Lin McAdam (James Stewart) arrives in Dodge City in hot pursuit of his father’s killer. He wins a coveted Winchester ’73 repeating rifle (known as “the gun that won the West”) in the Fourth of July shooting contest, but the gun is stolen and McAdam sets about retrieving his prize.
The high-powered rifle changes hands repeatedly and each man who comes into possession of it is changed in some way – sometimes for good, sometimes for bad.
This is a fine, mature work: adult, intelligent and moral, creating a laconic new persona for the admirable Stewart. The brilliant black-and-white camerawork is by Garbo’s favourite, William Daniels, and director Anthony Mann’s use of transition (dissolves, fades to black) is exemplary.
The cast is extremely strong. Shelley Winters is excellent, and the supporting players include such versatile character actors as Millard Mitchell, Stephen McNally, Will Geer, and the incomparable Dan Duryea.
Watch out for a pre-stardom Rock Hudson as Indian brave Young Bull, and an even younger Tony Curtis as a cavalry trooper.
Lin McAdam
James Stewart Lola Manners
Shelley Winters Waco Johnny Dean
Dan Duryea Dutch Henry Brown
Stephen McNally Frankie ‘High Spade’ Wilson
Millard Mitchell Steve Miller
Charles Drake Joe Lamont
John Mcintire Wyatt Earp
Will Geer Sergeant Wilkes
Jay C. Flippen Young Bull
Rock Hudson Jack Riker
John Alexander Wesley
Steve Brodie Wheeler
James Millican Latigo Means
Abner Biberman Doan
Tony Curtis Crater
James Best
Director
Anthony Mann
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