Winchester '73 (1950)

 

WINCHESTER'73 (1950)

By Ralph Santini  - ****

          Richly compelling and outstandingly powerful “Winchester ’73” is, without a doubt, among one of the finest westerns ever made. With its brilliant direction by the great Anthony Mann, the film stars James Stewart (playing against type for the first time after frequently portraying shy characters) as cowhand Lin McAdam who wins a priceless Winchester rifle in a rifle shooting contest in Dodge City, but unfortunately, he is violently robbed by his own mean brother hiding under the name “Dutch” Henry Brown (Stephen McNally) who desperately wanted the gun for the purpose of killing. The screenplay was remarkably written by Borden Chase and Robert L. Richards and the flawless story was provided with impact by Stuart N. Lake, an expert biographer on the famed U.S. Marshall Wyatt Earp, who coincidentally happens to be portrayed (wonderfully) by character actor Will Geer.

The storyline continues with Lin, out to get his gun back from his no-good brother who unfortunately loses the rifle with disgruntle to a vicious Indian trader (a riveting John McIntire) but the gunrunner is not too lucky either when he is killed and scalped by a renegade Sioux leader (an early role for future superstar Rock Hudson) and possesses the rifle until being killed in action and the gun would be handed to a cowardly gentleman (Charles Drake) who is sadistically killed by trigger happy outlaw Waco Johnny Dean (a compelling performance by the underrated Dan Duryea). The leading lady of the film is dance hall piano player, Lola, who is portrayed with an Oscar® worthy performance by the fabulous Shelley Winters. In fact the only sad thing about this gem is that it was not nominated for one single Oscar® and that must be outrageous because this film turns out to be among one the better westerns of the 1950s which makes it absolutely on par with John Ford’s equally extraordinary The Searchers (1956). 

What makes this film a winner all the way is not only the excellent acting by the cast, especially Stewart, Winters, MacNally, Duryea, McIntire plus Jay C. Flippen as an army sergeant, and bleak direction by the auterist-celebrated Mann, but also its brilliant black and white cinematography by William Daniels. On top of that there is also one of the most arresting climaxes ever filmed which involves a rifle gunfight between the battling McAdam brothers themselves. Equally convincing is the witty dialogue in the script including a couple of memorable quotes when ‘Dutch’ Henry complains of an older rifle manufactured by the Henry company saying “That’s the trouble with these old Henrys; takes them too long to kill. Let’s go get a rifle that does it right now” and an accomplice insinuates “I don’t think it was a bullet”.

One 1950s very best films “Winchester” 73, I believe, is a great American film that demands multiple viewings. It is an extremely enjoyable western that ranks way up there with “Stagecoach” (1939), “My Darling Clementine” (1946) “Red River” (1948), “High Noon” (1952), “Shane” (1953), “The Searchers” (1956), “The Wild Bunch” (1969) and many other classics of the genre. It is Anthony Mann’s best western and quite possibly his best film. It is also, arguably, James Stewart’s best western role in his long distinguished career.