Winchester '73 (1950)

Winchester '73 is the first in a remarkable string of five classic westerns that James Stewart made with Anthony Mann in the 1950s (followed by Bend of the River, The Man from Laramie, The Naked Spur, and The Far Country). It is also distinguished for having helped revive the Western at the box office, and for being the first film in which the star forsook a huge up-front salary in favor of a share of the profits--a strategy that made Stewart rich and forever changed the way that Hollywood does business. The movie itself is pretty darned impressive, too. Stewart traces a stolen Winchester rifle through several owners until he finds the man he's looking for. The final spectacular shootout in craggy, mountainous terrain is justly famous. --Jim Emerson Amazon.com essential video

Winchester 73

Being able to find a unique gift like the movie Winchester 73 is very important to me. I happen to give my brother a birthday gift every year that has his birthday+1 in it. I have been doing this for many years. Hence when I searched the number 73 (as he really only is 72) I was delighted to come up with Winchester 73 because not only did it provide the unique gift but he is also a western movie buff. The gift was perfect July 20, 2008

A Classic

The first of a string of westerns that Mann and Stewart would work on, it is credited with reviving the genre in the 1950's -- a decade that would see a number of classic western movies. It shows the other side of Jimmy Stewart's screen persona: a bitter, driven man bent on revenge. Not the ah-shucks image people have of him. If you don't have this one, get it. In a decade that produced RED RIVER, HIGH NOON, THE SEARCHERS, MAN OF THE WEST and the Randolph Scott/Bud Boetticher films, this is the one that laid the groundwork for all the rest. April 7, 2008

A Classic Western

One of Jimmy Stewarts best films. A classic western, it traces the journy of a Winchester model 1873 One Of A Thousand rifle as it changes hands from Stewart who won it, to the villan who steals it from him, through a succession of people who come into possession of it and finally back to Stewart. March 22, 2008

a western classic better than almost all others

I love this one. Again, this was a recommendation from the old man. He has fond memories of this one from his youth. I can see why. Jimmy Stewart hans in a great performance that shows a range one wouldn't expect from him. The story itself is good, as the protagonists get what is coming to them in the end. In the process, Stewart becomes a little tougher than in other movies. Great twist! All in all, a very good flick. February 18, 2008

One Of The Better Westerns Of That Era

I was very impressed with this film. I would have to rate it as one of the better classic-era westerns. I say that for the whole thing: the acting, mature dialog, no- nonsense story and excellent cinematography.

Director Anthony Mann, who did several well-photographed film noirs around this same era, also made some westerns such as this one. It has that same film-noir look. Mann and Jimmy Stewart collaborated on several westerns during this period. . If you like this movie, I recommend the Mann-Stewart film "Bend Of The River."

In a nutshell, the story is about a man, "Lin McAdam," (Stewart) who owns this prestigious Winchester 73 rifle, a weapon he won fair-and-square in a contest. It is then stolen and passed on from villain to villain. All of those villains are interesting characters.

Aiding Stewart act out this interesting tale are Shelley Winters, Dan Duryea, Stephen McNally, Millard Mitchell, Charles Drake, Will Greer and J. C. Flippen. All of them are fun to watch. September 25, 2007

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