Winchester '73: (1950)

The third movie in my Essential James Stewart marathon is Anthony Mann's Winchester 73. Dan Duryea, Shelley Winters, Stephen McNally star along James Stewart who plays Lin McAdam. McAdam wins a prized Winchester 73, one-in-a-thousand, rifles in a shooting contest. Before he can claim his prize, it's stolen by his closest competitor in the contest. What follows is his quest to reclaim his prize rifle and also to accomplish something more. For the first half of the film, it seems we are watching the story of the rifle by following whose hands it passes through. At the mid-point we learn that McAdam's course involves more than recovering the rifle. It involves revenge of a certain sort.

Stewart is great as Lin McAdams, keeping his dark side under wraps as he helps those his path crosses in pursuit of his goal. He's knowledgeable, tender, understanding, but never veers from his quest for revenge and reclaiming his prize.

This is a great Western from the team of Stewart and Mann who collaborated on four films after Winchester '73: Bend of the River(1952),The Naked Spur(1953),The Far Country(1955), and The Man from Laramie(1955)

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)

The second movie in my Essential James Stewart marathon is John Ford's The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance starring, along with Stewart, John Wayne, and Lee Marvin. US Senator Ransom Stoddard returns to Shinbone where he made his name as the man who shot notorious outlaw Liberty Valance and tells the truth about his past deed. The real reason for his return to Shinbone is to attend the funeral of his close friend Tom Doniphon who played a key role in Stoddard's successful life at the expense of his own reputation and well-being.

Stewart is very convincing as the bookish, somewhat clumsy, but principled young lawyer. Wayne is perfect as the town's gritty protector who is the only one who will stand up against Liberty Valance and his gang of thugs. It's a Western about the coming of civilization in the form of statehood to the US territories, of the educational demands of democracy, and of the forgotten heroes of that struggle.

John Ford's direction is impeccable. Every shot is memorable. His use of black and white and of shadow, the composition of his scenes, and the acting he gets from his stars are all remarkable.

Lee Marvin's turn as the vicious, black-hearted Liberty Valance is without apology or humor or room for sympathy. He is perfectly despicable.

Great supporting performances by Andy Devine as the town's cowardly sheriff and Edmond O'Brien as the newspaper editor and Vera Miles as the love interest round out the terrific cast.

Anatomy of a Murder (1959)

(click to enlarge)

The first movie in my Essential James Stewart marathon is Otto Preminger's Anatomy of a Murder. A small town lawyer (Stewart) who would rather be fishing than in the courtroom takes on a case involving a soldier who claims he was temporarily insane when he murdered a bartender who allegedly raped his wife. The case is a tough one because the bartender was well-liked, the soldier demonstrates a combustible temper, and the wife is an incorrigible flirt.

The film which is ranked #7 on the American Film Institute's list of the 10 greatest films in the genre "Courtroom Drama" was nominated for seven Oscars but lost out to Ben Hur in 1960 for Best Picture and Best Director. Duke Ellington was featured in the film. His score won the Grammy for Best Soundtrack Album and Background Score from Motion Picture or Television. The film's poster (shown above, but not in color) has been voted the #1 movie poster of all time.

James Stewart's father was so offended by the film, which he deemed "a dirty picture", that he took out an ad in his local newspaper telling people not to see it. Part of the controversy surrounding this movie was its use of the words bitch, contraceptive, panties, penetration, rape, slut and sperm. It seems we still lived in puritanical America in 1959.

Personal Marathon #2: Essential James Stewart

I contacted the members of the Filmspotting forum and these films were recommended as Essential James Stewart Films:

• You Can't Take It with You (1938)*
• Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)**
• It's a Wonderful Life (1939)**
• The Shop Around the Corner (1940)
• The Philadelphia Story (1940)**
• Call Northside 777 (1948)
• Winchester '73 (1950)*
• The Naked Spur (1953)
• Rear Window (1954)**
• Vertigo (1958)**
• Anatomy of a Murder (1959)*
• The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962)*
• Harvey (1972)**

**already seen at least once, but will re-watch
* never seen and obtainable

Three films are not available (so far) from my rental service or from the local brick and mortar video shops. So those may have to wait until I get back stateside.

I'll write mini-reviews because I know you are all dying to know what I thought of each film.