July 4 - Winchester '73

Today’s movie is a western with a scene that happens on July 4. Watch it tonight and enjoy.

WINCHESTER ’73   

Lin McAdams and his pal High-Spade Frankie Wilson ride into Dodge City Kansas, looking for Dutch Henry Brown. They see Lola Manners run out of town by Marshall Wyatt Earp. On July 4, 1876 [ 7:55 to 21:05] Dodge City, Kansas holds a shooting contest, with a perfect Winchester rifle as the prize. Lin McAdams wins, but Dutch Henry and his men ambush Lin and steal the rifle.  Dutch Henry loses the rifle to Lamont, an Indian gunrunner. Lamont is killed and the rifle stolen by Young Bull, an Indian chief. Young Bull’s tribe attacks Lola and her new fiancé Steve Miller and he abandons her. He does return when he sees a cavalry troop ahead. Lin and High-Spade also reach the cavalry encampment. An Indian attack is beaten off. Afterwards a Sergeant finds the rifle and gives it to Miller. Miller and Lola travel to Mrs. Jameson’s house. Waco Johnnie Dean and his gang show up. He eventually goads Miller into drawing on him. Waco kills Miller and takes the rifle. When a posse attacks the house, only Waco and Lola escape. Waco meets Dutch Henry at their hideout and Dutch Henry takes back the rifle. Dutch Henry and his gang plan to rob a bank in Tascosa. Lin shows up and Lola points out Waco, who Lin forces to tell about the robbery. When the robbery happens, Lin kills Waco. Dutch Henry wounds Lola and Lin pursues him. High-Spade tells Lola that  Lin and Dutch Henry are brothers and that Dutch Henry killed their father. Lin and Dutch Henry fight it out and Dutch Henry is killed. Lin and Lola embrace when he returns with the rifle. 

The date is given in the film at 1:55

Director - Anthony Mann

                     

Screenwriter - Borden Chase and Robert L. Richards

Runtime – 1 hour 32 minutes

Released – July 12, 1950

Starring –

James Stewart as Lin Macadam

Shelley Winters as Lola Manners

Dan Duryea as Waco Johnnie Dean

Stephen McNally as Dutch Henry Brown

Millard Mitchell as High-Spade Frankie Wilson

Charles Drake as Steve Miller

John McIntire as Joe Lamont

Will Geer as Wyatt Earp

Jay C. Flippen as Sgt. Wilkes

Rock Hudson as Young Bull

Tony Curtis as Doan

Copyright by Ivan Walters in 2015.