Winchester 73 Jimmy Stewart

(aka 'Montana Winchester')

USA 1950

A 187, 44-40 caliber Winchester rifle is the star of the this motion picture. Every so often a rifle comes along that is just perfect - "1 in 1000" they call it. 'Winchester 73' was a revolutionary film in the development of Hollywood westerns. It almost single-handedly rescued the western genre and its box-office success acknowledged Anthony Mann for his key role in attaining its allure and stature. This was one of many westerns collaborating with Jimmy Stewart, helping to revive his post war acting image.

Frontiersman Lin McAdam (Stewart) is out on the road with his buddy. What he needs is the-of-a-kind rifle that we won in competition - conveniently (eventually) stolen by his 'black sheep' brother. On the rifle's his journey we see many desperado individuals: a sociopathic highwayman bandit (Dan Duryea), an moral-less gun trader (John McIntire), a brutal jaded Indian (Rock Hudson) and a comely maiden (Shelly Winters).

It remains a classic of the genre and Mann fans will love the development of 'mood'. Great cinematography shines through as well. Charming! out of

Also note Tony Curtis in one of his first roles and Will Geer (Grandpa on 'The Waltons') as Wyatt Earp!

Gary W. Tooze

Posters

Theatrical Release: July 12th, 1950 - USA

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Recommended Reading for Western Genre Fans (CLICK COVERS or TITLES for more information)


The Crowded Prairie: American National Identity in the Hollywood Western (Cinema and Society) by Michael Coyne	The Invention of the Western Film : A Cultural History of the Genre's First Half Century (Genres in American Cinema S.) by Scott Simmon	The Searchers (Bfi Film Classics) by Edward Buscombe	The Western Genre by John Saunders	Westerns: Films through History (AFI Film Readers) by Janet Walker	The Encyclopedia of Westerns (The Facts on File Film Reference Library) by Herb Fagen, Tom Selleck	Gunfighter Nation: The Myth of the Frontier in Twentieth-Century America by Richard Slotkin	The Western (Inside Film) by David Lusted	Red River (Bfi Film Classics) by Suzanne Liandrat-Guigues

Check out more in "The Library"

DVD Comparison:

Universal - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Universal (James Stewart - The Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC

DVD Box Cover
Distribution	Universal Studios - Region 1 - NTSC	Universal Studios - Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime	1:32:15	1:32:15
Video	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 5.96 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s	1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio Average Bitrate: 8.86 mb/s NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Original
Bitrate: Stewart Boxset
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)
Subtitles	English, Spanish, French, None	English, Spanish, French, None
Features	Release Information: Studio: Universal Studios Aspect Ratio: Original aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Theatrical trailer • "Jimmy Stewart Interview (Commentary) for length of film. DVD Release Date: May 6th, 2003 Keep Case Chapters: 20	Release Information: Studio: Universal Home Video Aspect Ratio: Original aspect Ratio 1.33:1 Edition Details: • Theatrical trailer (4:3) - 1:48 set contains - Destry Rides Again / Winchester 73 / Bend of the River / The Far Country / Night Passage / The Rare Breed DVD Release Date: May 20th, 2008 Slim transparent Case (6 inside box) Chapters: 20

Comments:

ADDITION: James Stewart - The Western Collection contains Destry Rides Again / Winchester 73 / Bend of the River / The Far Country / Night Passage and The Rare Breed.

First I checked the VOB files, expecting to find them from 2003, but was surprised to see they are new (2008)! As I started to compare I could see the visual improvements - significant more image in the frame, less damage and 'different' contrast (a shade darker with richer black levels but some minor, low-frequency, edge enhancements). It actually looks like it either may have been from a better print or the older one was restored! Wow - this is good! It has the duplicated menus (well, very slightly different) and extras - Stewart Commentary (labeled 'interview'). You can even see the subtitles are slightly different.

With improvements like this I am VERY high on this James Stewart - The Western Collection of which we will review/compare each title as we can (links in paragraph above). For these six western gems the price amounts to $5 a piece which is really a ridiculous deal. Highly recommended!

Gary W. Tooze

****

This is a fabulous disc - fine lines, good contrast, grain-filled image and the Stewart Commentary (labeled 'interview') is fabulous - he talks of Mann and specifics of the film with an "interviewer" (yet they don't even mention it on the Box cover). It IS the highlight of this DVD. But there are many positives - good clean subtitles, clear audio, no edge enhancement, there is some minor damage in spots but nothing unforgivable for a film that is over 50 years old. This is a must-have for Mann fans. out of

Gary W. Tooze

DVD Menus
(Universal - Region 1 - NTSC LEFT vs. Universal (James Stewart - The Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC RIGHT)

They are slightly different...

James Stewart - The Western Collection package