The Special Collections Motion Picture Archives Film Series at Brigham Young University presents "Winchester '73" Thursday, March 25, at 7 p.m. in the Harold B. Lee Library auditorium.
Admission is free. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and patrons are advised to arrive early for assured seating, as seating is limited. No food or drink is permitted in the auditorium and children 8 and older are welcome.
"Winchester '73", a 1950 classic western, is the story of Lin McAdam, a cowboy in search of his father's killer. The lead role is played by Jimmy Stewart and co-stars Shelley Winters, Dan Duryea and Stephen McNally, and features Rock Hudson and Tony Curtis in minor roles.
The film print of "Winchester '73" to be shown was Stewart's personal copy and is part of the James Stewart Papers, donated by the Academy Award-winning actor to BYU's L. Tom Perry Special Collections in 1983.
"This showing of 'Winchester '73'" is part of the reason for the existence of the Special Collections Motion Picture Archives Film Series," says series director and curator of the Motion Picture Archives James D'Arc. "We regularly present films that are part of the collections we have received over the years from actors, producers and directors in our permanent collection. These are films of enduring value and significance."
The film was Jimmy Stewart's bid to change his roles from Mr. Smith and George Bailey to ones with more depth and complexity.
"Winchester '73" is also significant because it began Stewart's lucrative practice, subsequently adopted by virtually every major Hollywood star, of profit participation in a film's fortunes instead of accepting a flat fee.
The Special Collections Motion Picture Archives Film Series is co-sponsored by Dennis and Linda Gibson, and Friends of the Harold B. Lee Library.
For further information, call Special Collections at (801) 422-6371, or visit sc.lib.byu.edu.
Writer: Rachel M. Sego
