Enigmatic gunslinger Shane (Alan Ladd) rides into a small Wyoming town with hopes of quietly settling down as a farmhand. Taking a job on homesteader Joe Starrett's (Van Heflin) farm, Shane is drawn into a battle between the townsfolk and ruthless cattle baron Rufus Ryker (Emile Meyer). Shane's grow… Moreing attraction to Starrett's wife, Marian (Jean Arthur), and his fondness for their son Joey (Brandon de Wilde), who idolizes Shane, force Shane to realize that he must thwart Ryker's plan. - source: IMDB
"Shane" has been described as a classic western which endures the test of time and is still considered to be a classic to this day; it even has been compared to "High Noon", another classic western. The film portrays a very common theme in westerns of the 1950's, where the homesteader was privileged and therefore the focus of the film. While the main story seems to be a simple one where farmers are trying to stand up for themselves and defend their land against a strong evil who is trying to take that land, in the background a sub story concerning the main character develops. Shane (Alan Ladd) and the farmers wife (Jean Arthur) start to feel an attraction and a love story almost develops from it, adding another layer to the film. This addition of the female influence into the film gives the image of Shane wanting to move away from his past, which can be classified as uncivilised and being part of the wilderness, and wanting to settle down with a woman, in many instances in western films represent civilisation. This tension is also added to due to the fact that Shane decides he wants to work for another man, the homesteader Joe Starrett (Van Heflin), rather than being free to do as he wanted in the wilderness - showing that Shane wants to move from wilderness to civilisation.
Being a gunslinger in his past, Shane seems to be seeking redemption for his past and uses saving the homestead from evil as a way to redeem himself from what he has done, playing to another common theme seen in 1950's westerns. Even though he his trying to move away from his gunslinger past, it is interesting that the film builds up to Shane having to face those who are threatening the existence of the farm and using his skills that he acquired in the life he wants to forget to do it. It is also interesting that he feels he must leave town if he is successful - this can be seen as he would feel redundant as a hero after he has done his deed by saving the homestead and therefore would not feel like he wouldn't be needed if there was nothing to protect the farm from. On the other hand, his exit from the town could also represent the continuing masculine - feminine tension as, even though westerns have very strong masculine leads and figures, it is the fact that Shane is unable to have Marion (Jean Arthur) and there would not be any resolution for his feelings at any time in the future therefore the femininity triumphs in a sense. He feels like he needs to be the one to sacrifice himself and get involved in a quarrel that doesn't initially concern him as he has too much respect for Joe and feels that by helping him out and putting his life on the line, as well as walking away from a chance to be civilised with the feelings he has for Joe's wife, will help him redeem himself and do good for once.
Overall, "Shane" is considered to be one of the best westerns of the time as it a story of a hero who wants to redeem himself from his past and will do what he can to do so, making him a character that the viewer can look up to an respect. The film also has all the aspects that made a successful western in the 1950's, but also has an deeper story to it, exposing the tensions between wilderness and civilisation as well as masculinity and femininity to an extent.
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