How the west was won 1976 that ran for a total of 11 episodes in 1977. I saw this western when it first came out in theaters in 1963. The time between the 1830s and 1880s, which is known as the american westward expansion, is viewed through the different experiences of two families who lived through. You can tell from the title how the west was won 1962 that this film wont be a modest, intimate drama. How the west was won garnered three oscars, for screenplay, film editing, and. The events surrounding the building and completion of the transcontinental railroad are woven in the history and lore of the american west. Spencer tracys narration says right off that we won the west by taking it away from primitive man in purely thematic terms the show could stop right there. This was the second highestgrossing film of 1963, behind cleopatra 1963. Gaily neon lit front of loews theatre where the premiere of the film how the west was won is.
The 164 minute film has been digitally restored for bluray dvd, with both a stitched. Based on the 1962 film of the same name, the television series how the west was won follows zeb james arness, a toughened mountain man, his widowed sisterinlaw, kate eva marie saint, and kates eldest son, luke bruce boxleitner, who is on the run from the law after deserting the. But neither hindered my enjoyment of this sprawling epic, even if james r. Like me, how the west was won the macahansgot better with age. Epic 19th century western which follows groups of families striving for a better life as they travel west across the prairie land of america, surviving the civil war, indians and hardship along the way. The story that drives the film on was suggested by the series of the same name that featured in life magazine 1959. The film debuted overseas in late 1962 but wasnt released in america until february 1963. Watching a letterboxed version of how the west was won, i noticed the dividing lines on the screen, and it was clear that much of the picture was still missing even in this format. The film stock was so expensive that all the actors were asked to know their lines.
How the west was won 1962 setting off on a journey to the west in the 1830s, the prescott family run into a man named linus james stewart, who helps them fight off a pack of thieves. This epic cinerama film begins with a flyover over shot of cloudshrouded rocky mountains. Released by rhino movie music r2 72458 containing music from how the west was won 1962. Only one way to see how the west was won and thats in 3strip cinerama. I am still in awe of the buffallo stampede in the railway episode, an incredible piece in epic filmaking. Apr, 2014 hollywood celebrates the premiere of how the west was won. How the west was won 1963 you can tell from the title how the west was won 1962 that this film wont be a modest, intimate drama. How the west was won is the best film ive seen on tcm. How the west was won 1962 letterboxd your life in film. How the west was won 1962 john wayne message board jwmb.
How the west was won, a 1962 american western film how the west was won, a 1970s television series loosely based on the film. Welcome to my website about the 1963 mgmcinerama movie, how the west was won. John wayne and harry morgan in how the west was won 1962 gregory peck and debbie reynolds. Based on the epic film, this sprawling epic of the old west is both a rousing action saga and a moving family chronicle. How the west was won concerns itself with the rich human stories of our pioneers. The first two longer movieepisodes look better than the subsequent hourlong episodes, which suffer at times from faded or muddy color, flaring, and lots of dirt and scratches.
Full of action, pathos, and the indomitable american spirit, this miniseries, and later weekly series, is an example of what tv could be but rarely is. The story is told in five partsthe rivers, the plains, the civil war, the railroad. I really enjoyed the story line of one family through the start of settling the west to the completion of wests settlement. Winners best picture winners golden globes emmys san diego comiccon new york comiccon sundance film festival toronto intl film festival awards central festival central all events. Circus world released as the magnificent showman in the united kingdom is a 1964 drama film starring john wayne, claudia cardinale and rita hayworth. Debbie reynolds auction debbie reynolds and gregory peck costumes from how the west was won. John ford, henry hathaway, george marshall carroll. In conclusion, the film faces jarring transitions between segments, yet still. You should have felt the auditorium shake during the river rapids and buffalo stampede sequences. Accompanied with an overture and an intermission this is classic filmmaking on a grandiose scale.
For a number of years he was a leading executive at metrogoldwynmayer, being head of production during a successful period in the 1960s under president robert obrien. Title reads hollywood stars turn out for charity premiere. One of top 5 greatest western themes by alfred newman from the ost album performed by the mgm studio orchestra conducted by alfred newman. Two days after sealing off free passage between east and west berlin with barbed wire, east german authorities begin building a wallthe berlin wallto.
Told over several years of varying formats, its the story of zeb macahan. From 1839 to 1889, how the west was won follows a courageous new england farm family as they travel to the. The film took three directors, a special widescreen process and a veritable whos who of actors including john wayne, spencer tracy, james stewart, gregory peck, henry fonda, debbie. Saddle up for one of the most exciting rides in television history. How the west was won, 1962 soundtrack, side a, alfred newman duration. How the west was won mgms cinerama epic of the american. Introduction to this website the making ofhow the west was won. Over the course of six weeks, the stanford historical society will present a series of films, each introduced by historians, film scholars, and researchers, that will attempt to put these historical events in perspective. How the west was won is an american western television series that starred james arness, eva marie saint, fionnula flanagan, bruce boxleitner, and richard kiley. How the west was won, released in america 50 years ago this week on february 20, 1963 was probably the most ambitious western ever made, an epic saga spanning four generations, 50 years, twoandahalf hours, five vignettes, three directors well, actually four, the widest possible screen, and an. The two men oversaw the production of the last consistent run of classic films at the studio. Academy awardwinning epic follows the trials and tribulations of three generations of a frontier family as they embark to tame the wild american west. The picture was one of the last oldfashioned epic films made by metrogoldwynmayer to enjoy great success. Caveinrock state park 1 new state park road, caveinrock, illinois, usa.
