The picture is developed in 1873 and talks about Lin McAdam (James Stewart , extremely anxious to show up in more challenging characters) and High Spade (Millard Michell) arrive in Dodge City looking for an enemy called Dutch Henry (Stephen McNally) . The sheriff Wyatt Hearp (Will Geer , though initially felt he was badly miscast ) obligates them to leave their guns . Both of them participate in a shot-contest and Stewart shot (actually shot by renowned marksman Herb Parsons) a bullet through the washer with the postage stamp, then he earns a Winchester 73 , the greatest rifle in the west , but it is robbed and starting the possession through hand to hand (John McIntire , Charles Drake , Dan Duryea) . Meanwhile , the starring going on a merciless vengeance.
First western interpreted by James Stewart , subsequently following a lot , most of them directed by Anthony Mann ; formerly , in the early 1930s Stewart had worked with Mann in the theater . At the time of shooting , James was very worried that the general perception was of him as a limited actor, then he found filmmaker Anthony Mann very helpful in breaking that perception. Both , Stewart and Mann achieved to revive the genre during the decade 50s . James Stewart inaugurated a new type of wage, the percentage on the box office that will imitate posteriorly others great Hollywood stars . The film has an extraordinary casting , including brief apparition by Rock Hudson and Tony Curtis , both of whom newcomers . Of course, all the western's essential elements are in this film, such as : Shootouts , Red Indian attack , violent raids by outlaws , final showdown , among others .
The breathtaking cinematography in black and white is made by Greta Garbo's favourite photographer : Willian Daniels . Although the script results to be an adaptation based on ¨Big gun¨ , a novel written by Stuart L. Lake and screenwriter by prestigious Borden Chase, being also based about real events because 4 July 1876 in Dodge City had a shot competition and the winner was rewarded with a Winchester 73 model 1873 with ability shoot 17 cartridges caliber 44/40 in a few seconds .The picture was well narrated and directed by the magnificent director Anthony Mann , though Fritz Lang was originally slated to direct this movie , when he backed out, James Stewart recommended Anthony Mann . Anthony made abundant classic western , such as : ¨Bend the river¨ , ¨Far country¨ , ¨Man of Laramie¨ , ¨Naked spur¨, ¨Tin star¨ and several others . Better than average . Rating : 8/10. Well worth watching .
