Western

Winchester '73

- The Gun That Won The West!

Lin McAdam rides into town on the trail of Dutch Henry Brown, only to find himself in a shooting competition against him. McAdam wins the prize, a one-in-a-thousand Winchester rifle, but Dutch steals it and leaves town. McAdam follows, intent on settling his old quarrel, while the rifle keeps changing hands and touching a number of lives.

Release Date : 1950-07-12

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Universal International Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles : Montana Winchester

Cast

Character Name : Lin McAdam

Original Name : James Stewart

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lola Manners

Original Name : Shelley Winters

Gender : Female

Character Name : Waco Johnnie Dean

Original Name : Dan Duryea

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dutch Henry Brown

Original Name : Stephen McNally

Gender : Male

Character Name : High Spade

Original Name : Millard Mitchell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Steve Miller

Original Name : Charles Drake

Gender : Male

Character Name : Joe Lamont

Original Name : John McIntire

Gender : Male

Character Name : Wyatt Earp

Original Name : Will Geer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sergeant Wilkes

Original Name : Jay C. Flippen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Young Bull

Original Name : Rock Hudson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Jack Riker

Original Name : John Alexander

Gender : Male

Character Name : Wesley

Original Name : Steve Brodie

Gender : Male

Character Name : Wheeler

Original Name : James Millican

Gender : Male

Character Name : Latigo Means

Original Name : Abner Biberman

Gender : Male

Character Name : Doan

Original Name : Tony Curtis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Crater

Original Name : James Best

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Victor Adamson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Basset (uncredited)

Original Name : Robert Anderson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bartender (uncredited)

Original Name : Mel Archer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Charles Bender (uncredited)

Original Name : Ray Bennett

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Chet Brandenburg

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Buck Bucko

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Roy Bucko

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cavalryman (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Chase

Gender : Male

Character Name : Target Watcher (uncredited)

Original Name : Edmund Cobb

Gender : Male

Character Name : Contest Clerk in Saloon (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Conlan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Shooting Contestant (uncredited)

Original Name : Tex Cooper

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Victor Cox

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Curtis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bat Masterson (uncredited)

Original Name : Steve Darrell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Roan Daley (uncredited)

Original Name : John Doucette

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bonnie Jameson (uncredited)

Original Name : Bonnie Kay Eddy

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Bill Gillis

Gender : Male

Character Name : Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Chick Hannan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Contest Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Al Haskell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Boy at Store Window (uncredited)

Original Name : Jimmy Hawkins

Gender : Male

Character Name : Boy at Rifle Shoot (uncredited)

Original Name : Timmy Hawkins

Gender : Male

Character Name : Dudeen (uncredited)

Original Name : Carol Henry

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gary Jameson (uncredited)

Original Name : Gary Jackson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Kenny

Gender : Male

Character Name : Buffalo Hunter (uncredited)

Original Name : Norman Kent

Gender : Male

Character Name : Stationmaster (uncredited)

Original Name : Ethan Laidlaw

Gender : Male

Character Name : Bartender (uncredited)

Original Name : Ted Mapes

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mossman - Cavalryman (uncredited)

Original Name : Gregg Martell

Gender : Male

Character Name : Boy at Rifle Shoot (uncredited)

Original Name : Bill McKenzie

Gender : Male

Character Name : Stagecoach Driver (uncredited)

Original Name : Jennings Miles

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Mills

Gender : Male

Character Name : Contest Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Kansas Moehring

Gender : Male

Character Name : Contest Shooter (uncredited)

Original Name : Lew Morphy

Gender : Male

Character Name : Mrs. Jameson (uncredited)

Original Name : Virginia Mullen

Gender : Female

Character Name : Stable Boy (uncredited)

Original Name : Norman Ollestad

Gender : Male

Character Name : Boy at Rifle Shoot (uncredited)

Original Name : Larry Olsen

Gender : Male

Character Name : Man (uncredited)

