How the West Was Won

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How the West Was Won

G

Released Nov 1, 1962

2h 44m

Western

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

88%

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24 Reviews

74%

Popcornmeter

5,000+ Ratings

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. 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. Eve's sister, Lily (Debbie Reynolds), heads further west and has adventures with a professional gambler (Gregory Peck), stretching all the way to San Francisco and into the 1880s.

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Kim Newman

Empire Magazine

In all the gargantuousness, however there are redeemable moments, especially in Ford's oddly scaled Civil War episode.

Rated: 3/5

Nov 20, 2017

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John Gillett

Sight & Sound

Here, then, is a film with apparently something for everyone. Certainly its team of four ace cameramen have provided a full quota of visual splendours and the rich colour definition in the long shots communicates an authentic thrill of pleasure.

Jun 18, 2012

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Variety Staff

Variety

It would be hard to imagine a subject which lends itself more strikingly to the wide-screen process than this yarn of the pioneers who opened the American West.

Aug 26, 2008

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Mike Massie

Gone With The Twins

Despite the amusement of the vast collection of stars and the whirlwind of Western adventure, it will surely be the score that persists beyond the other individual elements of this grandiose endeavor.

Rated: 7/10

Jul 20, 2024

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Danielle Solzman

Solzy at the Movies

How the West Was Won is a star-studded Western with an impressive level of filmmaking on an epic scale.

Rated: 4.5/5

Mar 19, 2023

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Dwight MacDonald

Esquire Magazine

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 old-stuffers and on a level considerably below their best performances.

May 9, 2019

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William G

This movie was a masterpiece. Some of the cinematography is just amazing… the Indian attack, the raft ride on the rapids ! Today it would be all CGI, but not back in ‘62. Wonder how they ever did it. Good story too. Worth watching!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

02/09/25

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C

An ambitious movie for its time, 1962. Overall well written and acted. The Cinerama feature and color worked, having a modern feel to the movie. Historically, accurate enough, but seemed to bypass the cause of the Civil War, slavery. Grant was confident he could beat the Confederate forces at Shilo. The train chase ending was filmed real good. Great stunt work. Overall a good movie. Cheers.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

11/15/23

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Walter H

You can reminisce on many actors that you grew up watching if you're my age. Required for any one interested in the Big Movie.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

09/03/23

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Audience Member

One very good movie out here with an all-star cast highly recommend it, James Welch, Henderson, Arkansas, July 8, 2023

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

07/09/23

Full Review

Tony S

A generation-spanning vignette, running through the "aspects" of the West. With that one Cinerama gimmick that makes everything look incredibly large-scale but also static. As you will immediately notice, actors sometimes fail to make eye contact because of the screen arc. The story might start out mellow, but it turns grim very quickly. It's tragic and bittersweet, but it's also incredibly fast-paced. We can't hold on to any specific time period for too long. We've got a whole century to cover. Hence, the most interesting aspects just get skimmed through. As usual, Newman comes up with an immersive soundtrack to accompany it. But regardless of how well it's crafted, this condensed version of the taming of the West either needed tighter focus and to be less ambitious, or a longer runtime.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

07/21/22

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delysid d

the CGI wasn't as good as the Fast and Fabulous 9, but still enjoyable. maybe it's time for a remake starring brad pitt, justin timberlake, vin diesel, lady gaga, and we man from jackass! har!

Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

04/11/22

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John Ford

Director

Henry Hathaway

Director

George Marshall

Director

Richard Thorpe

Director

Carroll Baker

Eve Prescott

Lee J. Cobb

Marshal Lou Ramsey

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Synopsis

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. 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. Eve's sister, Lily (Debbie Reynolds), heads further west and has adventures with a professional gambler (Gregory Peck), stretching all the way to San Francisco and into the 1880s.

Director: John Ford, Henry Hathaway, George Marshall, Richard Thorpe
Producer: Bernard Smith
Screenwriter: John Gay, James R. Webb
Distributor: Turner Pictures, Cinerama Releasing Corporation [us], MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc.
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer, Cinerama Productions Corp.
Rating: G
Genre: Western
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 1, 1962, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 24, 2014
Runtime: 2h 44m
Sound Mix: Magnetic Stereo 4 Track
Aspect Ratio: 70mm

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