One of the Greatest Westerns ever made, Director George Stevens’ Shane comes to 4K UHD with a new scan of the 35mm OCN from Kino Lorber.
The Film
Confession time. Shane is a Western I’ve often heard about, in as many movies as by critics, but have never seen. The George Stevens classic lives up to its reputation as one of the shining north stars of what the genre is at its very best. A morality play and rousing drama about homesteaders being bullied by a would-be Cattle Barron.
Though star Alan Ladd is the title character it’s Van Heflin as Joe Starett, Jean Authur as wife Marian, and Brandon deWilde as their son Joey the lead family of the homesteaders trying to eke a way of life that’s the heart and soul of the film. As Shane comes into their lives they are each either taught or forced to examine something in their life in the face of violence and oppression at the hands of a gang of cattle ranchers.
This is at moments a rousing western tale but at its heart it is a cautionary tale of violence. Stevens film never treats the violence of shooting someone as anything less than the heavy cost it perpetrates. Informed by his time in WW2, you can feel how gun violence has sickened him and how critical he is of it around children. Even in the 1950s kids were already desensitized to it – perfectly illustrated by Joey and his fascination with not just guns but killing and Shane who he idolizes because he “knows” the man has killed. Even as his parents try to teach him the cost of these things Joey has not time for their words. It’s only when his father and Shane confront one another does Joey finally see the horrifying truth. Even if Shane is trying to protect Joe and his family the cost is his friendship with Joe which is built over the course of the film. A simple act of violence echoes.
Alan Ladd was never better than he was as Shane. The actor’s deficiencies were benefits in the role and his strengths became the most important aspect of the physicality of the role. Heflin is equally good as the homesteader who refuses to give into the fearmongering of the cattle ranchers. In some ways Heflin has the better role as he’s pushed into those moments of introspection as both his child and wife see Shane as this sterling attractive knight. The way that Heflin plays these moments is magnificent. The supporting work by actors like Jack Palance, Ben Johnson, Elisha Cook Jr., and Emile Meyer is uniformly excellent.
Though the real star is Stevens who seems to find every perfect visual composition, every perfect beat of humanity, every single last bit of cinematic grace that makes Shane such a compelling watch. Be it small moments like when Joey finds the deer at his window or the rousing bar room brawl or the menacing murder of Stonewall or the final moments as Shane rides off – Stevens and his behind-the-scenes crew of artisans and craft people’s work here is pitch perfect.
Few Westerns or films for that matter are as perfectly realized as Shane.
The Transfer
Brand New HDR/Dolby Vision Master – From a 4K Scan of the 35mm Original Camera Negative is drop dead gorgeous almost perfect representation of the films Technicolor origins. More than just being a flawless image, the Dolby Vision manages to imbue the transfer with a luster in the color reproduction that gives the film that visual grandeur that only Technicolor brings to a picture. The clarity and sharpness look only more refined on a larger screen accentuating the beautiful grain structure making the image look more like a freshly struck 35mm print than an actual transfer. Kino Lorber continues to stun with their work in the 4K realm bringing some of the best films of any era to live like never before.
The Extras
They include the following;
DISC 1 (4KUHD):
- NEW Audio Commentary by Author/Film Historian Alan K. Rode, Writer of the Forthcoming Monograph, Shane, a Reel West Series Book from the University of New Mexico Press
- Audio Commentary by George Stevens Jr. (Production Assistant and Son of the Late Director/Producer George Stevens) and Associate Producer Ivan Moffat
DISC 2 (BLU-RAY):
- NEW Audio Commentary by Author/Film Historian Alan K. Rode, Writer of the Forthcoming Monograph, Shane, a Reel West Series Book from the University of New Mexico Press
- Audio Commentary by George Stevens Jr. (Production Assistant and Son of the Late Director/Producer George Stevens) and Associate Producer Ivan Moffat
- Theatrical Trailer
The first of two Audio Commentaries is an all-new track by Author/Film Historian Alan K. Rode, Writer of the Forthcoming Monograph, Shane, a Reel West Series Book from the University of New Mexico Press. Rode opens with a discussion of opening credits and Stevens specific credit above the titles – a first for a film. Some of the details include Stevens unblinking nature as the films budget soared and studio heads pressured him; a discussion of where star Alan Ladd was in his career at the time he made Shane; some of the historical fact that the novel Shane was based on – including the Lincoln Homesteader Act, and the Johnson County War; the development and production of the film – how much Stevens was involved with all of it including a discussion of the various screenwriters, and behind-the-scenes contributors that helped create the classic; the war that Stevens faced against studio head Frank Freeman – who was said to be terrible to directors and stars; the casting process and some of the actors that could have been cast in lead and supporting war; the various reasons the budget ballooned; the salaries at the time for Ladd, Van Heflin, and Jean Authur; the final cost for Shane; a great story relayed by director Alan J. Pakula (who was a young editing assistant at the time) about the post production and how Shane was almost bought by Howard Hawks – before becoming Paramount’s biggest hit; the work and personal history of star Alan Ladd; how they accomplished the epic bar fight both in the editing room and during production; the troubles that Stevens had making films even post-success of Shane; the work of composer Victor Young; the Oscars nominations – and the politics and reasons why the Studio did not promote it during award seasons; the various locations scenes were made either on location or in studio; a discussion of the various actor and behind the scenes crew that made the film; and much more.
The second Audio Commentary is by George Stevens Jr. (Production Assistant and Son of the Late Director/Producer George Stevens) and Associate Producer Ivan Moffat. Stevens opens with a discussion of Moffat’s association and collaboration with the director beyond Shane. Some of the details include how WW2 changed Stevens and his approach to directing films and wanted to make Shane a conscientious about on screen violence; Moffat discussing what Ladd had said about making the film and also working with Stevens; a discussion of Stevens approach to the costuming and the help he had with this in the form of Jodi Smith; a discussion of the possibility of Montgomery Cliff starring as Shane in the film – and how that would have affected the cast (Katherine Hepburn and William Holden playing the Jean Authur and Van Heflin roles) and entire production; a discussion of how Stevens got Frank Freeman to make the film using the contract players from Paramount; Stevens Jr. experience location scouting with Stevens and why the locations were chosen for the visual reasons; the way the weather effected the production while in Jackson Hole Wyoming; a discussion of the work of screenwriter Bud Guthrie – including his time on set; the casting of Brandon deWilde – including a discussion of how Stevens worked with him to get the performance and his tragic passing in his early 20s; the sound design of the film – specifically the gun fire and what Stevens was looking for and why; Stevens Jr. throughout quotes from Stevens’ notes from the time about the production; a discussion of the various actors that appear in the film and personal anecdotes about them from the production or experience; and much more.
Rounding out the special features are trailers for Shane (1:59); Whispering Smith (1:01); The Plainsman (2:21); The Lonely Man (2:18); Tomahawk (2:20); High Noon (1:37); Gunfight at the OK Corral (2:13); The Big Country (2:56); No Name on the Bullet (2:05); Horizons West (2:22)
The Final Thought
Kino Lorber has given Shane the wonderful 4K edition it deserves with an amazing transfer and extras. Highest Possible Recommendations!