The Western has long been a staple of Hollywood movie making and myth making, creating a uniquely American prototype and hero:  the frontiersman, seeking new horizons and willing to brave unknown hardships and struggle in pursuit of the American Dream.  This installment of At the Movies will consider in conjunction with the course, An Analysis of the Impact of Expansion in American History, two films that helped create the characters and conditions we have elevated into myth:  Shane, a classic western starring Alan Ladd as a mysterious gunfighter coming to the rescue of innocent farmers at odds with ruthless ranching interests; and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, John Ford’s classic re-examination of American western mythology.