( To Kill a Mockingbird, Jurassic Park, The Sixth Sense, Taxi Driver to name a couple of movies featuring excellent children actors in lead roles ). But unfortunately in Shane this was not the case.Ofcourse, the good points of such a mixed film should be mentioned first. The cinematography is obviously the greatest part in this film. The scenery in Wyoming coupled with the excellent camera angles showing beautiful plains and mountains in the distance result in a breath taking visual experience. This results in many beautiful shots, such as the one with Ryker first appearing under the beautiful scenery. The acting of Alan Ladd as Shane, Van Heflin as Joe Starrett & Jack Palance as Jack Wilson especially was excellent, and seemingly could not have been better. Character development seemingly is also fine in order, with the audience slowly getting a better view on what kind of person Shane is, because that seems to be a bit of a mystery at the start, frequently getting startled by sudden sounds while quickly reaching for his gun. The music is also an excellent addition to what could have been a great film.Unfortunately even though the film succeeds on most primary accounts on what a movie should have, one annoying and irritating or badly acted character can ruin it all, and Brandon de Wilde managed to do just that. His repeated forced phrasing of the word 'Shane' just makes you cringe and regret every time he comes on the screen. The entire movie i was hoping there would be more scenes between Shane and Wilson and less with Shane and the terribly acted kid. Every word out of his mouth just has a terrible delivery and comes across as incredibly forced. Compare his acting to the raw natural acting of the two main kid characters in To Kill a Mockingbird for example. It is just such a gigantic gap in acting quality. Also combine it with the fact that Jean Arthur as Marian Starrett also gives off a pretty weak performance and Elisha Cook Jr. ( While being a great actor ) is simply miscast as i could never take him seriously as the tough guy that isn't scared of anything in the face of danger. While it is a film that has its great moments ( Most of these are ones where Brandon de Wilde is absent ) and has beautiful scenery, it is unfortunately a display of how one character can bring a movie down, which makes my verdict a mixed one.

I liked: Jack Palance, Brandon de Wilde, Alan Laddthe settingsI didn't like: the overuse of musicthe length, 20 mins too longSPOILER ALERT plotting. Why did Chris betray his boss? Why didn't Shane at least tell Joe what was waiting for him (a "stacked deck")? This manoeuvring towards a finale was too obvious to be believable.Shane is absent for great chunks of the movie as the settlers and ranchers battle it out.This was once one of my favourite movies but it hasn't aged well. The callous violence makes it unsuitable for children.

After its heavy prominence in 2017's Logan, I thought Shane would be a film worth checking out. While the film is over sixty years old, I was pleasantly surprised at just how much the picture still holds up today. While Shane works as a piece of entertainment, the everlasting value comes from what's behind the surface. The film is supposed to be an allegory about the end of the gunslinger era, and by the end we come to understand this. From the beautiful landscape cinematography to the committed performances of the main cast, it is no wonder that Shane has been revered as one of the greatest Westerns of all time. What makes Shane truly stand out however are its themes. From the coming of age young Joe goes through, we cant help too but to marvel at Shane. Despite his reservation as a closeted man, he beams of confidence. This isn't a cold blooded killer, but it is someone who has done things he regrets. When Shane is forced to go down that path once more, its made all the more potent as we know he must leave the valley. Running away from your past isn't easy, and Shane knows this all too well. As he tells young Joey, "There's no living for the killing". As Joey yells for him to come back, you cant help but get a little weepy eyed.So what is the final verdict? There isn't much that hasn't already been said about this film, but the answer is clear. The stakes are high, and this film soars. Shane is a pure classic of cinema. As much as older movies can grow dated, the heart of this story will remain its crowning jewel. For that reason, Shane will remain a gem for a very long time. If you haven't, see it already!

Recently watched for the first time.Visually stunning and innovative at the time ,it now feels dated.The relationship between Joey and Shane works well and is the saving grace of the film.Alan Ladd convinces as an uncle figure with Joey but is physically too small to convince as a fighter. I suppose my benchmark for a good film is whether I would watch it again and the sad fact is I wouldn't watch this film again.. The Gunfighter was a much better film