Winchester '73 vs. The Heroes of Telemark

0 comments

1 comments

Two Anthony Mann pictures. Winchester '73 is usual considered to be one of his better efforts, but I'm not a fan. The linking device of the rifle is a conceit to show several standard scenes from different types of Westerns in the same film. It's a kind of portmanteau Western with a few good performances and a couple of thrills. The Heroes of Telemark takes a lesser known story of heroism from WWII in a stunning setting, puts Kirk Douglas in some very thick woollen sweaters, and contrives to make it all a bit boring. Yet it's still different in a way that Winchester '73 isn't, I prefer it. The Heroes of Telemark wins.