Winchester 73

For the viewer who comes upon it long after its making, "Winchester '73" has something in common with "Casablanca." While you watch it, you get this feeling that you're looking at a string of clichés encountered so often in the genre; then you realise that the clichés became clichés only after being copied from this particular film, and that they were so widely copied because this film was so great. In other words, it's a seminal work.

"Winchester '73" is a joy to watch. The broad lines of the plot are somewhat predictable, but mostly because you've seen them copied so many times in later movies, and nevertheless it still contains a number of twists which surprise you. The dialogue, the pacing and Mann's direction are excellent. Stewart shines in particular, and if you're a fan this is a "must-see," but he is not alone in delivering a good performance. Remarkably, many of the most thoughtful and/or witty lines go to minor characters. Because this makes these characters (much) more than cardboard cutouts, it lent additional realism to the film.

This is a remarkably underrated film, and well worth keeping an eye out for. The DVD also contains an interview with Stewart which provides some background on the film.

The prize rifle of a drifter (James Stewart) is stolen by his nemesis (Stephen McNally), apprehended by a gun-trader (John McIntire), involved in a cavalry vs. Indian clash, winds up in the hands of a man who struggles with cowardice (Charles Drake) before being swiped by a charismatic outlaw (Dan Duryea). Meanwhile Lin McAdam (Stewart) pursues it with his faithful pardner (Millard Mitchell).

While "Winchester '73" (1950) was shot in flat B&W, it's a compelling action-packed Western with noir touches highlighted by the notable cast, which also includes Will Geer and Shelly Winters (when she was young, fit and voluptuous, not to mention spunky). Also look for Rock Hudson as the lead brave Young Bull and Tony Curtis as a besieged cavalry trooper.

The movie throws in Dodge City, Kansas, and a surprisingly congenial, almost bumbling (and too-old) Wyatt Earp (Geer) even though it's clear that the film was shot in southern Arizona. For instance, the saguaro cactus is native to the Sonoran Desert and not within 800 miles of Dodge City. But Tascosa, Texas, works okay within the framework of the Southwest, I guess. Basically, you have to ignore some misleading geography and a dubious Wyatt Earp to enjoy the picture.

The film runs 1 hour, 32 minutes, and was shot mainly in southern Arizona with studio stuff done at Universal Studios, California, with some exterior shots of Zion National Park, Utah.

GRADE: B.

There are several sections. The first is the set up - Jimmy Stewart and Millard Mitchell ride into town and run smack dab into Wyatt Earp, who takes their guns away, temporarily of course, or we'd have no movie. Then we see that Jimmy's looking for someone, and we get the gun shooting contest between him and his nemesis, Dutch Henry Brown, played by an evil evil Stephen McNally. We don't understand why Jimmy hates him so, or is hunting him. We also get a brief appearance by saloon gal Shelley Winters.

Then Jimmy gets jumped and he starts the real search of the film, this time for the Winchester he's won fair and square, but which the jealous Dutch steals. This is one of the first Winchesters, and it's considered very valuable, mention is made that only a few other people like President Grant have them.

Along the way, we meet a besieged U. S. army company, are attacked by Indians, see Shelley's boyfriend Charles Drake cringe in terror during the raid (he's very effective as a man haunted by his fear of confrontation and gorgeous to boot...Shelley is a fool to pick Jimmy, even if he isn't afraid of anything), and Dan Duryea pops in as Dutch's even MORE weaselly pal who has eyes for Shelley too. Finally, as we expected, Jimmy catches up with Dutch, but there is a twist that knocks my socks off every time, even though I've seen the movie before.

The Indian threat seems very real in this movie, and mention is made of Little Big Horn, which has just happened. The talk about the raid is not too embarrassing, although the Indian leader is played by Rock Hudson in full makeup, who I didn't recognize.

The supporting cast is superb, most notably John McIntire and Jay C. Flippen, who were to me the most intriguing members of the cast. I could have watched a whole movie of John McIntire playing cards, and another whole movie of Jay C. Flippen just sitting around reminiscing about the Civil War. Why couldn't they once just put these two guys in the front of a movie? They make it all work, along with Millard Mitchell, who is a lighthearted, loyal buddy to Jimmy, the man with the dark secret.

