Here’s a gun issue the government and I agree on. Anthony Mann’s Winchester ’73 (1950) has been selected for preservation in the Library Of Congress.
That means their board has deemed it “culturally, historically or aesthetically significant.” It’s also a damned good movie.
Thanks to Blake Lucas for the news.
50 Westerns From The 50s. 
Entirely fitting.
Nice
Sometimes they get this things right.
On my all time favorite western movies list since my first viewing in 1950. Good story, fantastic cast and superb direction from Anthony Mann. I’ve seen it dozens of time since 50 and it has maintained its position. The black and white photography remains paramount and Duryea’s “Waco” Johnny Dean will always be one of the most despicable characters you love to hate. In fact the strength in character actors is as good as it gets with Duryea, Steve MacNally. Shelly Winters, Millard Mitchell, J.C. Flippen, Charles Drake, John McIntire, Will Geer, and even Rock Hudson giving all in their support of James Stewart in his memorable quest of “The Gun That Won The West”.
Yup, one of my all-time favourite westerns, without a doubt. A fitting recognition.
Not exactly the Library of Congress, but THE CARIBOO TRAIL is coming to Blu-Ray later this year.
http://www.blu-ray.com/news/?id=18310
Nope! I NEVER liked WINCHESTER ’73. The director’s sadistic streak REALLY shows up in this one. I tried last week to another go at it , on TCM . I honestly thought NOT again– that’s enough!–after Charles Drake is turned into a emasculated whimp,– I then joyfully bowed out from this repulsive western AGAIN, with all of it’s tortured 92 minutes absolutely SCREAMING ALL THE WAY :> ”WHERE IS TECHNICOLOR WHEN WE NEED IT?!!”< And the more ,thought I, about this 'so-called classic' being shot in dismal BLACK& WHITE (and who was the numbskull who made THAT decision?)., amidst most ALL other actioners with TECHNICOLOR being the almost -unspoken U-I product -policy by 1950 .Technicolor was their gold mine in that wonderful era of movies- in- theaters.! However, later on in the decade ,another lunkhead gave the DISASTEROUS order to switch over to EASTMAN COLOR AND PATHECOLOR, AS WELL–,from 1957 to 1964!!! Another ''REAL-SMART'' turnaround,!! At least they had on the payroll one of the great MOVIE POSTER ARTISTS par -excellent ; with Reynolds work a great standout factor for a studio that hardly ever waivered ABOVE or BELOW the expected weight on that gravity scale of nonsense UNIVERSAL was best at: The unrelenting REEL-ROLL of the standard -and family-oriented- entertainment that UNIVERSAL-INTERNATIONAL provided was needed for American audiences at that time, providing the usual Technicolored assembly lined-cannonfodder for the huge drive-in theater crowd that demanded more prints of 'more popular titles' , with the studio even re-releasing those titles again in package-deals every few years; probably reflecting good B.O. As for the fans, I think Jimmy made the mistake later on parting with Anthony Mann after making together 7 important films that CERTAINLY topped better than this first entry . (I like NIGHT PASSAGE, and I CAN understand Mann's walk out on that one. He should have thrown that Accordion into the river! NO SINGER JIMMY, HE….). Back to that rifle, however distasteful this story is, –of WINCHESTER '73; a gun wanted by ALL of these men for whatever BAD reason they had for the USE of it–would be LAST -last on my rating list, anyway, of the MANN/STEWART 7 film collection. I reckon my choice for first in that list would be the almost equally repellent and sadistic THE MAN FROM LARAMIE , with an overblown Donald Crisp performance and a looking -lost Cathy O'Donnell … but it's a very nervous (and excellent) Arthur Kennedy, who steals THAT whole show, indeed. As for Jimmy–his scenes here always effective– but sometimes embarrassing as well– with camera close-ups of his face reflecting a part-PSYCHO side of his character(s)whenever anger pushes him to the edge !( with usually hilarious facial reactions combined with a temporary breathing problem).
Deciding again my fave of all was their last failed pairing in NIGHT PASSAGE , completed by another director..
which is PROBABLY WHY I like it best, plus it had Audie and TECHNIRAMA going for it. Even to suffer Stewart's creepy singing, almost convincing the audience indeed, ..that after all that's said and done, (and SUNG…). ,that ''you can't build a town without a RAILROAD!!'' I have always loved Jimmy Stewart. I think his best western role was in the 20th-Fox BANDOLERO! nearly two decades later. and I LOVED him getting unglued at Will Geer's character near the film's ending. WHEW! Thanks.