Shane

BFI Film Classics

by Edward Countryman, Evonne Von Heussen-Countryman

This text looks at the film Shane (1953) directed by George Stevens, then one of Hollywood's most successful film-makers. In the film, 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

80 pages, Paperback

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.