Well above the average western. It's not as action packed and fast paced as modern movies or earlier westerns but I like the pace. It's a well written plot. Its core is about the birth of a nation, a subtly told romance and last but not least the demystification of glorious gun slinging legendary (sic) characters and the western genre altogether. I never liked John Wayne - James Stewart is wonderful though (although he gets even more handsome in his later movies).

James Stewart, John Wayne and Lee Marvin with John Ford directing. If you like classic movies in general and western in particular it doesn't get much better than this. [spoiler] But did Doniphon really shot Valance or was he just saying he did to convince Stoddard to take the nomination ? [/spoiler]

1 / 2 directing & technical aspect 2 / 2 story 1 / 1 acting 1 / 1 pacing 1 / 1 dialogue 1 / 1 living up to its genre 1 / 1 originality 1 / 1 lasting ability to make you think 0.......misc enjoyment point (+/-) or 1 / 2 directing & technical aspect 1 / 1 story 1 / 1 act I 1 / 1 act II 1 / 1 act III 1 / 1 acting 1 / 1 dialogue 1 / 1 originality 1 / 1 lasting ability to make you think 0.......misc enjoyment point 9 out of 10

Cine Paco 1. Image 4,5/5, sound 3,5/5. Great classic western, much better than I remembered, I liked it a lot

A train comes ‘round a bend. An almost perfect film starts. Great characters, strong, sophisticated, thought provoking story telling. Very complete. Extraordinarily satisfying. When watching it, it feels like this era might have been a (the) peak for cinema storytelling. And so funny. The scenes around the election to the Senate are amazing. Cinema comfort food, evocative of simpler times.