IMDb > "How the West Was Won" (1978)

"How the West Was Won" (1978) More at IMDbPro »TV mini-series

Overview

User Rating:
8.2/10   239 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Up 1% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Writers:
Jim Byrnes (writer)
Colley Cibber (writer) (episodes)
more
Contact:
View company contact information for How the West Was Won on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
12 February 1978 (USA) more
Genre:
Western more
Plot:
The Macahans, a family from Virginia headed by Zeb Macahan, travel across the country to pioneer a new land and a new home in the American West. full summary
Plot Keywords:
Awards:
Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 1 nomination more
NewsDesk:
Ricardo Montalban Dead At 88
 (From WENN. 14 January 2009, 2:20 PM, PST)
User Comments:
Excellent Western mini-series ! more (3 total)

Cast

  (Series Complete credited cast)
James Arness ... Zeb Macahan
Fionnula Flanagan ... Molly Culhane

Bruce Boxleitner ... Luke Macahan
Kathryn Holcomb ... Laura Macahan
William Kirby Cullen ... Josh Macahan
Vicki Schreck ... Jessie Macahan
rest of cast listed alphabetically:

Jean Allison ... Mrs. Stillman
James Almanzar ... Hazett (episodes 6 and 8)

Richard Basehart ... Col. Jerrod Flint
Lynn Benisch ... Mina (as Lynn Benesch)
Matt Bennett ... Lout
Lucille Benson ... Miss Walker
Ramon Bieri ... Gen. Sheridan
William Boyett ... Dr. Dupree
Eric Braeden ... Francis Britten

Ralph Brannen ... Otter Belt (episodes 5-8)

Lloyd Bridges ... Orville Gant (episodes 1-4)
Horst Buchholz ... Sergei (as Horst Bucholz)
Pepe Callahan ... Pedro
Jorge Cervera Jr. ... Bartender
Woody Chambliss ... Mr. Greevy (as Woodrow Chambliss)
James Chandler ... Bartley
Iron Eyes Cody ... Arapaho Medicine Man
Don Collier ... Capt. Poynton
Michael Conrad ... Marshal Russell (episodes 7-10)
Elyssa Davalos ... Hillary Gant (episodes 1-4)
Russ Dodson ... Indian Brave
Robert Donner ... Mr. Evans

Robert DoQui ... Oran Nubley (as Robert Doqui)
Louie Elias ... Plante
Stephen Elliott ... Zachary Knight (episodes 8-10)
Mel Ferrer ... Hale Burton (episodes 1-3)
Bruce M. Fischer ... Booster (as Bruce Fischer)
Shug Fisher ... Ziggy
Gertrude Flynn ... Clara
Bert Freed ... Hank Jimson
Silvana Gallardo ... Shewelah
Joshua Gallegos ... Stone Hand (episodes 5-10)
Burton Gilliam ... Woodley

Richard Hale ... Old man
Peter Hansen ... Maj. Drake (episodes 1-3)
Ted Jordan ... Charlie
Robert Karnes ... Mr. Stone
Brian Keith ... Gen. Stonecipher (episodes 1-3)
Warren J. Kemmerling ... Judge Rensen (episodes 4, 7-9)
Sally Kemp ... Bar hostess
Ed Lauter ... Martin Stillman (episodes 7-10)

Christopher Lee ... The Grand Duke
Kay Lenz ... Doreen
Eddie Little Sky ... Drives-His-Horses
Justin Lord ... Wayne Nubley
Justin Lundin ... Boy
Larry D. Mann ... Mr. Pennington

Ted Markland ... Nugget
Kristopher Marquis ... Tommy Gant

Jared Martin ... Frank Grayson (episodes 8-10)

Tim Matheson ... Curt Grayson (episodes 3, 4)

Lin McCarthy ... Dr. Cox (as Linwood McCarthy)

Peggy McCay ... Maggie Taylor (episodes 1-4)
Sean McClory ... Ben Dodge
Biff McGuire ... Ed Walters

Vera Miles ... Beth
Cameron Mitchell ... Coulee John Brinkerhoff (episodes 1-3)

