The Way West (1967)

In 1843 a former U.S. senator leads a wagon train of settlers to Oregon, but his megalomania leads to growing dissatisfaction with his leadership.

Director:

Andrew V. McLaglen

Writers:

Ben Maddow (screenplay), Mitch Lindemann (screenplay),

Stars:

Kirk Douglas, Robert Mitchum, Richard Widmark

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Kirk Douglas	...	Sen. William J. Tadlock
Robert Mitchum	...	Dick Summers
Richard Widmark	...	Lije Evans
Lola Albright	...	Rebecca 'Becky' Evans
Sally Field	...	Mercy McBee
Katherine Justice	...	Amanda Mack
Jack Elam	...	Preacher Weatherby
Stubby Kaye	...	Sam Fairman
Michael McGreevey	...	Brownie Evans
Harry Carey Jr.	...	Mr. McBee (as Harry Carey)
Connie Sawyer	...	Mrs. McBee
Michael Witney	...	Johnnie Mack
William Lundigan	...	Michael Moynihan
Elisabeth Fraser	...	Mrs. Fairman (as Elizabeth Fraser)
John Mitchum	...	Little Henry

Storyline

In the mid-19th century, Senator William J. Tadlock leads a group of settlers overland in a quest to start a new settlement in the Western US. Tadlock is a highly principled and demanding taskmaster who is as hard on himself as he is on those who have joined his wagon train. He clashes with one of the new settlers, Lije Evans, who doesn't quite appreciate Tadlock's ways. Along the way, the families must face death and heartbreak and a sampling of frontier justice when one of them accidentally kills a young Indian boy.

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Plot Keywords:

wagon train | oregon | u.s. senator | scout | missouri | 

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Taglines:

Cracking Like a Whip From Here to Excitement!

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Genres:

Adventure | Western

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 May 1967 (USA)

Also Known As:

Harold Hecht's The Way West

Filming Locations:

Bend, Oregon, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Harold Hecht Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

122 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (as De Luxe)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Big screen debut for Sally Field and Katherine Justice.

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Goofs

The movie shows the wagon train in Oregon, moving East in the middle of the action. The mountains of Central Oregon, are shown clearly in the background, while all around the actors are surrounded by cinder rock formed by recent (within 500 year) volcanic activity. This isn't anything you'd see along the trail.

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Quotes

[first lines]
[Mercy flirts silently with Brownie]
Lije Evans: Best not be lookin', Brownie.
Brownie Evans: I ain't lookin'... as hard as I can.

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Crazy Credits

Introducing Sally Field as "Mercy" and introducing Katherine Justice.

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Connections

Referenced in Callan: Nice People Die at Home (1969)

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Soundtracks

"The Way West"
Music by Bronislau Kaper (uncredited)
Lyrics by Mack David
Sung by The Serendipity Singers (as Serendipity Singers)

User Reviews

Spectacular Western focusing a wagon train of emigrants bound from Missouri to Oregon

This motion picture is based on the Pulitzer-winning novel by A. B. Guthrie. It starts in Independence, Missouri, 1843, senator William(Kirk Douglas) asks volunteers to unite themselves towards Oregon. Among them find the Evans family, formed by Lije(Richard Widmark) his wife Rebecca(Lola Albright) and their son Brownnie; the justly married Johnnie and Amanda Mack and various traders from Independence. Kirk Douglas join forces with Robert Mitchum, as a taciturn explorer, he's a supreme hero in a performance that epitomises the spirit of the early West at least as Hollywood saw it.

The American West has a turbulent and mighty history , some of which is told in story and folk songs . Here is a panoramic view of the American West, concerning on the dangers, hazards, travels and tribulations of pioneers set against the background of breathtaking landscapes and risked deeds, including Indians attack and one deeply cliff. Particularly impressive for its notable cast list and expansive Western setting. Any Western that play stars such as Kirk Douglas, Robert Mitchum, Richard Widmark and Sally Field -film debut- is at least worth a glimpse. Furthermore a magnificent secondary casting, as Jack Elam, Stubby Kaye, John Agar, John Mitchum, among others. Sadly this epic Western doesn't hold up that well on TV set because was released on the great screen and much of the grandeur of the original version is lost. But Shootém-up and spectacular scenarios fans won't want to miss a chance to see many of the genre's greats in one movie. This is an epic movie , photographed in gorgeous Technicolor by William Clothier- John Ford's usual cameraman-, adding lustre on the groundbreaking sweep, along with an emotive musical score by Branislaw Kaper. The film is splendidly filmed on locations in America's National forests and professionally directed by Andrew W McLagen.