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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:

Mike King: Why did you bring those bodies here?
Jethro Stuart: They're railroaders. I thought somebody in the railroad might be interested.
Mike King: I'm the railroad and I'm not interested!
Charlie Gant: There's only one kind of peace I know of, Marshal. That's the kind my brother's got.
Agatha Clegg: [Lily has asked to partner-up with Agatha in a wagon train] You know something ? I got a hunch you're gonna draw men like fish to bait. Maybe I can catch one of them while they swim by. You got yourself a partner.
[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.
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How the West Was Won Facts
The first non-documentary Cinerama film, it was also one of the last to use the old three-camera technique, resulting in two very visible, somewhat distracting, dividing lines in the non-Cinerama print and all TV and home video versions.
The train station in the film at "Gold City" was shot at Perkinsville, Arizona, and is still standing, although in a state of disrepair. It is now the mid stopping point of the Verde Canyon Scenic Railroad. The train station, the town sign and several other smaller buildings still exist.
Henry Hathaway was famous for his salty language. Debbie Reynolds instigated a swear jar on the set in an effort to curb him of his excesses - every time he swore, she would have to put some coins into the jar. Reynolds ended up losing quite a bit of money.
Spencer Tracy was only able to narrate the film rather than play a part due to his health problems.
The film was inspired by a factual series on the settling of the West of the same name that had appeared in 'LIFE' magazine and which had been followed by a identically titled 2-LP set of western songs sung mostly by Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney. Many of the songs on the record album were also used in the film soundtrack, like "Bound for the Promised Land" and "What Was Your Name in the States?"
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