He Was The Bravest Of Them All

In the 1962 Western, "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance", Ranse Stoddard's (James Stewart) friend, Dutton Peabody (Edmond O'Brien), is brutally beaten by Liberty Valance (Lee Marvin). Though Stoddard is an inept gunman, he grabs a pistol and pursues the assailant, besting him in a classic Western showdown.

Years before, when Stoddard first moved to the town of Shinbone to start a law firm, he is robbed and beaten by Liberty Valance. He is found by a local rancher Tom Doniphon (John Wayne) who helps him get to safety.

At this same time, the territory is up for statehood, which Liberty Valance and his employers, powerful ranch owners in the area, oppose.

It is when Stoddard and Peabody win out over Valance as delegates to the Territorial Convention that Valance becomes enraged and assaults Peabody.

Though Tom Doniphon's girlfriend has fallen for Ranse, he goes out after him to try to save him from a fight with Valance which he would be bound to lose.

Ranse gains the reputation of The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance though it was, in fact, Doniphon who shot Valance from the shadows of the street.