Shane is a western film which tells the story of a gunfighter who comes to a quiet town and fights for the poor farmers against the evil cattle men. It was based on a 1949 novel by Jack Schaefer .

Plot summary

A mysterious gunslinger(Shane) drifts into a quiet town in Wyoming's Grand Tetons, and quickly finds himself drawn into a conflict between a simple homesteaders(Joe Starrett) and a powerful cattle baron (Ryker) who wants to force him off his land. He accepts a job as a farmhand, but find the farmer's young son(Joey) drawn to him for his strength and skill with a gun. As tensions mount, he also finds himself uncomfortably drawn to Starrett's wife, Marian. In the end, he must make several tough moral decisions that will affect everyone involved.

Awards

It won an Academy Award for Best Cinematography, Color. It was nominated for Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Brandon De Wilde), Best Actor in a Supporting Role (Jack Palance), Best Director, Best Picture and Best Writing, Screenplay.

The original film has been deemed "culturally significant" by the United States Library of Congress and selected for preservation in the National Film Registry.

Shane was remade as a television series in 1966, starring David Carradine.

Famous quotes

• Shane: "You speaking to me?" (Cowboy) "I don't see nobody else standing there."
• Shane: "A gun is a tool, Marion, like a shovel, an ax, anything. A gun is as good or as bad as the man using it."
• Ryker: "I like Starrett, but I'll kill him if I have to." (Hired gunslinger) "You mean I'll kill him if you have to."
• Joey: "Shane! Come back! Shane!"