The Importance of Plot

Think of the 1962 John Ford western, “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance.” On the surface it’s a terrible western, utilizing few of the colorful aspects of the genre.

There are few visible open spaces. No breathtaking photography. Most of the film is shot on a sound stage, in black and white. The two leads, John Wayne and Jimmy Stewart, are too old for their parts. The style of the film is creaky, as if it’s a deliberate throwback to a 1920’s movie.

One thing the film has going for it is its plot. The main body of the film is a flashback, within which is another flashback which reveals the key to the story. A box within a box within a box. The movie demonstrates the importance of plot in examining the nature of myth by revealing buried truth.