A film featuring a former co-star of Clint Eastwood has been added to Amazon Prime. The movie has received plenty of praise from critics and the public over the years and makes the most of its all-star cast. Lee Van Cleef, who appeared in The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly alongside Eastwood, also featured in other cowboy and western hits.
His supporting role in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is up there with his very best performances according to IMDb reviews which hailed the film as a classic of the genre. The 1962 classic also features John Wayne, James Stewart, and Lee Marvin as part of an all-star cast. John Carradine and Vera Miles also feature.
One review of the film reads: “I first saw The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence as a young kid, and I guess seeing a masterpiece early in life spoils you. There have not been too many western movies like this one, and will probably never be again. John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart together, along with Lee Marvin, Vera Miles, Edmond O’Brien and Andy Devine cast beautifully.
“Director John Ford’s legacy is in place as it is obvious that true pros did more than just read a great script. Marvin is a cruel villian, and the mixture of hero John Wayne, and anti-hero Stewart bring a stark contrast to the black and white images on screen. The cast is truly colorful and each scene memorable. It is one of the great westerns and great movies of all time.”
Another hailed both Marvin and Van Cleef as perfectly cast villains for the Wayne-starring western.
They wrote: “This film is still as relevant today as it was then. Brilliant acting in every scene. I typically don’t care of John Wayne, but this film (like the Searchers) showcases the one Wayne trait that he did very well – the thankless hero. The unrequited hero. And Jimmy Stewart, but of course is as true blue as ever. The American Boy Scout to the end.
“And then there’s Lee Marvin – one of the best villains ever. And partnered with Lee Van Cleef – you can’t do much better. And the sheriff is hilarious – a perfect western caricature. This film is about the last of the traditional western genre that I enjoyed before the spaghetti western style took over. Highly recommend it.”
A third added: “A great script, a great story and, if possible, even better acting combine to make this truly a piece of Americana. I cannot imagine a film more accurately reflecting the rough and tumble times of the Old West, depicting a territory’s struggle to move forward as a society and as a people.”