Winchester 73

Another compelling film to add to my repertoire.

Anthony Mann’s 1950 film brought Jimmy Stewart to the western genre for five years. Although he might be the least compelling element for me. The compelling film brings a combination of interesting actors, especially in the subordinate roles, like Dan Duryea as Johnny Waco Dean, Millard Mitchell as Stewart’s sidekick, High Spade, and Shelley Winters as Stewart’s indirect love interest. Added to these are odd characterizations, like Rock Hudson as the Indian leader, Young Bull, or an early appearance by a future superstar as ‘Anthony’ Curtis.

As I look back at other compelling films, like 12 Angry Men (1956), The Killing (1956) Goodfellas (1990), Once Upon a Time in the West (1968), and The French Connection (1971), all are absorbing from beginning to end because there are no weak scenes. Winchester 73 can be broken down into eight set pieces, held together by Lin McAdam and High Spade’s  pursuit of Dutch Henry Brown (Stephen McNally). Most of the sections include the infamous repeating rifle changing hands or instigating conflict.

1. Dodge City and the competition to win the Winchester 73 perfect repeating rifle. Lin and Dutch equal the other in marksmanship. Finally, Lin wins but Dutch steals the rifle. Note: Will Geer plays Wyatt Earp and is assisted by Bat Masterson. He has taken everyone’s gun who comes into town, which becomes a major plot point in the next section because Dutch and his two friends have to leave town without pistols. Only a perfect rifle with no bullets.

2. Rikers: a hotel eatery in the middle of nowhere. We find Joe Lamont (John McIntire) playing solitaire, waiting for some Indians to sell guns. Dutch and his men arrive and want to buy guns. Joe sees the Winchester and immediately over prices his pistols to wangle the Winchester from Dutch. The ploy works after Lamont beats Dutch at poker.

Then there is a brief scene between Lamont and Young Bull (Rock Hidson). Young Bull doesn’t like the inferior rifles but gets excited seeing the perfect Winchester.

3. Lin and High Spade are a day behind Dutch. They arrive at Riker’s and find out where Dutch is headed. Meanwhile, Dutch finds Lamont sitting by a campfire, shoots at him, and Lamont falls over. Getting closer, the gang sees that Lamont has been scalped and the Winchester gone.

4. An Army regiment is surrounded by Young Bull’s warriors. They are joined by a couple, Lola (Shelley Winters) and Steve Miller (Charles Drake, who plan to get married. They are joined by Lin and High Spade. Everyone expects to die but they fight off the Indians, killing Young Bull. The rifle is discovered by Corporal Doan (Anthony Curtis), but Sgt. Wilkes advises not to keep it; they give it to a very grateful Steve Miller.

5. Lola and Steve head to their new homestead, only to be greeted by Waco Johnny Dean (Dan Duryea), who humiliates Steve for being a coward, then kills him, and takes the rifle and Lola to meet the gang that will steal the gold in Tascosa.

6. Dutch’s hideout. Waco and Lola arrive. First indication of a relationship between Lin and Dutch. Lola finds a photo of the two men, much younger. Waco is needled about having the woman come along with him. She seems resigned to stick with him. We also learn the plan for the robbery and, significantly, where Waco will be stationed, in a saloon, to cover the robbers.

7. In Tascusa. Waco at the bar drinking, Lola plays the piano. They talk:

Waco Johnny Dean: What was I saying?

Lola Manners: You were talking about yourself.

Waco Johnny Dean: Where did I stop?

Lola Manners: You didn’t. But you can now. I already know all about Waco Johnny Dean, the fastest gun in Texas.

Waco Johnny Dean: Texas? Lady, why limit me?

Lin and High Spade arrive. Lola warns Lin to keep an eye on Johnny’s hand. Lin walks up to the bar and orders a drink for himself and Waco. Waco gets edgy, as the robbery is about to start. Waco makes a move. Lin thrashes and shoots him. The robbery falls apart and Dutch flees with Lin following closely.

8. They arrive at the hideout and Dutch takes the high ground. We learn that they are brothers and that Dutch had shot and killed their father. Dutch taunts Lin for being pinned down. Hadn’t their father taught him better. Soon Lin gets a bead on Dutch and causes Dutch to waste ammunition. Desperate, Dutch exposes himself and is shot by Lin, who returns to town to Lola with the rifle. He seems the only man in the film concerned more for her than for the gun.

A final note. The destructive nature of Desire is a key point in the work of Rene Girard. He has written extensively about this, brother rivalry, and the abyss of reciprocal violence. Winchester 73 fits the mold of his theories. The rifle is the object of Desire. Five men who gain possession of the rifle die. As Girard has shown many times, the idea of possessing the desired object is more important than actually having it. The film’s opening title card indicates this:

This is the 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.

One also sees how ‘the idea of owning’ the rifle becomes paramount to having it. The only exception is the man who earned ownership, Lin McAdam (James Stewart).