Winchester 73 Blu-ray - Jimmy Stewart

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S E A R C H D V D B e a v e r

(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!

Posters

Theatrical Release: July 12th, 1950 - USA

Reviews More Reviews DVD Reviews

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"

Comparison:

Universal - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Universal (James Stewart - The Western Collection) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. WVG - Region 'B' - Blu-ray

Box Cover
			Coming to 4K UHD by Criterion in February 2025:
Distribution	Universal Studios - Region 1 - NTSC	Universal Studios - Region 1 - NTSC	WVG Medien Region 'B' - Blu-ray
Runtime	1:32:15	1:32:15	1:32:26.499
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	1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 21,831,711,922 bytes Feature: 18,203,893,632 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 22.94 Mbps
	NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate: Original
Bitrate: Stewart Boxset
Bitrate: Blu-ray
Audio	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)	English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono)	DTS-HD Master Audio English 937 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 937 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 16-bit) DUB: DTS-HD Master Audio German 855 kbps 2.0 / 48 kHz / 855 kbps / 16-bit (DTS Core: 2.0 / 48 kHz / 768 kbps / 16-bit)
Subtitles	English, Spanish, French, None	English, Spanish, French, None	German, 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	Release Information: Studio: WVG 1080P Single-layered Blu-ray Disc Size: 21,831,711,922 bytes Feature: 18,203,893,632 bytes Codec: MPEG-4 AVC Video Total Video Bitrate: 22.94 Mbps Edition Details: • Text Screen bios • Super 8 (16:18 with burned-in German subs) • Galleries • 3 Modern Western Trailers (2:23, 1:51, 1:57) Blu-ray Release Date: February 22nd, 2019 Standard Blu-ray Case Chapters 12

Comments:

NOTE: The below Blu-ray captures were taken directly from the Blu-ray disc.

ADDITION: WVG - Region 'B' - Blu-ray - (April 2019) - one of the most wanted westerns to reach Blu-ray, Anthony Mann's Winchester 73' comes on a single layered Blu-ray from the WVG Medien folks out of Germany. It looks quite strong - the source being in fine shape and the 1080P transfer showing pleasing detail and wonderful contrast despite some minor edge-enhancement. I wouldn't use the term egregious - but it is 'there'. The slight damage, thinness and compression artifacts of the SDs are not present and this looked like an imperfect upgrade on my system. I was very happy with the HD presentation that exports some grain textures despite the insignificant digitization that can make characters look flat, eliminating depth. I think most fans will be very pleased though.

Audio gets lossless transfers in DTS-HD (16-bit) in both original English and a German DUB. It exports the sound and effects reasonably well although dialogue was a bit hushed. There are. fully, optional German subtitles on this Region 'B'-locked Blu-ray.

Extras consist of some text screen bios (in German only) and a 16-minute Super 8 version (both in German and with German subtitles) There are two decent and trailers for three modern western films (in German) galleries.

This is a premium western, imo and it was about time to see in a 1080P presentation. Such a wonderful adventure western... with an amazing cast and Mann's brilliance behind the camera. I expect a superior Region 'A' Blu-ray one day from Universal, but I couldn't wait - however long that might be.

NOTE: There are other BD releases (Australian, Italian) and a Spanish, Region FREE Blu-ray that we have been told is an SD bump (avoid).

***

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 have reviewed/compared every title (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