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How the West Was Won

James Stewart Actor , Henry Fonda Actor , Gregory Peck Actor , Debbie Reynolds Actor , Richard Widmark Actor , George Peppard Actor , Karl Malden Actor , John Wayne Actor

MPAA Rating: G
Contains:Suitable for Children,Western Violence

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Cast & Production Credits

How the West Was Won

UPC: 012569799714

Studio: Warner Home Video

MPAA Rating: G Contains:[Suitable for Children, Western Violence]

Summary: Filmed in panoramic Cinerama, this star-studded, epic Western adventure is a true cinematic classic. Three legendary directors (Henry Hathaway, John Ford, and George Marshall) combine their skills to tell the story of three families and their travels from the Erie Canal to California between 1839 and 1889. Spencer Tracy narrates the film, which cost an estimated 15 million dollars to complete. In the first segment, "The Rivers," pioneer Zebulon Prescott (Karl Malden) sets out to settle in the West with his wife (Agnes Moorehead) and their four children. Along with other settlers and river pirates, they run into mountain man Linus Rawlings (James Stewart), who sells animal hides. The Prescotts try to raft down the Ohio River in a raft, but only daughters Lilith (Debbie Reynolds) and Eve (Carroll Baker) survive. Eve and Linus get married, while Lilith continues on. In the second segment, "The Plains," Lilith ends up singing in a saloon in St. Louis, but she really wants to head west in a wagon train led by Roger Morgan (Robert Preston). Along the way, she's accompanied by the roguish gambler Cleve Van Valen (Gregory Peck), who claims he can protect her. After he saves her life during an Indian attack, they get married and move to San Francisco. In the third segment, "The Civil War," Eve and Linus' son, Zeb (George Peppard), fights for the Union. After he's forced to kill his Confederate friend, he returns home and gives the family farm to his brother. In the fourth segment, "The Railroads," Zeb fights with his railroad boss (Richard Widmark), who wants to cut straight through Indian territory. Zeb's co-worker Jethro (Henry Fonda) refuses to cut through the land, so he quits and moves to the mountains. After the railway camp is destroyed, Zeb heads for the mountains to visit him. In the fifth segment, "The Outlaws," Lilith is an old widow traveling from California to Arizona to stay with her nephew Zeb on his ranch. However, he has to fight a gang of desperadoes first. How the West Was Won garnered three Oscars, for screenplay, film editing, and sound production. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi

Category: Western

Awards: U.S. National Film Registry – Library of Congress Best Color Art Direction – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Color Art Direction – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Color Art Direction – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Color Art Direction – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Color Art Direction – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Color Art Direction – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Color Cinematography – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Color Cinematography – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Color Cinematography – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Color Cinematography – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Color Costume Design – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Editing – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Original Screenplay – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Picture – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Original Score – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Original Score – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Sound – Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Best Picture – National Board of Review

Features: Discs 1 and 2:
Commentary by filmmaker David Strohmaier, director of cinerama, Inc. John Sittig, film historian Rudy Behlmer, music historian Jon Burlingame and stuntman Loren James
Theatrical trailer

Disc 3:
Cinerama Adventure: Comprehensive documentary about the revolutionary movie exhibition process

How the West Was Won

Format: DVD

Release Date: 09/09/2008

Audio: DD5.1 Dolby Digital 5.1

Runtime: 164 Minutes

Sides: 3

Number of Discs: 3

Language(s) English,French

Subtitles: English,French,Spanish

Region: USA & territories, Canada

Chapters: Disc #1 -- How the West Was Won: The Movie - Part I
1. Overture [4:30]
2. Credits [3:08]
3. Westward Expansion [3:20]
4. The Prescotts [4:24]
5. Linus Rawlings [4:26]
6. Kissed Permanent [5:32]
7. Carved Sentiments [2:29]
8. Cave-Dwelling Varmints [4:47]
9. I'll See You Burn [5:55]
10. Rapids Ahead [4:33]
11. Strong-Minded Woman [5:04]
12. Lily's Goldmine [5:07]
13. Alone and Single [4:46]
14. Hired Man [5:34]
15. Raise a Ruckus Tonight [2:02]
16. Morgan's Proposal [2:14]
17. Cheyenne Attack [4:44]
18. Brooks Claim [3:04]
19. What Was Your Name in the States? [1:04]
20. Second Time Around [3:09]
21. A Home in the Meadow [3:55]
22. Intermission [:40]
Disc #2 -- How the West Was Won: The Movie - Part II
23. Entr'acte [4:41]
24. Zeb Off to War [7:43]
25. The Deserters [4:57]
26. Sherman and Grant [3:07]
27. Homecoming and Going [5:44]
28. Railroad Troubles [3:36]
29. The Peacekeepers [4:08]
30. White Lies [6:18]
31. Buffalo Stampede [5:15]
32. Climb a Higher Hill [2:38]
33. Lily's Hard Times [3:16]
34. Gold City Arrivals [4:19]
35. One of These Days [4:51]
36. Duty-Bound [3:59]
37. Gold Train Gunfight [4:22]
38. Lethally Loose Cargo [3:12]
39. A Home in the Meadow (2) [1:59]
40. Western Landscapes [2:59]
41. Exit Music [2:39]
Disc #3 -- How the West Was Won: The Movie - Special Features
1. Introduction [5:23]
2. In the Picture [5:08]
3. Waller's Vision [4:53]
4. Gunnery Trainer [3:49]
5. Thomas, Reeves, Todd and Cooper [6:31]
6. Widescreen Catalyst [5:07]
7. Stereophonic Sound [3:29]
8. Marketing and PR [4:36]
9. World Ambassador [5:47]
10. Mantz at the Wheel [5:33]
11. Volcanic Activity [4:46]
12. Cameraman [3:59]
13. Tragedy in Paradise [6:32]
14. High Adventure [4:23]
15. Cinerama Convoy [4:53]
16. How the West Was Won [9:23]
17. Exhibition [4:52]
18. Legacy [2:31]
19. End Credits [5:03]