One of my favorite movies, it’s a classic western about the accomplishment and value of order, law, and the humanities over chaos and anarchy. The cardinal virtues of prudence, temperance, courage, and justice are displayed.
The movie is entertaining and deeply symbolic, alluding to timeless ideas. It captures the necessity of order, justice, and education in the West’s experiment in self-government.
Ransom “Ranse” Stoddard (Jimmy Stewart), a lawyer, symbolizes civilization and full humanity. He is confronted by Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin), the brutish agent of chaos, who endeavors to kill him. Force is needed for civilization to triumph; Tom Doniphon (John Wayne) is that force and plays a critical role, but takes a back seat to the higher good of civilization.
Highly recommend the movie for middle and high school students.
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