Shane

BFI Film Classics

by Edward Countryman, Evonne Von Heussen-Countryman

This text looks at the film 'Shane' (1983) directed by George Stevens, then one of Hollywood's most successful film-makers. Alan Ladd plays the charismatic outsider who defends a community against a predatory gang and, in so doing, transforms the life of a family.

Genres: Film, Media Tie In, Westerns

105 pages, Kindle Edition

First published November 26, 1999

About the author

Edward Countryman was an American historian known for his study of the American Revolution.

Reviews

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the better BFI Film Classics books (the last one I read was on Jaws, and it was not very good). Edward Countryman and Evonne von Heussen-Countryman have done a wonderful job in their research and compiled it all into a very engaging short text about the making of George Stevens' legendary 1953 Hollywood Western, Shane. We learn about the location, the cast, the pre-production and actual shoot, and also about the context of the film in its time. There are a few clunky passages here and there, and some tantalizing bits of gossip about the actors that are never addressed in full, but overall this is mostly a perfect little book about one of my favorite movies.

A brief side note:

The book's co-author, Edward Countryman, is both a gentleman and a scholar. I sent him a brief email after I noticed a mention of something in Jack Schaefer's original novel (which I had just re-read last week) that I considered incorrect, and he got back to me right away. What was the issue? Just a note about the age of the book's narrator. He apologized for the mistake, but pointed out that since his text was published in 1999 and there is hardly a huge clamor for it to be re-issued, there really isn't anything to be done about it. Oh, well.

[Kizzy Gourlay · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is also by my Mother, Evonne von Heussen-Countryman MBE. I grew up with Westerns being taught by my dad at Warwick University. This book on Shane is a short analysis of the film and its influences.

[David Sterritt]

“Shane” has been called the purest Hollywood western, and while that may overstate the (somewhat murky) case, it’s definitely a vigorous and colorful picture that brought new seriousness to the treatment of screen violence, as no less a cinematic brawler than Sam Peckinpah recognized. The book-length study by Edward Countryman & Evonne von Heussen-Countryman gives a useful overview of the territory, with good attention to various historical contexts. A solid contribution to the field.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just about does the film justice.

Kicks around some good ideas.

Makes you want to watch the film again....which I will!

[Clare · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read.