The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance: 60 Years On

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the theatrical release of John Ford’s classic Western, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. Marking the first onscreen collaboration between John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart, the picture is widely regarded as being among the very greatest Westerns ever made. The storyline touches on a number of important socio-political themes, including the role of the press, race, the democratic process, the emancipation of women, the importance of education, and much else. To my mind, what especially marks the film’s continued relevance is its examination of the criticality of order—as a necessary precursor for justice and, thereby, peace—for the securing and propagation of a free society.