The picture is developed in 1873 and talks about Lin McAdam (James Stewart , extremely anxious to show up in more challenging characters) and High Spade (Millard Michell) arrive in Dodge City looking for an enemy called Dutch Henry (Stephen McNally) . The sheriff Wyatt Hearp (Will Geer , though initially felt he was badly miscast ) obligates them to leave their guns . Both of them participate in a shot-contest and Stewart shot (actually shot by renowned marksman Herb Parsons) a bullet through the washer with the postage stamp, then he earns a Winchester 73 , the greatest rifle in the west , but it is robbed and starting the possession through hand to hand (John McIntire , Charles Drake , Dan Duryea) . Meanwhile , the starring going on a merciless vengeance.

First western interpreted by James Stewart , subsequently following a lot , most of them directed by Anthony Mann ; formerly , in the early 1930s Stewart had worked with Mann in the theater . At the time of shooting , James was very worried that the general perception was of him as a limited actor, then he found filmmaker Anthony Mann very helpful in breaking that perception. Both , Stewart and Mann achieved to revive the genre during the decade 50s . James Stewart inaugurated a new type of wage, the percentage on the box office that will imitate posteriorly others great Hollywood stars . The film has an extraordinary casting , including brief apparition by Rock Hudson and Tony Curtis , both of whom newcomers . Of course, all the western's essential elements are in this film, such as : Shootouts , Red Indian attack , violent raids by outlaws , final showdown , among others .

The breathtaking cinematography in black and white is made by Greta Garbo's favourite photographer : Willian Daniels . Although the script results to be an adaptation based on ¨Big gun¨ , a novel written by Stuart L. Lake and screenwriter by prestigious Borden Chase, being also based about real events because 4 July 1876 in Dodge City had a shot competition and the winner was rewarded with a Winchester 73 model 1873 with ability shoot 17 cartridges caliber 44/40 in a few seconds .The picture was well narrated and directed by the magnificent director Anthony Mann , though Fritz Lang was originally slated to direct this movie , when he backed out, James Stewart recommended Anthony Mann . Anthony made abundant classic western , such as : ¨Bend the river¨ , ¨Far country¨ , ¨Man of Laramie¨ , ¨Naked spur¨, ¨Tin star¨ and several others . Better than average . Rating : 8/10. Well worth watching .

Buffs of the adult western that flourished in the 1950s try and trace its origins to the film that kicked off the syndrome. Of course, we can go back to Howard Hawks's Red River (1948) or further still to John Ford's My Darling Clementine (1946), but if we want to stick with this single decade, then it has to be one of a couple of films made in that era's initial year. One is "The Gunfighter," an exquisitely grim tale of a famed gunslinger (Ringo) facing his last shootout. Another from that same year is "Winchester '73," and it's worth noting that Millard Mitchell appears in both as grim, mustached, highly realistic range riders. In The Gunfighter, he's the town marshal expected to arrest Ringo but once rode with him in an outlaw gang. In Winchester, he's the sidekick to Jimmy Stewart, a kind of Horatio to Stewart's Hamlet in this epic/tragic tale. The plot is simple enough: Stewart's lonesome cowpoke wins a remarkable Winchester in a shooting match, beating the meanest man in the west (Stephen McNally), who is actually his own brother and caused the death of their father. When the brother steals the gun, Stewart and Mitchell go after him in a cowboy odyssey that takes them all across the frontier, meeting up with both outlaws and Indians. (In one wonderful bit, two future stars - Rock Hudson and Tony Curtis - play an Indian chief and a U.S. cavalry soldier - during a well staged pitched-battle. Dan Duryea steals the whole show as a giggling outlaw leader, while Shelly Winters, just before she began to gain weight, is fine as the shady lady who ties all the plots together. Today, filmmakers would go on for about four hours to bring such an ambitious idea to the screen, but Anthony Mann does so in an extremely economical amount of time, with not a minute wasted. Such western legends as Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp (terrifically played by Will Geer) make brief appearances, adding to the historicity as well as the epic nature. The final battle between good and bad brothers, high atop a series of jutting rock canyons, is now legendary among western buffs. It's also worth noting that Stewart, however much associated he became with western films, does what is actually his first western leading man role here - yes, he was in Destry Rides Again eleven years earlier, but was cast in that comedy spoof because he seemed so WRONG for westerns!