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How the West Was Won ()

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A family saga covering several decades of Westward expansion in the 19th century, including the Gold Rush, the Civil War, and the building of the railroads.
Directors:
Writers:
Stars:
Awards:
  • Won 3 Oscars. Another 7 wins & 5 nominations.
  • See more »
Reviews:

Photos and Videos

200 photos | 2 videos

Cast verified as complete

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Eve Prescott
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Marshal Lou Ramsey
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Jethro Stuart
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Julie Rawlings
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Zebulon Prescott
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Cleve Van Valen
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Zeb Rawlings
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Roger Morgan
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Lilith Prescott
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Linus Rawlings
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Charlie Gant
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Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman
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Mike King
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Dora Hawkins
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Col. Jeb Hawkins
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Lilith's Attorney
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Cpl. Peterson
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Abraham Lincoln
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Rebecca Prescott
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Gen. Ulysses S. Grant (as Henry {Harry} Morgan)
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Agatha Clegg
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Deputy Stover
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Confederate Deserter
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Narrator (voice)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
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Gant Gang Member (uncredited)
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Man (uncredited)
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Colin Harvey (uncredited)
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Auction Guest (uncredited)
Beulah Archuletta ...
Arapaho Woman (uncredited)
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Dance Hall Dancer (uncredited)
Willie Bloom ...
Barfly (uncredited)
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Barfly (uncredited)
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Surgeon (uncredited)
John Breen ...
Waiter (uncredited)
Charlie Briggs ...
Flying Arrow Barker (uncredited)
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Music Hall Dancer / Wagon Train Traveller (uncredited)
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Auctioneer's Assistant (uncredited)
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Wagon Poker Player (uncredited)
Polly Burson ...
Stock Player (uncredited)
Kim Charney ...
Sam Prescott (uncredited)
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Cpl. Ben (uncredited)
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Lawyer (uncredited)
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Poker Player with Cleve (uncredited)
Kem Dibbs ...
Blacksmith (uncredited)
Forrest Draper ...
Bit Role (uncredited)
Craig Duncan ...
James Marshall (uncredited)
Ben Black Elk Sr. ...
Arapaho Chief (uncredited)
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Huggins (uncredited)
Raoul Freeman ...
Auction Guest (uncredited)
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River Pirate (uncredited)
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(uncredited)
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Poker Player with Cleve (uncredited)
Barry Harvey ...
Angus Harvey (uncredited)
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Staff Officer (uncredited)
Jerry Holmes ...
Railroad Clerk (uncredited)
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Henchman (uncredited)
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Jeremiah Rawlings (uncredited)
Walter Kightly ...
Cavalryman (uncredited)
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Gant Henchman (uncredited)
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Grimes (uncredited)
Robert P. Lieb ...
Bartender (uncredited)
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Prescott Rawlings (uncredited)
Herbert Maneval ...
Schoolboy (uncredited)
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Auctioneer (uncredited)
Gary Menteer ...
Music Hall Dancer / Wagon Train Traveller (uncredited)
Jim Michael ...
Barfly (uncredited)
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Auction Guest (uncredited)
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River Pirate (uncredited)
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Member of Train Robbery Gang (uncredited)
Boyd 'Red' Morgan ...
River Pirate (uncredited)
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Auction Guest (uncredited)
Robert Nash ...
Lawyer (uncredited)
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Bartender (uncredited)
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Parson Alec Harvey (uncredited)
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Henchman (uncredited)
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Cpl. Murphy (uncredited)
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Henchman (uncredited)
Red Perkins ...
Union Soldier (uncredited)
Murray Pollack ...
Auction Guest (uncredited)
Paul Power ...
Auction Guest (uncredited)
Frank Radcliffe ...
Music Hall Dancer / Wagon Train Traveller (uncredited)
Buddy Red Bow ...
Arapaho Man (uncredited)
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River Pirate (uncredited)
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Officer (uncredited)
Victor Romito ...
Henchman (uncredited)
Jamie Ross ...
Bruce Harvey (uncredited)
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Riverboat Poker Player (uncredited)
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Man (uncredited)
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Zeke Prescott (uncredited)
Danny Sands ...
Trapeze Man (uncredited)
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Riverboat Officer (uncredited)
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Auction Guest (uncredited)
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Bartender (uncredited)
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Saloon Girl (uncredited)
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Little Girl (uncredited)
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Gant Henchman (uncredited)
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Hylan Seabury (uncredited)
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Train Conductor (uncredited)
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Man (uncredited)
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River Pirate (uncredited)
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Barfly (uncredited)
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River Pirate (uncredited)
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Officer #2 (uncredited)
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Cattleman at Barricade (uncredited)
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Poker Player with Cleve (uncredited)

