When Senator Ransom Stoddard returns home to Shinbone for the funeral of Tom Doniphon, he recounts to a local newspaper editor the story behind it all. He had come to town many years before, a lawyer by profession. The stage was robbed on its way in by the local ruffian, Liberty Valance and Stoddard has nothing to his name left save a few law books. He gets job in the kitchen at the Ericson's restaurant and there meets his future wife Hallie. The territory is vying for Statehood and Stoddard is...