There are intriguing mysteries in Shane, puzzles and challenges, not least in the title character and the way he is played by Alan Ladd.
– Roger Ebert,
Chicago Sun-Times,
1 Jan 2000
fresh:
For Shane contains something more than beauty and the grandeur of the mountains and plains, drenched by the brilliant Western sunshine and the violent, torrential, black-browed rains...
– Bosley Crowther,
New York Times,
20 May 2003
fresh:
Stevens' classic Western, with its inflated reputation, now looks as if it were self-consciously intended as a landmark film right from the start.
– Geoff Andrew,
Time Out,
9 Feb 2006
rotten:
Here, as too often in his career, Stevens is aiming to have the last word on a genre: everything aims for 'classic' status, and everything falters in a mire of artsiness and obtrusive technique.
– Dave Kehr,
Chicago Reader,
2 Jul 2007
fresh:
Wyoming's scenic splendors against which the story is filmed are breathtaking. Sunlight, the shadow of rain storms and the eerie lights of night play a realistic part in making the picture a visual treat.