"The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance" is the March Film Classic in Bigfork

“The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” is the March Film Classic in Bigfork

  

The third 2019 movie in the Classic Movie Series in Bigfork is a western classic that will keep your attention trying to figure out exactly what happened and will happen. “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance” has more twists and turns than a cork screw with a flashback within a flashback. And the final twist comes with the last line of the movie. The movie stars James Stuart and John Wayne in roles which are very complicated and interesting. The film was made in 1962 in black and white, while the whole industry was turning to color. However, the paying audience certainly did not need color. It was the 16^th highest grossing film of 1962. It grossed 8 million dollars while costing 3.2 million to produce. It got one Oscar nomination for costume design, won two Golden Laurel Award Nominations, winning one, and in 2007 was added to the USA National Film Registry. This Movie Classic will be shown at the Edge Theater in Bigfork by Jack Nachbar. It will be accompanied by Jack’s presentation providing a better understanding of the time period of the movie.  Date: Thursday March 14^th. Time: 6:30PM. Price: FREE of charge.

Director John Ford, said he shot the film in black and white because ”In black and white, you’ve got to be very careful.  You’ve got to know your job, lay your shadows in properly, get your perspective right…” He said he preferred it. But that’s only one of many speculations about the lack of color. If you see the movie on the “big screen” in a darkened theater you will also get a sense of the “film noir” quality of the story.  For me this fits the mood of the story best.  

Coincidentally, the movie set was not always a happy place to be. There was bickering on a number of fronts from the stars to the director. When there is that much growling on a movie set, be it true or just rumor, it probably involved money, publicity, and “billing” on the advertising. That was the case here, and Jack will have to be the one to sort it all out when he shows this one at the Edge.

Come and see a film that is a good movie, received lots of audience support, and probably did not necessarily get the respect it should have on Oscar night.  Place: The Edge Center for the Arts, Bigfork. Date and time: Thursday the 14^th of March at 6:30PM.  It will be worth going to Bigfork, because Jack will provide you with background about the movie and a cartoon. And there is plenty of background for Jack to share with you. An appropriate snack will be served courtesy of Jack and his wife/projectionist, Lynn. The Classic Movie Series is part of the District 318 Adult Education Program.