A buffalo stampede and a raft caught in some terrifying rapids did make their point to my more primitive nerve centers, but the rest was the old stuff directed and acted by the oldstuffers and on. Get how the west was won dvd and bluray release date, trailer, movie poster and movie stats. It was directed by henry hathaway and produced by samuel bronston, with a screenplay by ben hecht, julian zimet writing under the pseudonym julian halevy and james edward grant, from a story by bernard gordon and nicholas ray. How the west was won film by ford, hathaway, and marshall. How the west was won hollywood premiere 1963 youtube. Tcm messageboards post your comments here add your comment. Filmed in panoramic cinerama, this starstudded, epic western adventure is a true cinematic classic. How the west was won didnt charm the critics in 1963, nor do we look to it for deep insights into the pioneer experience. Jul 08, 2014 how the west was won original theatrical trailer. How the west was won, american western film, released in 1962, that was a sprawling epic about the transformation of the american west in. How the west was won bing crosby album 1959 how the west was won led zeppelin album 2003 how the west was won peter perrett album 2017. Webbs oscar winning screenplay left something to be desired. Its just a shame that the multiple stories are inconsistent in their relative qualities. How the west was won started on tv as a 1970s spinoff of the wildly popular oscar wining cinerama feature film of 1963.
As a dramatic narrative how the west was won doesnt work all that well. Just had the opportunity to see it, at the recent bradford international film festivals widescreen weekend. Originally released in 1962, how the west was won was passed from shiptoship in the u,s, navy pacific fleet during the period 196668. The film is broken up into five distinct segments which were directed by three different directors. Transcontinental railroad 150th anniversary the bill lane. Main title how the west was won 1962 alfred newman. Tells the story of the westwardbound prescott family through four generations and many events in american history. Most of the episodes are thinly developed, and over all the film has a jerky, stopandstart rhythm, perhaps because it is the work of three different directors.
Alfred newman, debbie reynolds, ken darby how the west was. How the west was won is a 1962 american metrocolor epicwestern film. How the west was won is a 1962 motion picture by metrogoldwynmayer. The events surrounding the building and completion of the transcontinental. How the west was won was a massive commercial success. Frustrated by the technical limitations and difficulties of shooting with the threestrip cinerama process, director henry hathaway was famously quoted as saying.
An allstar cast feature in a picture so huge that it took three top directors to shoot it. Notes about how the west was won, 1963, directed by john ford, with spencer tracy, carroll baker, lee j. Debbie reynolds is the only character that survives from beginning to end. How the west was won, american western film, released in 1962, that was a sprawling epic about the transformation of the american west in the 19th century. Setting off on a journey to the west in the 1830s, the prescott family run into a man named linus james stewart, who helps them fight off a pack of thieves. With the most careful scheduling, the film could not conceivably be completed. Surprisingly, this broad topic is never overwhelming despite its epic treatment. How the west was won garnered three oscars, for screenplay, film editing, and sound production. Loosely based on the 1962 cinerama film of the same name, it aired as a miniseries in 1977, and as a regular series in 1978 and 1979. How the west was won is a schmaltzy love letter to the mythos of the old west. Feb 21, 20 when they say, they dont make em like that anymore, this is what theyre talking about. How the west was won original theatrical trailer youtube. Filming locations 48 filming dates 1 filming locations. How the west was won 1962 john wayne message board.
Inducted into the library of congress national film registry. Media in category how the west was won film the following 8 files are in this category, out of 8 total. Over the course of six weeks, the stanford historical society and stanford continuing studies will present a series of films, each introduced by historians, film scholars, and researchers, that will attempt to put these historical events in perspective. How the west was won g 2h 44min western 20 february 1963 usa a family saga covering several decades of westward expansion in the nineteenth century including the gold rush, the civil war, and the building of the railroads. Hollywood celebrates the premiere of how the west was won. Weitman 19051989 was an american film, tv and theatre producer and studio executive. Shown at seattle international film festival cinerama day may 18. The production of how the west was won as told in the 1963 mgmrandom house souvenir book of the movie filming the fully definitive story of the winning of the american west was one of the most demanding projects ever undertaken. How the west was won mgms cinerama epic of the american west. I dont think there have ever been too many movies made with the massive scope of how the west was won.
Set between 1839 and 1889, it follows four generations of a family starting as the prescotts as they move ever westward, from western new york state to the pacific ocean. It is one of my favorite movies because of its blend of action, romance, pathos, scenic vistas, and an incredible cast. Was won is one of those bits of classic film that should be on any western aficionados video shelf. Complete your alfred newman, debbie reynolds, ken darby collection. Linus then marries daughter eve prescott carroll baker, and 30 years later goes off to fight in the civil war with their son, with bloody results. Few of the characters are on screen long enough to establish identities beyond those of the stars who play them. The railroad 1868 segment of how the west was won 1963. How the west was won is a 1962 american epicwestern film.
One of the last great epic movies to come out of mgm that was a roaring success, how the west was won still has enough quality about it to warrant high praise. The story is told in five partsthe rivers, the plains, the civil war, the railroad, and the outlawsthat follow several generations. It was the last major feature filmed in the classic 3strip cinerama widescreen format. The following people won academy awards for their work. Alfred newman, debbie reynolds, ken darby how the west.
How the west was won is one of those bits of classic film that should be on any western aficionados video shelf. The viewing experience,turns a good film,into a great film. The film took three directors, a special widescreen process and a veritable whos who of actors including john wayne, spencer tracy. There is no unifying star to this film, though debbie reynolds comes close, and some. How the west was won soundtrack from 1962, composed by ken darby, alfred newman.