When I was in college, a teacher who's lecture style I really liked taught a class called "The American Western", which was about the myth, culture and obsession with the American West, along with historical facts. I loved that class so much, even though up until that time I had never in my life had any interest in the subject.
This is one of the films he screened and I really liked it. I would put it up there with Stagecoach, The Searchers, The Wild Bunch and The Naked Spur. I'd also like to take this opportunity to say I still think Shane is over-rated, and that kid was f***ing annoying.