The film itself feels otherworldly, mysterious, no doubt because of the year in which it was made. This does not feel like an early '60's movie; one would peg it as early '40's, if not earlier. The quiet, solemn direction is similar to Ford's The Grapes of Wrath (1940), and the mood is equally low-key and melancholy. The film feels so out of fashion; hard to believe that The Wild Bunch was released only seven years later. Many Ford trademarks are here, especially his cornball humour and colourful characters (perhaps that has something to do with Ford's Irish heritage, who knows?), but everything here feels right. The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is quite close to a masterpiece, and is worth seeing, even if just to see James Stewart throw a really good punch at the Duke.
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