Episode 16 – Shane (1953)

It's 1953. We're in the middle of the Golden Age of Hollywood; we're also in the pinnacle decades of the western, a truly American plot. Westerns have been around almost as long as movies (see The Great Train Robbery). Shane is an essential and quinessential example of the genre. It tells the story of homesteaders in an isolated Wyoming valley defending their land from land-hungry ranchers, with the help of enigmantic gunslinger Shane. What Shane offers casual movie fans who have always meant to watch classic movies: a slow-burning plot; classic western elements expertly arranged; impactful use of gunfights; and the name "Shane" repeated numerous times. Show Notes