Winchester '73 (1950)

Millard Mitchell: High Spade Frankie Wilson

Photos 

Quotes 

• [High Spade explains to Lola why Lin has been pursuing his brother, Dutch] 

  High Spade : Well, that's the way it was. The old man sired two sons. One was no good... never was any good. Robbed a bank... a stagecoach. Then when he came home and wanted to hide out, the old man wouldn't go for it. So Dutch shot him... in the back.

• Sgt. Wilkes : You're a man after my stamp. Wish we'd have had you with us at Bull Run. We might not have run so fast.

  Lin McAdam : Well, I wanna tell you somethin'. I was with you at Bull Run. So was High Spade.

  High Spade : Only we was on the other side.

• [Lin McAdam and High Spade are signing up for the shooting contest] 

  Bartender : Who would you be?

  High Spade : High Spade Frankie Wilson... with a hyphen. That's what I sit on when I get tired.

• Lin McAdam : You've been real fine people, High Spade, riding along with me.

  High Spade : That's what friends are for, isn't it. At leastways, that's the way you dad always said it.

  Lin McAdam : Yeah, he did, didn't he? He said if a man had one friend, he was rich. I'm rich.

• High Spade : Where's that Steve boy? Drinkin' whiskey?

  Lola Manners : He's dead.

  High Spade : Sudden, wasn't it?

  Lola Manners : Very. He was killed by that gentleman standing at the bar. The one that's looking at us.

  High Spade : Don't seem right for people to go around killing nice folks like...

  Lola Manners : He's not "people". He's Waco Johnny Dean.

• High Spade : You're about ready to fall out of the saddle. Why don't we rest up a little?

  Lin McAdam : I'm not that tired.

  High Spade : Four or five hours ain't gonna make any difference. We have been chasin' since... since I can't remember.

• High Spade : Did you ever wonder what he'd think about you hunting down Dutch Henry?

  Lin McAdam : He'd understand. He taught me to hunt.

  High Spade : Not men. Hunting for food, that's alright. Hunting a man to kill him? You're beginning to like it.

  Lin McAdam : That's where you're wrong. I don't like it. Some things a man has to do, so he does 'em.

• High Spade : We've hit a lot of towns, Lin. What makes you think he'll be here?

  Lin McAdam : He'll be here.

  High Spade : We've been wrong before.

  Lin McAdam : He'll be here.

  High Spade : On account of that?

  [High Spade indicates the Winchester '73 rifle that is the top prize at Dodge City's Fourth of July shooting competition] 

  Lin McAdam : If he isn't here already, that gun'll bring him.

• High Spade : It was such pretty hair. I've had it ever since I was a kid. A little thin on top... but I sure would like to keep it.

• Lin McAdam : Yeah, I hear 'em.

  High Spade : I told you night riding wasn't smart.

  Lin McAdam : I guess you did.

  High Spade : Now we're smack in the middle of 'em.

  Lin McAdam : I guess you're right again.

  High Spade : Being right ain't gonna do us any good. What do we do now?

  Lin McAdam : Well, keep riding.

  High Spade : With injuns all around us?

  Lin McAdam : Maybe you'd feel better if we stopped?

  High Spade : Ah... no.

  Lin McAdam : Well, then maybe we better just keep riding.