The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance - Jimmy Stewart John Wayne

directed by John Ford
USA 1962

Western Film fans probably have this little gem in their coveted collections already. Well, 'little' may not be appropriate - John Ford directing and a star studded cast. Small-town heroism and inherent nobility and the driving force behind the narrative. Jimmy Stewart may be at his most hammy (which is rare), John Wayne is his usual strong defiant self. Andy Devine should also be recognized for his role as the feisty Marshal Link Appleyard. Another in a line of western masterpieces that we strongly recommend. out of

Gary W. Tooze

Posters

Theatrical Release: April 22nd, 1962 - USA

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This is the MRQE Metric score and graph for this film. The graph works on a five-point scale, from A – F. The MRQE Metric is the weighted average of a full breakdown of critical grades.

Recommended Reading for Western Genre Fans (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)


The Crowded Prairie: American National Identity in the Hollywood Western (Cinema and Society) by Michael Coyne	The Invention of the Western Film : A Cultural History of the Genre's First Half Century (Genres in American Cinema S.) by Scott Simmon	The Searchers (Bfi Film Classics) by Edward Buscombe	The Western Genre by John Saunders	Westerns: Films through History (AFI Film Readers) by Janet Walker	The Encyclopedia of Westerns (The Facts on File Film Reference Library) by Herb Fagen, Tom Selleck	Gunfighter Nation: The Myth of the Frontier in Twentieth-Century America by Richard Slotkin	The Western (Inside Film) by David Lusted	Red River (Bfi Film Classics) by Suzanne Liandrat-Guigues

Check out more in "The Library"

DVD Comparison:

Paramount - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Paramount (Centennial Collection) - Region 1,4 - NTSC

(Paramount - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT vs. Paramount (Centennial Collection) - Region 1,4 - NTSC RIGHT)

DVD Box Cover
	*Also available (very reasonably) in the John Wayne DVD Gift Set (The Shootist* / The Sons of Katie Elder/ True Grit/ El Dorado/ The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance)**
	Also available (cheap!) in the John Wayne DVD Collection - Amazon.com Exclusive (10-Disc Set) (1965) El Dorado, Hatari!, In Harm's Way, Rio Lobo, The Sons of Katie Elder, The Shootist, Donovan's Reef, Big Jake, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, True Grit)
Distribution	Paramount Home Video - Region 1- NTSC	Paramount (Centennial Collection) - Region 1, 4 - NTSC
Runtime	2:03:08	2:03:08
Video	1.83:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 7.76 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.78:1 Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 6.6 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Original DVD
Bitrate: Centennial
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 5.1 Dolby), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)	English (Dolby Digital 5.1 Dolby), English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono), DUB: Spanish
Subtitles	English (Hearing Impaired), None	English (Hearing Impaired), None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Paramount Home Video Aspect Ratio: 1.83:1 Edition Details: • Trailer (2:44) DVD Release Date: June 5th, 2001 Keep Case Chapters: 15	Release Information: Studio: Paramount Home Video Aspect Ratio: 1.78:1 Edition Details: • Full Commentary by Peter Bogdanovich with recorded excepts of Ford, Wayne and Stewart • Select Screen Commentary with intro by Dan Ford Disc 2 • 7-part documentary - The Size of Legends, the Soul of Myth (50:50) • Original Theatrical trailer • Galleries (Ford, production, Publicity, Lobby cards) DVD Release Date: May 19th, 2009 Keep Case Chapters: 15

Comments:

The differences may not add up a dramatic amount, transfer-wise, for most people, but in total they are:

1) Image quality on the Centennial edition is cleaner, smoother and brighter. I never minded the grittiness of the original release, which, because of it's lack of supplements, has slightly better compression (and higher bitrate). It's a less restorted source though. Black levels seem more pronounced on the older release but I suspect some boosting. Both look good but the Centennial gives a better presentation although the cleaning can make it look a bit softer in the captures.

2) The Centennial edition is in 1.78 - filling the screen and shows more information - usually at the bottom of the frame.

3) English audio options are the same but an optional Spanish DUB is added to the Centennial edition.

4) Subtitles are lower on the screen and brighter - slightly different positioning (see sample).

5) The original is coded for region1 - the new release includes region 4 as well.

6) The Centennial release has many more extras including a commentary with Bogdanovich and archival recorded excerpts from interviews with Ford, Wayne and Stewart. There is also a single-layered disc 2 with a 50-minute long 7-part documentary - The Size of Legends, the Soul of Myth, trailer and some galleries.

7) The Centennial edition is slightly stretched vertically (thinner faces) - or the original edition is compressed (fatter faces).

Well, there you have it. If you are asking me the segmented commentary and documentary are certainly worth it. Bogdanovich is filled with experience to share and Ford is briefly covered along with Wayne and Stewart. The archival interviews of Ford are from the around 1970 and last about 20-minutes. The documentary goes the whole nine-yards with the informative Richard Schickel, Ford biographer Scott Eyman, author Molly Haskell, producer AC Lyles, Lee Marvin’s widow Pamela and film historian Michael Blake. It's really worth the time. This should probably come out in Blu-ray - the film is so worthy, but I've heard nothing and know of no forthcoming date (so please don't ask). For less than $15 you'd have to say it has strong value and is also dependant on how picky you are about the older transfer.

Gary W. Tooze

DVD Menus

(Paramount - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT vs. Paramount (Centennial Collection) - Region 1,4 - NTSC RIGHT)

Disc 2 of Centennial Edition