I know two Shane's, and might the movie "Shane" figure into the name living on? I wonder?
If I had to choose two films that I thought were just about perfect in story line structure, cimematography, script and message I think I would choose "Shane" and "Cool Hand Luke".
I remember many years ago I determined to not watch TV for an entire year, I only allowed myself to read books. It was a "Switch On" look in the mirror, who and what am I moment in my life. Best self discipline proof of concept exercise I ever did, but that is another story.
The point is that I stopped watching all TV and read a lot of books for one solid year, except. Except I became aware that "Cool Hand Luke" would be shown on a particular night, and I allowed myself to watch it. I removed the small portable TV that I had in a box in the small room that I was renting at the time, set it up on the dresser, and I watched it. Classic! And I would have done the same for the movie "Shane". And after I watched "Cool Hand Luke", I put the TV back in its box and continued my personal self discipline project. I recommend such self discipline exercises for just about everyone.
I found this analysis of the movie "Shane" in the Daily Mail by Gage Kippler to be a worthwhile read. Mr. Kippler uses the vehicle "Shane" to shine a light on how our culture has evolved and maybe even devolved from our stronger American perspective and instincts to a weaker and more diluted version where we no longer seem to have a proper American trajectory. You read it and you decide, I thought it to be very inciteful and well written.
"Perhaps it is no coincidence that our modern culture fails to produce films that champion traditional manliness. We do indeed appear to no longer be a civilization that cares about its own progeneration. The younger generation castigates its ancestors as evil bigots and forsakes the very virtues that provided for its creature comforts. The older generation — those in power, at least —forget their generational obligations to teach and protect and instead applaud as their children seek to tear it all down. False heroism is but the tip of the iceberg — we are now a society committed to the subversion of truth in its entirety."
Shane (1953) Trailer #1 | Movieclips Classic Trailers: https://youtu.be/2AWaGILUCYg?si=EWaA3LoNixO9EBnV
And there was never a meaner, more evil both in look and action Hollywood villain than Jack Palance as Jack Wilson in "Shane". You remember Jack Palance as Curly when he says to Billy Crystal in "City Slickers", "I crap bigger than you!", end of scene.
https://youtu.be/xAzFWiLBydk?si=zSY8HBW2ZJlekkou 1min 32 sec.
And interestingly Jack Palance loved poetry and was in fact a published poet. A collection of poems written by him was published in the year 1996. It was called 'Forest Of Love'. Cant make it up.
SHANE: "A gun is as good or bad as the man using it" Truer words have never been spoken.
SHANE and COOL HAND LUKE might be two best classic American movies to watch before the year ends?
Are you paying attention yet America? JGL 11/25/23
