How the West Was Won (1978– )

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.

Stars:

James Arness, Fionnula Flanagan, Bruce Boxleitner

Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 3 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete series cast summary:
James Arness	...	Zeb Macahan (24 episodes, 1978-1979)
Fionnula Flanagan	...	Molly Culhane (12 episodes, 1978-1979)
Bruce Boxleitner	...	Luke Macahan (12 episodes, 1978-1979)
Kathryn Holcomb	...	Laura Macahan (12 episodes, 1978-1979)
William Kirby Cullen	...	Josh Macahan (12 episodes, 1978-1979)
Vicki Schreck	...	Jessie Macahan (12 episodes, 1978-1979)

Storyline

Zeb Macahan takes in his orphaned nieces and nephews after their parents are killed and raises them with the help of their aunt Molly Culhane. The kids are Luke, Laura, Josh and Jessie. Oldest brother Luke is a fugitive from the law accused of murder. He deserted the Army after killing three men in self-defense and must find a way to prove his innocence. The show deals with Indians, nature, and other expected problems of frontier life.

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Plot Keywords:

fugitive | native american | 1860s | based on film | tv mini series | 

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Genres:

Western

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 October 1979 (Belgium)

Also Known As:

La conquista del oeste

Filming Locations:

Coronado National Forest, Arizona, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

MGM Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

60 min 60 min (25 episodes) 60 min (20 episodes)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Did You Know?

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".

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Connections

Spun-off from How the West Was Won (1962)

User Reviews

How The West Was Won is one of the best westerns ever made; Jim Arness' best work.

Few shows (mini-series) except for "Centennial" have depicted the gritty realism of the west as well as How The West Was Won. Jim Arness brought the character of Zeb Macahan to life / bigger, rougher and tougher than Matt Dillon could have ever hoped to be. I have the entire multi-season mini series, including the premiere movie, on 15 year old VHS tapes that are losing their quality. I wish the series would be released on DVD in a boxed set. Gunsmoke has been released, and considering some of the awful shows that HAVE been released I don't know why they don't. Does anyone know the status of this situation? I would like to find out who produced the series and perhaps recommend that there is a large audience out there for this kind of DVD release. Perhaps Jim Arness' website could help.