In this western, a landmark in the history of the genre in American film history, the story is told from the point of view of a child. A hardworking family and other fellow homesteaders are being terrorized by a cattle baron, who wants to drive the farmers off their land. Shane, a princely mannered gunman descends into the valley and the boy is infatuated by him. At the end, the gunfighter abandons his vow to renounce violence. Stevens, with the awarded cinematographer Loyal Griggs on board, juxtaposed gritty realism and frame symmetry in this visualization of legendary violence in the Wild West.

George Stevens (1904-1975), born in California, was an important director of the Golden Age of Hollywood. He began as a cinematographer in the films of Laurel and Hardy. His first films are comedies and romantic dramas, which have nevertheless humanist dimensions. During World War II he shot war footage; nevertheless in his post-war dramatic films there exist deeper humanist concerns. Many of his films were nominated for and won Oscars. He won the Best Director Oscar twice for A place in the Sun (1951) and The giant (1956).

Photos: Images courtesy of Park Circus/Paramount