Victor Young - Shane

George Stevens regularly relied on his son to select material that might one day be used in future films. One evening, George Jr. brought him the novel SHANE by Jack Schaefer, which he considered to be ‘a very good story’, and advised him to read it. The story was indeed exceptional and Stevens decided to bring it to the screen.
As Paramount's principal composer, Victor Young was a natural choice for the project. After viewing the film, he realised that his music would have the task of supporting the grandeur of Loyal Griggs' cinematography, which depicts the blue-sky landscapes of Wyoming's Grand Teton mountain range. Young had a gift for melody and provided a multiplicity of quality themes. The most important of these is his iconic main theme, ‘The Call of the Faraway Hills’, which has stood the test of time. This long, modal major melody perfectly conveys Shane's quiet nobility and the emotional heart of the film.