"Together for the first time"
Director: John Ford
Cast: John Wayne, James Stewart, Vera Miles, Lee Marvin, Edmond O'Brien
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance — Movie Quotes
Memorable Quotes
This is the West, sir. When the legend becomes fact, print the legend.
Context
The newspaper editor says this after hearing Stoddard's true account of the shooting and deciding not to publish it.
Meaning
The central thesis of the film, suggesting that national myths are more important to society than the messy, unheroic truth.
Whoa, take it easy, Pilgrim.
Context
Doniphon's recurring address to Stoddard throughout the film.
Meaning
Highlights the divide between the experienced frontiersman and the naive newcomer.
I'm not going to be a part of it! I don't want a political career that was started by... murder!
Context
Stoddard yelling at Doniphon at the territorial convention after realizing the truth.
Meaning
Reveals Stoddard's internal crisis when he believes his success is founded on an act of violence he spent his life opposing.
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