Directed by

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John Ford ... (segment "The Civil War")
Henry Hathaway ... (segments "The Rivers", "The Plains", "The Outlaws")
George Marshall ... (segment "The Railroad")
Richard Thorpe ... (uncredited) (transitional historical sequences)

Written by

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James R. Webb ... (written by) (suggested by the series "How the West Was Won" which appeared in LIFE magazine)
 
John Gay ... () (uncredited)

Produced by

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Bernard Smith ... producer

Music by

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Alfred Newman

Cinematography by

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William H. Daniels ... director of photography
Milton R. Krasner ... director of photography (as Milton Krasner)
Charles Lang ... director of photography (as Charles Lang Jr.)
Joseph LaShelle ... director of photography

Editing by

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Harold F. Kress

Editorial Department

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Charles K. Hagedon ... color consultant (as Charles K.Hagedon)
Mike Henry ... negative cutter (uncredited)

Art Direction by

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George W. Davis
William Ferrari
Addison Hehr

Set Decoration by

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Henry Grace
Don Greenwood Jr.
Jack Mills

Costume Design by

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Walter Plunkett ... (costumes)
Ron Talsky ... (uncredited)

Makeup Department

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Sydney Guilaroff ... hair stylist
John Truwe ... makeup artist
William Tuttle ... makeup creator
Lynn F. Reynolds ... makeup artist (uncredited)
Jay Sebring ... hair designer: Henry Fonda/George Peppard (uncredited)

Production Management

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Thomas Conroy ... production supervisor: for Cinerama
Abe Steinberg ... production supervisor (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director

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George Marshall Jr. ... assistant director
William McGarry ... assistant director
Robert Saunders ... assistant director
William Shanks ... assistant director
Wingate Smith ... assistant director
Hank Moonjean ... assistant director (uncredited)
Richard Talmadge ... second unit director (uncredited)

Art Department

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Matty Azzarone ... leadman (uncredited)
Frank Wesselhoff ... painter (uncredited)
Tyrus Wong ... art department (uncredited)

Sound Department

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Franklin Milton ... recording supervisor
Carl Brandon ... sound editor (uncredited)
Harold Humbrock ... sound editor (uncredited)
Van Allen James ... sound editor (uncredited)
Kendrick Kinney ... sound editor (uncredited)
John Lipow ... sound editor (uncredited)
John Logan ... supervising sound editor (uncredited)
Milo B. Lory ... sound editor (uncredited)

Special Effects by

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Bob Overbeck ... special effects crew (uncredited)
Charles Schulthies ... special effects crew (uncredited)
Lester Swartz ... special effects (uncredited)

Visual Effects by

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A. Arnold Gillespie ... special visual effects
Robert R. Hoag ... special visual effects

Stunts

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Rick Arnold ... stunts (uncredited)
May Boss ... stunts (uncredited)
Polly Burson ... stunts (uncredited)
Al Carmichael ... stunt performer (uncredited)
Frank Cordell ... stunts (uncredited)
Everett Creach ... stunts (uncredited)
John Epper ... stunts (uncredited)
Richard Farnsworth ... stunts (uncredited)
Sol Gorss ... stunts (uncredited)
Fred Graham ... stunts (uncredited)
Donna Hall ... stunt double: Debbie Reynolds (uncredited) / stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Hayward ... stunts (uncredited)
Charles Horvath ... stunts (uncredited)
Loren Janes ... stunt double: Debbie Reynolds (uncredited) / stunts (uncredited)
Roy Jenson ... stunts (uncredited)
Leroy Johnson ... stunts (uncredited)
Eddie Juaregui ... stunts (uncredited)
Cliff Lyons ... stunts (uncredited)
Ted Mapes ... stunts (uncredited)
Troy Melton ... stunts (uncredited)
Louise Montana ... stunts (uncredited)
Bob Morgan ... stunts (uncredited)
Boyd 'Red' Morgan ... stunts (uncredited)
Hal Needham ... stunts (uncredited)
Harvey Parry ... stunts (uncredited)
Gil Perkins ... stunts (uncredited)
Carl Pitti ... stunts (uncredited)
Rusty Richards ... stunts (uncredited)
Chuck Roberson ... stunt double: John Wayne (uncredited) / stunts (uncredited)
Ronnie Rondell Jr. ... stunts (uncredited)
Danny Sands ... stunts (uncredited)
Dick Shane ... stunts (uncredited)
Dean Smith ... stunts (uncredited)
Richard Talmadge ... stunt coordinator (uncredited)
Bob Terhune ... stunts (uncredited)
Ken Terrell ... stunts (uncredited)
Jerry Vance ... stunts (uncredited)
Autry Ward ... stunts (uncredited)
Troy Ward ... stunts (uncredited)
Jack Williams ... stunts (uncredited)
Jack N. Young ... stunts (uncredited)
Joe Yrigoyen ... stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department

