Winchester '73 Reviews

What truly makes this DVD an 'essential', though, is the bonus track...Described as an 'interview' with Stewart, it is actually an audio commentary that runs through the film, offering not only his reflections about the making of Winchester '73, but insights about his career, working with John Ford, Alfred Hitchcock, and his great friends Henry Fonda and John Wayne, even a nice story about his long-time mount, Pie. Recorded several years ago for the laserdisc edition of Winchester '73, it provides a rare opportunity to hear a screen legend reminisce (and makes you wish Wayne and Fonda had lived long enough to have offered personal observations about THEIR classic films!)

This is a DVD NOT to be missed!

Rating: 5 - Perfect!
From beginning to end, this film has no flaws. This is due, first of all, to Anthony Mann direction. The story, very simple in its basic motivations, follows through very gently, with each scene deeply crafted. The editing correctly helps for that matter. The cinematography is nothing but marvelous. The whole film is a feast to the eyes. And then there's James Stewart and his not-so-tough manner, trying to protect not-so-innocent Shelley Winters, to deal with his hated brother Stephen McNally, who's not-so-bad, and to retrieve his so-beloved rifle. And, as if it was not enough, there's a twist of secondary plots and interesting characters that all help to take that rifle a little bit away from Jimmy since the very beginning. Maybe it's not a simple story. A great screenplay with wonderful dialogues takes care of that perversed fairy tale. Anthony Mann is, I insist, the responsible. He made this film in 1950. Also from this year is "The Furies", with Barbara Stanwick and Walter Huston, which is, incredibly enough, better than Winchester '73.

Rating: 5 - Added Bonus
As usual, some of these big studio DVD releases don't adequately advertise what they have. Hey, they could only sell more. I guess they have something against that.

Winchester '73 is one of my favorite westerns, and I rushed out the first day to buy the DVD. Universal has done a great job -- good restoration, very reasonably priced. But there is one gem that isn't apparent until after you buy it. Not mentioned on the front cover, on the back cover an extra is advertised in small print -- "interview with James Stewart". I was thinking it would just be a few minute interview. Instead, it turns out to be a full-fledged audio commentary -- really insightful. I have no idea when it was recorded -- perhaps for a Laserdisc release? -- but this is something that should be advertised prominently.

Although it doesn't appear that the other great Anthony Mann-Jimmy Stewart westerns released concurrently -- "Bend of the River" and "The Far Country" -- have such bonuses, I look forward to buying them as well. At least they are much less priced than the Mann-Stewart "Man from Laramie," a very good film that is very highly priced by -- Columbia, is it?

Now we just need "The Naked Spur," a true masterpiece, to come out in a restored version.

Enjoy "Winchester '73"!

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