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How the West Was Won Overview:

How the West Was Won (1962) was a Adventure - Drama Film directed by John Ford, Henry Hathaway, George Marshall and Richard Thorpe (uncredited) and produced by Bernard Smith.

SYNOPSIS

Epic, episodic tale of the development of the American West from the 1830s through the Civil War to the end of the century, as seen through the eyes of the pioneer Prescott family. As the Prescotts struggle with danger and loss, and newfound love, the vast canvas of U.S. manifest destiny unfolds around them. The breadth of the material required the contributions of the three greatest Western directors, Ford, Hathaway, and Marshall. With top-notch production values and a "who's who" of Hollywood stars, it was projected theatrically in the three-screen Cinerama process. The letterbox version on the laserdisc approximates the sweep of the gigantic Cinerama screen.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

How the West Was Won was inducted into the National Film Registry in 1997.

Academy Awards 1963 --- Ceremony Number 36 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best Art DirectionArt Direction: George W. Davis, William Ferrari, Addison Hehr; Set Decoration: Henry Grace, Don GNominated
Best CinematographyWilliam H. Daniels, Milton Krasner, Charles Lang, Jr., Joseph LaShelleNominated
Best Costume DesignWalter PlunkettNominated
Best Film EditingHarold F. KressWon
Best Music - ScoringAlfred Newman, Ken DarbyNominated
Best PictureBernard Smith, ProducerNominated
Best WritingJames R. WebbWon
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How the West Was Won BlogHub Articles:

THE CHRISTOPTHER LEE BLOGATHON: How the West Was Won, 1978

on May 22, 2021 From Caftan Woman

Cinematic Catharsis and Realweegiemidget Reviews present The Christopher Lee Blogathon, May 21-23, 2021. Thank you, Barry and Gill. Day 1 Day 2 Day 3When the auspicious 20-year run of Gunsmoke came to an end, executive producer Toronto-born John Mantley, his star James Arness, and his writing a... Read full article

How the West Was Won

By Rick29 on Feb 8, 2021 From Classic Film & TV Cafe

James Stewart and Carroll Baker.The words “epic” and “”sprawling” are typically used to describe MGM’s 164-minute, 1962 all-star Western. At the risk of sounding mundane, that’s still an apt description. Filmed in the widescreen process Cinerama, How the Wes... Read full article

How the West Was Won (1962)

By Beatrice on Sep 19, 2017 From Flickers in Time

How the West Was Won Directed by John Ford, Henry Hathaway and George Marshall Written by James R. Webb 1962/USA Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/Cinerama Productions Co. Repeat viewing/Netflix rental The big Cinerama moments are the parts I remember from my childhood.  They are still the best thing about ... Read full article

How the West Was Won ( 1962 ) ....and How it Didn't Win the Cinematography Oscar

By The Metzinger Sisters on Feb 28, 2016 From Silver Scenes - A Blog for Classic Film Lovers

There were some years in Oscar's history that were stellar. In those years no matter how good a film was, compared to all of the fine films it was competing with, it would be just on par with the average. In such years as these it is understandable when a really good film loses an Academy Award. The... Read full article

How the West Was Won ( 1962 ) ....and How it Didn't Win the Cinematography Oscar

By The Metzinger Sisters on Feb 28, 2016 From Silver Scenes - A Blog for Classic Film Lovers

There were some years in Oscar's history that were stellar. In those years no matter how good a film was, compared to all of the fine films it was competing with, it would be just on par with the average. In such years as these it is understandable when a really good film loses an Academy Award. The... Read full article

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How the West Was Won Quotes:

Charlie Gant: There's only one kind of peace I know of, Marshal. That's the kind my brother's got.
[first lines]
Narrator: [as the camera pans over the Rocky Mountains] This land has a name today, and is marked on maps. But, the names and the marks and the maps all had to be won, won from nature and from primitive man.
Narrator: [speaking about the Civil War] After Shiloh, the South never smiled.
Charlie Gant: One of these days I'm likely to pay you Rawlingses a little visit.
Zebulon Prescott: O Lord, without consulting with Thee, we have sent thy way some souls whose evil ways passeth all understanding. We ask Thee humbly to receive them... whether you want them or not! Amen.
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How the West Was Won Facts
The film stock was so expensive that all the actors were asked to know their lines and their marks as thoroughly as possible to cut down on the number of takes.
A lot of the actors were very intimidated by the 3 lens Cinerama camera and felt they had to elevate their performance to something approaching the way one performs on the theatrical stage as opposed to the more subtle style of acting normally required in front of a camera. This is why a lot of the actors in the film come across as being quite over-the-top.
Raymond Massey made a career out of portraying Abraham Lincoln, having played him on stage, on TV ("The Day Lincoln Was Shot") and on film (Abe Lincoln in Illinois). This film marks the final time he played the President.
Russ Tamblyn and Bryan Russell also appear on the other 1962 Cinerama film The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm.
All four cinematographers were Oscar-winners.
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