XPost: rec.arts.tv   
   From: weberm@polaris.net   
      
   In article , ahk@chinet.com wrote:   
      
   >I first saw Shane (1953) in junior high English class. The   
   >literature-appreciation curriculum loved teaching the kids about   
   >"perfect" story structure, so everybody reads The Lonliness of the Long   
   >Distance Runner.   
   >   
   >We were also taught to write the highly-structured three-three essay.   
   >   
   >As a tv viewer, there's nothing wrong with structured story telling. The   
   >audience expects developments to occur at certain points; the writer of   
   >the teleplay should meet those expectations. This doesn't interfere with   
   >good writing, but it doesn't enhance it either.   
   >   
   >It's just structure.   
   >   
   >As a kid, I really never liked the movie all that much. It has its   
   >merits: gorgeous scenery, excellent performances from Van Heflin and   
   >Jean Arthur and the supporting cast, and the iconic performance of Alan   
   >Ladd's career.   
   >   
   >But the story is simplistic and the characters serve the needs of the   
   >plot. Van Heflin and the nice settlers in the valley are barely eeking   
   >out a living. The evil Ryker family wants to expand their cattle ranch   
   >onto land they don't own if only they could drive away the settlers.   
   >   
   >This is the movie in which the womenfolk are stampeded and cattle raped.   
   >   
   >Everybody else but Van Heflin wants to move because, well, the Rykers   
   >are murderous. Van Heflin keeps talking them into staying which   
   >predictably gets them killed because he has no plan.   
   >   
   >Jack Palance, excellent in an early role and also nominated, is the   
   >henchman hired by the Rykers who flat out murders Elisha Cook in a   
   >famous scene. (Quick: Come up with more than three roles in which Cook   
   >isn't murdered on screen or killed off screen.)   
   >   
   >The tall dark stranger rides into the valley, but he's blond and average   
   >height Shane as played by Alan Ladd and we really have to suspend   
   >disbelief about the men he's killed in backstory.   
   >   
   >Shane's motivation is less Truth Justice and the American Way but that   
   >he's in love with Jean Arthur.   
   >   
   >Then you've got the infuriating performance from the kid Joey   
   >(Oscar-nominated Brandon deWilde). The kid is SUPPOSED to be annoying.   
   >Success! But he doesn't work as a point-of-view character. For the kid,   
   >it's all self indulgence and instant gratification. Well, at that age,   
   >we might believe it but there's nothing natural about the performance,   
   >and even if he were a better actor, that he's got zero respect for his   
   >father throughout much of the picture makes the audience kind of dislike   
   >him, impatient with him because he never learns to understand.   
   >   
   >Nor is it a coming of age story. The kid goes through hero worship   
   >phases, things don't go the way he wants them, and he hates his hero.   
   >Then a responsible adult tries to explain the situation to him. He   
   >claims to understand, forgives his hero then goes right back to hero   
   >worshipping him.   
   >   
   >We get better performances from several of the well-trained dogs than   
   >the kid.   
   >   
   >My opinion is in the minority. This is one of the most popular Westerns   
   >both at initial release and viewers over the decades who think it's   
   >stood the test of time.   
      
   What, nothing to say about Adam West?   
      
   --   
   Not a joke! Don't jump!   
      
   --- SoupGate-DOS v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)