It begins with Senator Ransom Stoddard (James Stewart) arriving in the town of Shinbone to attend the funeral of Tom Doniphon (John Wayne). When the local newspaper editor asks him why a U.S. Senator would travel such a long way to attend the funeral of a local rancher, Stoddard begins his long tale. At this point, the movie transitions to 30 years before, to the time Stoddard first arrived in the town hoping to open a law practice. The story then unfolds and reveals the details of how he and Doniphon worked together to rid the town of the menacing bully, Liberty Valance, and his gang of outlaws. In the beginning of the flashback, young Stoddard is staunchly against violence and refuses to carry a gun. Despite no gun, he is gutsy enough to stand his ground and fight the evil that is causing so much trouble for the townspeople. However, by the end of his story, he reveals that circumstances can change a man and his opinions. With its surprising twist at the end, you will not regret watching this movie. This movie makes our list because it delves into many nuances about culture, education, morals, and politics. The Library of Congress selected this film for the National Film Registry in 2007 because it is “culturally, historically, and aesthetically significant.”