Ricardo Montalban ... Satangkai (episodes 1-3)
Alvy Moore ... Swenson
Read Morgan ... Lem
Ivan Naranjo ... One Wolf (episodes 5-10)
Anita Noble ... Maria
Trisha Noble ... Valerie
Henry O'Brien ... Yucca
Henry Olek ... Hubbard
Gregg Palmer ... Loman
Pat Petersen ... Jeffrey (episodes 5, 7-10)
Robert Phillips ... Keesey
John Pickard ... Jim Turner
John Reilly ... Jeremiah Taylor (episodes 1-4)
Hal Riddle ... Photographer
Jay Ripley ... Jess Mudd
Jackie Russell ... Britten's woman

William Shatner ... Capt. Harrison
Tom Simcox ... Marshal Logan

Jim B. Smith ... Hoadley Baker

Martha Smith ... Ellen Taylor
James Stephens ... C.L. Bradley
Dub Taylor ... Moss
Felipe Turich ... Manuel's grandfather
Warren Vanders ... Brant (episodes 6, 8)
Charles Wagenheim ... Las Mesas citizen
George Wallace ... Davey Wordley (as George D. Wallace)

Mills Watson ... Felix

Robert J. Wilke ... Appelton
Van Williams ... Capt. MacAllister
Mark Withers ... Tobe Harker
Morgan Woodward ... The stranger
Richard Wright ... Banes
David Yanez ... Manuel
Buck Young ... Will
Harris Yulin ... Deek Peasley (episodes 7-10) (uncreditd in episode 6)
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Additional Details

Runtime:
Sweden: (82-94 (10 episodes)
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Color:
Color (Metrocolor)
Sound Mix:
Mono
Certification:
Argentina:13
Filming Locations:
Coronado National Forest, Arizona, USA
Company:
MGM Television more

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
The Russian hunting expedition that serves as the basis for conflict with the Sioux tribes of the Dakotas in the miniseries, is based on the actual highly publicized state visit to the United States by Grand Duke Alexei Alexandrovich of Russia in 1871-72. The miniseries fictionalizes the historic meeting between the Sioux, the visiting Russians and their US Army hosts, into fabricated subplots of hostility and violence that devolve into a melodramatic tale of poaching, kidnapping, murder, political crisis, warfare and genocide before the absurdity reaches its climax with a ritual suicide. Thankfully, history records a far more benign encounter with the Sioux during the Grand Duke's visit. US Army preparations for the hunt were conducted well in advance of the Russian hunting expedition. The assistance of William "Buffalo" Cody was employed in negotiations with the Sioux. Rather than being itinerant poachers on Sioux lands as portrayed in the miniseries, the US government provided the Sioux tribes under Chief Spotted Tail with a wagon train containing tons of coffee, sugar, tobacco and other provisions in exchange for the use of the Sioux hunting grounds. Spotted Tail and hundreds of warriors greeted the expedition at the expedition's camp and received the Grand Duke and his party as guests of the Sioux nation. Not only did the Sioux approve of the hunt, they participated in it, being eager to demonstrate their style of horsemanship and marksmanship to the "great white chief from across the water". more
Movie Connections:
Followed by "How the West Was Won" (1979) more

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User Comments

   (Comment on this title)
7 out of 7 people found the following comment useful.
Excellent Western mini-series !, 12 October 2005
10/10
Author: Beass from Sum Mo' Islands

This TV-series is/was truly excellent ! It is interesting, fun and exciting. The characters are all watch-able ; Zeb, Luke, Laura, Aunt Molly, Hillary and Mr.Beasley. :-) The actors all do a great job.

The main title (theme) is terrific and I wish somebody would post a link to somewhere on the web, where it can be obtained/purchased. I can only seem to find the soundtrack for the original movie (1963) and NOT the TV-mini (1978)...

I saw the show for the first time when I was 10 - so that doesn't count. :-) he he However, I saw it again last year and now that I'm thirty-something, I still think it's a tremendous show ! :-)

I recommend the show to anybody, although obviously some parts may be a little scary for small children.

All in all, one of the greatest (mini) TV-series ! :-)

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