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She must have had what most successful writers have, though,
as once she finally broke through again, it was in a big way. John-
son was a master of the short story, and three of her stories were
adapted for major motion pictures—The Hanging Tree, which
starred fellow Montanan Gary Cooper; A Man Called Horse,
starring Richard Harris; and her most famous, The Man Who
Shot Liberty Valance.
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance is considered one of the best
Western films ever made, and for good reason. Directed by the
master of the genre, John Ford, the film starred his favorite lead,
John Wayne. But this role was a bit of a departure for Wayne, in that
his character, Tom Doniphon, has all of the usual Wayne swagger,
but in the end, it's not enough to win the heart of the leading lady.
She instead chooses an Eastern dandy named Ransom Stoddard,
perfectly cast with Jimmy Stewart playing that role.
Johnson's objective in this story was to show the vulnerabil-
ity that is behind all that swagger, and we see it in both Doni-
phon and Stoddard: even though Stoddard becomes a successful
businessman and eventually a U.S. Senator, and even though he
wins the heart of Hallie, played by Vera Miles, he never quite
feels as if he measures up to Doniphon. It's a classic example
of how men in the West were judged, and how even those who
seemed to have it figured out didn't always feel satisfied.
Johnson herself described Stoddard's character as "a man
who never quite gets it. He was a man who reinvented himself
and even though he was by no means ashamed of being the con-
quering hero and eventually becoming a senator, he still doesn't
get it in the end."
F
rom "Cabins to Estates" the craftsmen at
Montana Log Homes have been handcraft-
ing custom log homes nationwide since 1983.
Creative inspiration comes naturally in this
mountain country. By preserving the spirit of
the Old West, using handcrafting techniques
handed down from our pioneer forefathers, we
create homes as unique and beautiful as the wil-
derness from which they came.
SPECIALIZING IN
EXCELLENCE SINCE 1983
THE
Handcrafted
ALTERNATIVE
406-752-2992 Email: info@montanaloghomes.com
3250 US Highway 93 South Kalispell, Montana 59901
We invite you
to visit our
office/showhome
or visit us on
our website at:
montanaloghomes.com
