"Winchester '73" is a Western drama starring James Stewart. It was directed by Anthony Mann, the first of eight films that they would work on together. "Winchester '73" was important to Stewart's career because the film increased his range: he showed that he was credible in tough guy roles.
"Winchester '73" has an excellent supporting cast that nearly steals the film from Stewart. Will Geer (aka Grandpa Walton) plays no-nonsense sheriff Wyatt Earp. Geer had a great character actor's voice. Another novel casting is Rock Hudson as an Indian chief, and actually it is one of his better performances. Shelly Winters, not yet typecast as frumpy and love spurned, does fine as the leading lady who keeps her cool despite getting into constant trouble. Dan Duryea plays a creepy bad guy (what else?) with his usual panache. Millard Mitchell gives a great performance as a level-headed indian trader. Finally, Stephen McNally is excellent as the rough killer Dutch Henry Brown.
The plot has Stewart tracking McNally to kill him, to revenge his father's murder. They finally meet at a contest to win a prize rifle (the title character). Stewart wins the rifle, but it is stolen by McNally. The gun goes through many hands, with Stewart and McNally chasing each other and the gun. Whoever owns the gun considers it to be his greatest possession, but ironically soon meets a violent death. Being the rifle's true owner, as well as the top-billed star, Stewart is immune to the rifle's curse.
The script has surprising depth. Even the most minor supporting actors get good lines. Brown has two criminal sidekicks that are cynical and critical of Brown. Duryea has two criminal sidekicks who delight in shoot-outs with the law as much as he does. Look fast for Tony Curtis, who only has a couple of lines. It would have been easy and simplistic to limit the story to Stewart and Brown, but the addition of so many excellent character actors really broadens the movie.
"Winchester '73" is probably Stewart's best Western, although I have yet to see "The Naked Spur" from 1953. I prefer the film to "Destry Rides Again", "Bend of the River" and "The Man who Shot Liberty Valance". There is much dramatic tension throughout. (83/100)
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