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Harold E. Wellman ... second unit photography
Bill Johnson ... camera operator (uncredited)
James V. King ... camera operator: second unit (uncredited)
Owen Marsh ... video technician (uncredited)
Pete G. Papanickolas ... grip (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department

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Robert Fuca ... assistant set costumer (uncredited)
Joan Joseff ... costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department

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Ken Darby ... music associate
Robert Emmett Dolan ... music co-ordinator
Dave Guard ... folk singing by
The Whiskeyhill Singers ... folk singing by
Robert Armbruster ... associate conductor (uncredited)
Robert Bain ... musician: guitar (uncredited)
Ken Darby ... choir (uncredited)
Vince De Rosa ... musician: french horn (uncredited)
Robert Emmett Dolan ... associate conductor (uncredited)
Carl Fortina ... musician: concertina (uncredited)
Jack Hayes ... orchestrator (uncredited)
Tommy Morgan ... musician: harmonica (uncredited)
Alfred Newman ... conductor (uncredited)
Uan Rasey ... musician: trumpet soloist (uncredited)
Ethmer Roten ... musician: flute (uncredited)
Paul Salamunovich ... choral singer (uncredited)
Leo Shuken ... orchestrator (uncredited)
Sally Stevens ... singer (uncredited)
Louise Di Tullio ... musician: flute (uncredited)

Script and Continuity Department

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Michael Preece ... script supervisor

Transportation Department

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Chester Haffey ... transportation

Additional Crew

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Reynold Brown ... movie poster art (uncredited)
Abe Steinberg ... production executive (uncredited)
Crew verified as complete

Production Companies

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Distributors

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Special Effects

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Other Companies

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Storyline

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Plot Summary

Setting off on a journey to the west in the 1830s, the Prescott family run into a man named Linus who helps them fight off a pack of thieves. Linus then marries daughter Eve Prescott (Carroll Baker), and 30 years later goes off with their son to fight in the Civil War, with bloody results. Eve's sister Lily heads farther west and has adventures with a professional gambler, stretching all the way to 1880s San Francisco. Written by Jwelch5742

Plot Keywords
Taglines A FABULOUS ROMANTIC ADVENTURE See more »
Genres
Parents Guide View content advisory »
Certification

Additional Details

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Also Known As
  • La Conquête de l'Ouest (France)
  • Das war der wilde Westen (Germany)
  • La conquista del Oeste (Spain)
  • La conquesta de l'Oest (Spain, Catalan title)
  • 西部开拓史 (China, Mandarin title)
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Runtime
  • 164 min
Country
Language
Color
Aspect Ratio
Sound Mix
Filming Locations

Box Office

Budget $15,000,000 (estimated)

Did You Know?

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Trivia During filming in June 1961, Karl Malden had to be rushed to hospital to have an emergency appendectomy. See more »
Goofs There is no explanation of why Sheriff Ramsey is fine in one scene and wearing a bandage on his forehead in the next, immediately following. (There was a deleted or unfilmed scene where Zeb knocked Ramsey out when the Sheriff tried to stop him from going after the train robbers.) See more »
Movie Connections Edited from This Is Cinerama (1952). See more »
Soundtracks How the West Was Won See more »
Crazy Credits Opening credits: Except for historical events and characters, the events and characters depicted in this photoplay are fictitious and any similarity to actual persons or events is purely coincidental. See more »
Quotes Narrator: The west was won by its pioneers, settlers, adventurers is long gone now. Yet it is theirs forever, for they left tracks in history that will never be eroded by wind or rain - never plowed under by tractors, never buried in compost of events. Out of the hard simplicity of their lives, out of their vitality, of their hopes and sorrows grew legends of courage and pride to inspire their children and their children's children. From soil enriched by their blood, out of their fever to explore and be, came lakes where once there were burning deserts - came the goods of the earth; mine and wheat fields, orchards and great lumber mills. All the sinews of a growing country. Out of their rude settlements, their trading posts came cities to rank among the great ones of the world. All the heritage of a people free to dream, free to act, free to mold their own destiny.
[final narrative from the film "How The West Was Won"1962 - narrated by Spencer Tracy]
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