:
James Stewart,
James Stewart,
Shelley Winters,
more...
:
Anthony Mann,
Anthony Mann
see all cast/crew...
: Not Rated
: Universal Studios
: Classics, Westerns
: 99 min.
: English
: English, Spanish, French
see additional details...
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Lin McAdam (James Stewart) and his friend High-Spade (Millard Mitchell) arrive in Dodge City for a shooting contest, in which the prize is a perfectly manufactured Winchester repeating rifle, referred to as "One of a Thousand" -- a gun so fine that Winchester won't sell it. Lin runs across Dutch Henry Brown (Stephen McNally) in a saloon and the two would kill each other right there but for the fact that town marshal Wyatt Earp (Will Geer) has everyone's guns. Lin wins the rifle in an extraordinary marksmanship match-up with Brown, but the latter steals the prize from him and sets out across the desert. Thus begins a battle of wits and nerves, and a pursuit to the death. The roots and raw psychological dimensions of that chase are only exposed gradually, across a story arc that includes references to Custer's Last Stand, run-ins with marauding Indians, a heroic stand with a a shady but well-intentioned grifter (Charles Drake), and a meeting with murderous sociopath named Waco Johnny Dean (Dan Duryea), plus a romantic encounter with a young, golden-hearted frontier woman (Shelley Winters). All of these story lines eventually get drawn together neatly and gracefully by director Anthony Mann, who balances the violence of the events with a lyrical, almost poetic visual language. ~ Bruce Eder, All Movie Guide
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| all that
by cammelltoe
May 27, 2005 - 4:26 PM PDT
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2 out of 2 members found this review helpful
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| I would agree with most of the positive review already posted for this film, with the only caveat being that i think Mann & Stewart had more success mining themes of frustration, revenge, and humiliation (all good stuff) in some of their later collabartions like bend in the river or the far country. still, any one vaguely interested in westerns should rent this one. right now. 2 extra bonuses; character actor supreme Dan Dureyea (no stranger to fans of classic film noir)has a memorable cameo as a sleazy stick up man and there is an interview/commentary with the gentlemanly and charmingly..."old-school" jimmy stewart that is not without interest for devotees. |
| Big guns and little bullets
by wes2666
December 31, 2004 - 9:27 AM PST
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3 out of 3 members found this review helpful
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| Phenomenal Anthony Mann western with Jimmy Stewart on an Ahab-like quest to revenge the death of his mentor. The film is structured around the titular repeating rifle and, as it changes hands, it gives us a window into each character's soul (the male ones anyway) by showing us how they obtain and handle a weapon of such power. The rifle has an aura much like the Ring in Peter Jackson's trilogy and the film--with its emphasis on the arcane and supernatural rites of gunplay--is an early bridge between the Western and the Martial Arts film. This is an engrossing and varied film with some of the best gun fights ever shot. Highly recommended. |
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GreenCine Member Rating
(Average 7.76)
38 Votes
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