Into the West 

Tales from the American West in the 19th century, told from the perspective of two families, one of white settlers and one of Native Americans.

Stars:

Joseph M. Marshall, Irene Bedard, Gil Birmingham

Nominated for 1 Golden Globe. Another 22 wins & 31 nominations.

Cast

Series cast summary:
Joseph M. Marshall	...	Old Indian / ... (6 episodes, 2005)
Irene Bedard	...	Margaret Light Shines Wheeler (4 episodes, 2005)
Gil Birmingham	...	Older Dog Star (4 episodes, 2005)
John Terry	...	Older Jacob Wheeler (4 episodes, 2005)
Ricardo Andres	...	Artillery Major / ... (4 episodes, 2005)
Tonantzin Carmelo	...	Thunder Heart Woman (3 episodes, 2005)
Tyler Christopher	...	Jacob Wheeler Jr. / ... (3 episodes, 2005)
Rachael Leigh Cook	...	Clara Wheeler (3 episodes, 2005)
Zahn McClarnon	...	Running Fox (3 episodes, 2005)
Sheila Tousey	...	Older Thunder Heart Woman (3 episodes, 2005)
Russell Means	...	Older Running Fox (3 episodes, 2005)
Matthew Settle	...	Jacob Wheeler (3 episodes, 2005)
Michael Spears	...	Dog Star (3 episodes, 2005)
Skeet Ulrich	...	Jethro Wheeler (3 episodes, 2005)
Raoul Max Trujillo	...	Red Cloud (3 episodes, 2005)
David Midthunder	...	White Crow (3 episodes, 2005)
Nathan Lee Chasing His Horse	...	Sleeping Bear (3 episodes, 2005)
Tinsel Korey	...	Bluebird / ... (3 episodes, 2005)
Daniel Gillies	...	Ethan Biggs (2 episodes, 2005)
George Leach	...	Loved by The Buffalo / ... (2 episodes, 2005)
Warren Kole	...	Robert Wheeler (2 episodes, 2005)
Eric Schweig	...	Sitting Bull (2 episodes, 2005)
Jonathan Scarfe	...	General George Armstrong Custer (2 episodes, 2005)
Christian Kane	...	Abe Wheeler / ... (2 episodes, 2005)
Eddie Spears	...	Older Red Lance (2 episodes, 2005)
Tatanka Means	...	Crazy Horse (2 episodes, 2005)
Sage Galesi	...	Margaret Light Shines / ... (2 episodes, 2005)
Joshua Kalef	...	Ezra / ... (2 episodes, 2005)
Serge Houde	...	Enoch Wheeler (2 episodes, 2005)
Maureen Thomas	...	Margaret Wheeler (2 episodes, 2005)
Samuel Patrick Chu	...	Jacob Wheeler Jr. / ... (2 episodes, 2005)
Benjamin Smoke	...	Abraham High Wolf / ... (2 episodes, 2005)
Morris Birdyellowhead	...	Good Shield (2 episodes, 2005)
Summer Rae Birdyellowhead	...	Margaret Light Shines Wheeler, 8 yrs / ... (2 episodes, 2005)

Storyline

An epic tale of two figures during the American colonization of the west, one white and the other Native American. Jacob Wheeler leaves his dull life behind to strike out west, while Loved By the Buffalo faces his destiny to try to fight a prophecy that his people will be wiped out by the settlers. Jacob marries Loved By the Buffalo's sister Thunder Heart Woman, uniting the two families while around them relations between the two races crumble.

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Plot Keywords:

native american | settler | sister | epic | interracial family | 

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Genres:

Adventure | Drama | History | Romance | Western

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Details

Official Sites:

Spielberg Films TNT

Country:

USA

Language:

English Sioux

Release Date:

10 June 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

In den Westen

Filming Locations:

Bonanza Creek Ranch - 15 Bonanza Creek Lane, Santa Fe, New Mexico, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$50,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

DreamWorks Television, Voice Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

552 min (6 parts)

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The title of the series is also the title of the Oscar-winning original song by Annie Lennox, Fran Walsh and Howard Shore, which features in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (2003). In that film Sean Astin', who plays 'Martin Jarrett' here, stars as 'Samwise Gamgee'.

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Quotes

Mr. Royer: [Sees the Lakota doing the Ghost Dance and grabs his pistol] This obscene display will cease immediately!
Wovoka: This prayer. White people pray, go heaven. We go heaven too.
Mr. Royer: You will stop dancing and disperse!
[points pistol at him]
Wovoka: [dancing and singing cease as all watch]
[in Lakota]
Wovoka: We should call him Young Man Afraid of Indians.
[the Lakota begin to laugh]

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Connections

Featured in Reel Injun (2009)

User Reviews

A Wondrous Journey into the Past and the Future

I have diligently watched this series since the beginning. I have re-watched all the episodes at least twice.

Having some knowledge of Native American history, I have found that again Spielberg has done his homework on both sides of the journey west.

I feel that he has portrayed both sides more than fair and hope that this movie will open the eyes of those who still believe in the stereo typed "Indian, Pioneer, and Mountain Man. I hope that this movie again will make people understand what happens to "Nations" when there is prejudice and ignorance.

I found some inconsistencies in some of the issues with the personal lives of Indians, that I am fairly sure are not true. For example men didn't attend the births of their children..This was considered bad luck.

I also felt sometimes that I must of missed something. For example, Naomi was with the wagon train that was attacked by the Cheyenne? Then she was suddenly named "Five Horses." I assume that meant she was bought from those that captured her from the wagon train. This whole episode, though romantic was a bit unrealistic.Women of her age were seldom if ever adopted into any tribe. They were consdered to be "untrainable."

I found the language a bit stilted at times, but, considering that a lot of these actors are from other tribes, I think they did exceptionally well.

I have waited since Dances with Wolves for a good, honest portrayal of Native Americans...I finally got it...Thank you to all involved!

Mitakuye Oyasin

'Hanble Omani Winyan