Winchester '73 (1950)

Director:

Anthony Mann

Writers:

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

Release Date:

12 July 1950 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

In a marksmanship contest, Lin McAdam wins a prized Winchester rifle, which is immediately stolen by the runner-up...

Plot Keywords:

Rifle | Prize | Shooting | Contest | Brother

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

James Stewart	...	Lin McAdam
Shelley Winters	...	Lola Manners
Dan Duryea	...	Waco Johnnie Dean
Stephen McNally	...	Dutch Henry Brown
Millard Mitchell	...	High Spade Frankie Wilson
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)

Also Known As:

Montana Winchester (USA) (working title)

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Norway:16 | West Germany:12 (nf) | Australia:G | Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Finland:K-16 | Sweden:15 | USA:Approved (certificate #14546) | UK:U

Filming Locations:

Mescal, Arizona, USA

Company:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Trivia:

James Stewart spent a lot of time practicing with the rifle so he would look like an authentic westerner.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Lin and High Spade leave Rikers, they are supposed to be riding at night. However, when they are fleeing the pursuing braves, the sun is clearly visible behind the ridge they ride along.

Quotes:

[Lin McAdam and High-Spade are signing up for the shooting contest]
Bartender: Who would you be?
High-Spade Frankie Wilson: High-Spade Frankie Wilson... with a hyphen. That's what I sit on when I get tired.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Rock Hudson's Home Movies (1992)

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.