Winchester '73 (1950)

A cowboy's obsession with a stolen rifle leads to a bullet-ridden odyssey through the American West.

Director:

Anthony Mann

Writers:

Robert L. Richards (screenplay), Borden Chase (screenplay)

Stars:

James Stewart, Shelley Winters, Dan Duryea

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
James Stewart	...	Lin McAdam
Shelley Winters	...	Lola Manners
Dan Duryea	...	Waco Johnny Dean
Stephen McNally	...	Dutch Henry Brown (as Stephen Mc.Nally/Stephen McNally)
Millard Mitchell	...	High Spade
Charles Drake	...	Steve Miller
John McIntire	...	Joe Lamont
Will Geer	...	Wyatt Earp
Jay C. Flippen	...	Sgt. Wilkes
Rock Hudson	...	Young Bull
John Alexander	...	Jack Riker
Steve Brodie	...	Wesley
James Millican	...	Wheeler
Abner Biberman	...	Latigo Means
Tony Curtis	...	Doan (as Anthony Curtis)

Storyline

In a marksmanship contest, Lin McAdam wins a prized Winchester rifle, which is immediately stolen by the runner-up, Dutch Henry Brown. This "story of a rifle" then follows McAdams' pursuit, and the rifle as it changes hands, until a final showdown and shoot-out on a rocky mountain precipice.

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Plot Keywords:

winchester rifle | dodge city kansas | brother brother fight | firearm | gunfire | 

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Taglines:

The Gun That Won The West!

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Genres:

Action | Drama | Western

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Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

As part of the publicity campaign around the release of the film, Universal-International sponsored a contest, by placing magazine ads, to find some of the rare remaining "One of One Thousand" Model 1873 Winchester rifles. This attention did indeed bring many previously unknown original rifles into the spotlight and drew public interest to the field of antique gun collecting. The winner of the contest received a new Winchester Model 1894 rifle, since the Model 1873 was out of production at that time.

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Goofs

This movie is based on a rifle-shooting competition held in Dodge City on 4 July 1876. During a poker game in the movie, Dutch refers to a "Dead Man's Hand". The "Dead Man's Hand" refers to the hand Wild Bill Hickock was holding when he was shot in the back by Jack McCall on 2 August 1876 - less than a month later. It was too soon for the "Dead Man's Hand" to be a famous phrase.

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Quotes

High Spade: We've hit a lot of towns, Lin. What makes you think he'll be here?
Lin McAdam: He'll be here.
High Spade: We've been wrong before.
Lin McAdam: He'll be here.
High Spade: On account of that?
[High Spade indicates the Winchester '73 rifle that is the top prize at Dodge City's Fourth of July shooting competition]
Lin McAdam: If he isn't here already, that gun'll bring him.

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Crazy Credits

The film's opening prologue states: 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 . . .

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Connections

Featured in AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to James Stewart (1980)

User Reviews

A bull's-eye for James Stewart

This stirring western spins the tale of the famous rifle of the early west that was coveted by one and all. James Stewart is the cowboy who wins the prized Winchester in a shootout, only to lose it in a robbery. The story details Stewart's pursuit of the rifle and a certain man through the film. The rifle changes hands time after time, as though the owner is fated to lose it through violence. The picture has plenty of action and suspense as Stewart closes in on his quarry. A great cast supports Stewart here, namely Stephen McNally, Dan Duryea, Millard Mitchell, John McIntire and Jay C. Flippen. Shelley Winters seems miscast here and the purpose of her role is rather obscure. Tony Curtis and Rock Hudson, teen heartthrobs in later years, have brief but good roles.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site Universal Pictures Home Entertainment [United States]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

12 July 1950 (USA)

Also Known As:

Montana Winchester

Filming Locations:

Sonoita, Arizona, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1