The cantankerous and eccentric John Ford had filmed several Westerns with John Wayne in colour from The Searchers to She Wore a Yellow Ribbon.

But when it came to shooting 1962’s The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance with Duke and James Stewart on the Paramount lot, the director opted for black and white instead.

There are conflicting accounts over why this decision was made, including that Ford thought it was a better medium.

However, cinematographer William H Clothier later said: “There was…