Review of Winchester '73 (1950) by John E — 15 May 2011

Watching a lovable American everyman like Jimmy Stewart eschew his aw shucks, humble pie demeanor and just go balls-out in a movie is compelling in its uniqueness (also one of many reasons why Vertigo is so fascinating); Stewart's single-minded obsession with a high-quality repeater rifle is not an avaricious materialism, but a consuming need to redress the insult to his family name with the death of his father.

The eponymous MacGuffin is simply a representative object; wherever it goes, the villain will be and that's where Stewart's character will seek retribution. Mann's stark visual contrast and episodic narrative structure impart a sense of interminable weariness; the film feels full-length despite its relatively short length because the film arcs its narrative in such a way that Stewart's character doesn't seem to be getting any closer to his goal, no matter how hungrily he longs for it.

Stewart's intimate rage at the violent disintegration of his family makes the ending satisfying yet still grim. A noir masked as a western with Jimmy Stewart playing against type makes for damn good entertainment.