Original Name : Bud Osborne

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Jack Perry

Gender : Male

Character Name : Long Tom (uncredited)

Original Name : Chuck Roberson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Townsman (uncredited)

Original Name : Tom Smith

Gender : Male

Character Name : Town Indian (uncredited)

Original Name : Charles Soldani

Gender : Male

Character Name : Target Clerk (voice) (uncredited)

Original Name : Forrest Taylor

Gender : Male

Character Name : Boy (uncredited)

Original Name : Tony Taylor

Gender : Male

Character Name : Marshall Noonan (uncredited)

Original Name : Ray Teal

Gender : Male

Character Name : Indian Interpreter (uncredited)

Original Name : John War Eagle

Gender : Male

Character Name : Virgil Earp (uncredited)

Original Name : Guy Wilkerson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Contest Spectator (uncredited)

Original Name : Henry Wills

Gender : Male

Character Name : Man (uncredited)

Original Name : Duke York

Gender : Male

Character Name : Indian at Rifle Shoot (uncredited)

Original Name : Chief Yowlachie

Gender : Male

Reviews

John Chard

@John Chard

2024-05-16

Some things a man has to do, so he does 'em. This is a story of the Winchester Rifle Model 1873 "The Gun That Won The West" - To cowman, outlaw, peace officer or soldier, the Winchester 73 was a treasured possession. An Indian would sell his soul to own one... Winchester '73 is the first collaboration between director Anthony Mann and actor James Stewart, a duo that would go on to create a run of superior Westerns that added a new psychological depth to the genre. The story sees Stewart as Lin McAdam, who is pursuing the man who killed his father. Riding into Dodge City with his trusty friend, Johnny Williams (Millard Mitchell), Lin runs into Dutch Henry Brown (Stephen McNally), the man he wants. But with Wyatt Earp (Will Geer) having taken all the guns from those entering the town, both men are unable to have the shoot-out that they are ready for. The men instead square up in a competition to win a Winchester 73 rifle, a competition that Lin eventually wins. But before he can leave town with the magnificent prize, Dutch ambushes him, steals the rifle and skips town fast. As Lin sets off in hate filled pursuit of both man and rifle, the rifle will changed hands a number of times, with each time adding another dimension as the day of reckoning for all approaches. Very much a benchmark for what became known as the so-called "psychological Western", Winchester '73 is basically a story of a decent man driven to borderline insanity by an event in his past. Though shot in black and white (the only one of the duos Westerns that was) the landscapes are still breath taking feasts for the eyes. The tone is set with the opening scene as Lin and Johnny on horseback, and in silhouette, amble over a hillside as they make their way to Dodge City. It's just the starting point that would see Mann use his vistas as a way of running concurrent with his characters emotional states. Stewart gives one of his finest and most intense performances as McAdam, proving once and for all that he was one of America's finest and most versatile actors. The support cast isn't too bad either. Shelley Winters is excellent as the sole female in amongst the machismo, while Mitchell, McNally, Geer and the always great Dan Duryea add further class to proceedings. There's even bit parts for Tony Curtis and Rock Hudson in here, though the latter playing an Indian brave is a stretch too far. Originally the film was a project for Fritz Lang, who even had the script ready to run. But Lang walked away from it, something that proved to be a blessing for Western fans. For as great as a director that Lang was, with Mann directing (and with a new script from Borden Chase & Robert Richards in hands) it set the wheels in motion to alter the course of the genre. Not only with the further efforts that Mann & Stewart produced, but also in who they influenced. The likes of Budd Boetticher, Nicholas Ray and Sam Fuller were all taking notes, and gleefully for the Western purists, they followed suit and carried the psychological torch still further. A big hit at the box office back on release, Winchester '73 is a magnificent film that still packs a punch in the modern age. 9/10

Wuchak

@Wuchak

2021-06-23

_**Dynamic James Stewart Western with a noir tinge**_ 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