Shane

Early in his in career, Alan Ladd (1913-64) was carefully photographed to make him appear taller than his 5’4-1/2”. He was a very little guy, but not to the 10-year old me when I saw SHANE (1953) in which Ladd plays the world-weary gunslinger who drifts into a quiet western town and becomes drawn into a conflict between an peaceable homesteader and a ruthless cattle baron. Shane was a hero to the Starrett family (especially little Joey) and, as a man who sacrificed himself to help strangers in need, he was a hero to me. Shaaaaane, come back, Shane.