Two hot-shot gunslingers Lin McAdams (James Stewart) and Dutch Henry Brown (Stephen McNally) find themselves at loggerheads when McAdams wins the illustrious shootout claiming the prize of the much sought after Winchester 73. However determined to claim the prize for himself Brown attacks McAdams and steals the gun forcing McAdams to head off in hot pursuit to reclaim his hard earned prize...
No doubt an interesting idea on paper and whilst sporadically interesting, Winchester 73 does very little to hold the audience's interest and is very boring far too often...
This is not a Western nor is it a gun fight it's actually a rather dull game of pass the parcel (with the gun clearly being the parcel). It is never particularly exciting, gripping or intense and only a rather lively and spirited performance from Shelley Winters does anything to distract. Jimmy Stewart is Jimmy Stewart and does little of interest and his side kick is even more of a blank. Even the main antagonist is a weak link offering a rather poor performance with obvious plotting surrounding his character. The supporting characters are all paper thin whom offer up fairly stock clichés that do nothing to add to the story.
Being the optimist, I had hoped that the finale would be tense and exciting, but it isn't. Essentially we have 2 guys who are pro-marksmen whom by the end couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo and essentially miss hitting each other whilst trading tough talk till the obvious winner prevails..
Jimmy Stewart or Shelley Winters fans may find some value in this, but casual fans may struggle with the perpetual boredom and ludicrous plotting that is served up here. Approach with caution...
No doubt an interesting idea on paper and whilst sporadically interesting, Winchester 73 does very little to hold the audience's interest and is very boring far too often...
This is not a Western nor is it a gun fight it's actually a rather dull game of pass the parcel (with the gun clearly being the parcel). It is never particularly exciting, gripping or intense and only a rather lively and spirited performance from Shelley Winters does anything to distract. Jimmy Stewart is Jimmy Stewart and does little of interest and his side kick is even more of a blank. Even the main antagonist is a weak link offering a rather poor performance with obvious plotting surrounding his character. The supporting characters are all paper thin whom offer up fairly stock clichés that do nothing to add to the story.
Being the optimist, I had hoped that the finale would be tense and exciting, but it isn't. Essentially we have 2 guys who are pro-marksmen whom by the end couldn't hit a cow's arse with a banjo and essentially miss hitting each other whilst trading tough talk till the obvious winner prevails..
Jimmy Stewart or Shelley Winters fans may find some value in this, but casual fans may struggle with the perpetual boredom and ludicrous plotting that is served up here. Approach with caution...