How the West Was Won (1962)
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A multi-generational saga follows a family's journey as they navigate the expansion of the American frontier over several decades.
The story
The film follows a family and their descendants over several decades as they explore and settle the American frontier of the United States. The narrative is divided into five distinct segments: the 1830s westward migration, the 1849 California gold rush, the American Civil War, the construction of the transcontinental railroad, and the 'taming' of the Wild West. Each era is linked by the ongoing story of the family, showcasing the evolution of the American landscape and the lives of those who inhabited it during the expansion of the 19th century.
Full plot (contains spoilers)
The film is structured into five chapters. In 'The Rivers' (1839), Zebulon Prescott and his family travel toward the frontier, meeting Linus Rawlings, who falls for the daughter, Eve. After the parents die in a river accident, Linus and Eve remain together. In 'The Plains' (1851), Eve's sister Lilith seeks fortune in California, eventually finding love with Cleve van Valen. 'The Civil War' (1861–1865) follows their son Zeb, who serves in the Union army and experiences the horrors of war. 'The Railroad' (1868) depicts the construction of the transcontinental lines and the conflict over Native American lands. Finally, 'The Outlaws' (1889) shows Zeb as an Arizona marshal facing a gang of outlaws. The story concludes with the 'taming' of the West as law replaces the lawless frontier.
- First release year
- 1962
- Runtime (minutes)
- 164
- Production countries
- United States
- Original languages
- English
- Directors
- Henry Hathaway; John Ford; George Marshall
- Writers
- James R. Webb · writer
- Cast and characters
- Carroll Baker · Eve; Lee J. Cobb · Marshal Lou Ramsey; Henry Fonda · Jethro Stuart; Carolyn Jones · Julie; Karl Malden · Zebulon; Gregory Peck · Cleve Van Valen; George Peppard · Zeb Rawlings; Robert Preston · Roger Morgan; Debbie Reynolds · Lilith; James Stewart · Linus Rawlings; Eli Wallach · Charlie Gant; John Wayne · Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman
- Genres
- Western; Epic
- Themes
- Frontier expansion; Family legacy; The transition from lawlessness to law
- Tone and mood
- Epic; Adventurous
- Premise and plot tags
- Western; Historical; Multi-generational
- Source material / true-story basis
- How the West Was Won (article by Bing Crosby based on photographs of the Old West in Life)
- Reception
- The film is widely considered one of Hollywood's greatest epics and received widespread critical acclaim, becoming a box office success.
- Reported review scores
- Rotten Tomatoes · score: 85% · scale: percentage · review count: 26
- Production trivia
- The film was originally filmed in the three-lens Cinerama process.; It was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 1997.
Film metadata comes from the open sources listed in Credits & Contact. Catalogue details may be incomplete.
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