"How the West Was Won" (1978) TV mini-series

User Rating:

8.2/10   

Directors:

Bernard McEveety
Vincent McEveety

Writers:

Jim Byrnes (writer)
Colley Cibber (writer) (episodes)

Release Date:

12 February 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Western

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.

Plot Keywords:

Native American | Based On Film | 1860s | TV Mini-Series

Awards:

Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

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)

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

Trivia:

Luke and Josh Macahan were called Seth and Jed in the pilot.

Movie Connections:

Edited from Escape from Fort Bravo (1953)

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.