Release CalendarDVD & Blu-ray ReleasesTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsIn TheatersComing SoonMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV NewsIndia TV Spotlight
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsBest Picture WinnersBest Picture WinnersEmmysAPA Heritage MonthSTARmeter AwardsSan Diego Comic-ConNew York Comic-ConSundance Film FestivalToronto Int'l Film FestivalAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)

How the West Was Won

  • 19621962
  • GG
  • 2h 44m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
21K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
How the West Was Won (1962)
Watch {VideoTitle}
Play trailer3:03
1 Video
99+ Photos
  • Western
A family saga covering several decades of Westward expansion in the 19th century, including the Gold Rush, the Civil War, and the building of the railroads.A family saga covering several decades of Westward expansion in the 19th century, including the Gold Rush, the Civil War, and the building of the railroads.A family saga covering several decades of Westward expansion in the 19th century, including the Gold Rush, the Civil War, and the building of the railroads.
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
21K
YOUR RATING
  • Directors
    • John Ford(segment The Civil War)
    • Henry Hathaway(segments The Rivers, The Plains, The Outlaws)
    • George Marshall(segment The Railroad)
  • Writers
    • James R. Webb(suggested by the series "How the West Was Won" which appeared in LIFE magazine)
    • John Gay(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • James Stewart
    • John Wayne
    • Gregory Peck
Top credits
  • Directors
    • John Ford(segment The Civil War)
    • Henry Hathaway(segments The Rivers, The Plains, The Outlaws)
    • George Marshall(segment The Railroad)
  • Writers
    • James R. Webb(suggested by the series "How the West Was Won" which appeared in LIFE magazine)
    • John Gay(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • James Stewart
    • John Wayne
    • Gregory Peck
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 191User reviews
    • 46Critic reviews
    • 56Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 3 Oscars
      • 10 wins & 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    Official Trailer
    Trailer 3:03
    Official Trailer

    Photos189

    Gregory Peck, Debbie Reynolds, Robert Preston, and Thelma Ritter in How the West Was Won (1962)
    Debbie Reynolds in How the West Was Won (1962)
    How the West Was Won (1962)
    Debbie Reynolds and Robert Preston in How the West Was Won (1962)
    John Wayne and Harry Morgan in How the West Was Won (1962)
    James Stewart, Karl Malden, Kim Charney, Tudor Owen, and Bryan Russell in How the West Was Won (1962)
    Harry Dean Stanton and Eli Wallach in How the West Was Won (1962)
    Gregory Peck and Debbie Reynolds in How the West Was Won (1962)
    Henry Fonda and George Peppard in How the West Was Won (1962)
    Lee J. Cobb and Mickey Shaughnessy in How the West Was Won (1962)
    George Peppard and Russ Tamblyn in How the West Was Won (1962)
    Debbie Reynolds in How the West Was Won (1962)

    Top cast

    Edit
    James Stewart
    James Stewart
    • Linus Rawlingsas Linus Rawlings
    John Wayne
    John Wayne
    • Gen. William Tecumseh Shermanas Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman
    Gregory Peck
    Gregory Peck
    • Cleve Van Valenas Cleve Van Valen
    Henry Fonda
    Henry Fonda
    • Jethro Stuartas Jethro Stuart
    Carroll Baker
    Carroll Baker
    • Eve Prescottas Eve Prescott
    Lee J. Cobb
    Lee J. Cobb
    • Marshal Lou Ramseyas Marshal Lou Ramsey
    Carolyn Jones
    Carolyn Jones
    • Julie Rawlingsas Julie Rawlings
    Karl Malden
    Karl Malden
    • Zebulon Prescottas Zebulon Prescott
    George Peppard
    George Peppard
    • Zeb Rawlingsas Zeb Rawlings
    Robert Preston
    Robert Preston
    • Roger Morganas Roger Morgan
    Debbie Reynolds
    Debbie Reynolds
    • Lilith Prescottas Lilith Prescott
    Eli Wallach
    Eli Wallach
    • Charlie Gantas Charlie Gant
    Richard Widmark
    Richard Widmark
    • Mike Kingas Mike King
    Brigid Bazlen
    Brigid Bazlen
    • Dora Hawkinsas Dora Hawkins
    Walter Brennan
    Walter Brennan
    • Col. Jeb Hawkinsas Col. Jeb Hawkins
    David Brian
    David Brian
    • Lilith's Attorneyas Lilith's Attorney
    Andy Devine
    Andy Devine
    • Cpl. Petersonas Cpl. Peterson
    Raymond Massey
    Raymond Massey
    • Abraham Lincolnas Abraham Lincoln
    • Directors
      • John Ford(segment The Civil War)
      • Henry Hathaway(segments The Rivers, The Plains, The Outlaws)
      • George Marshall(segment The Railroad)
    • Writers
      • James R. Webb(suggested by the series "How the West Was Won" which appeared in LIFE magazine)
      • John Gay(uncredited)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

    More like this

    The Sons of Katie Elder
    7.1
    The Sons of Katie Elder
    She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
    7.2
    She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
    The Alamo
    6.8
    The Alamo
    Rio Bravo
    8.0
    Rio Bravo
    The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
    8.1
    The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance
    The Shootist
    7.6
    The Shootist
    Fort Apache
    7.4
    Fort Apache
    The Horse Soldiers
    7.1
    The Horse Soldiers
    The Searchers
    7.9
    The Searchers
    El Dorado
    7.6
    El Dorado
    Chisum
    6.8
    Chisum
    Rio Grande
    7.0
    Rio Grande

    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Stuntman Bob Morgan was seriously injured, and almost died, while performing a stunt in this picture. Toward the end of the film, there is a gunfight on a moving train between the sheriff and a gang of train robbers. Morgan was one of the stuntmen playing a robber and was crouched next to a pile of logs on a flatcar. The chains holding the logs together snapped, and Morgan was crushed by the falling logs. He was so badly hurt it took him five years to recover to the point where he was able to move by himself and walk unaided.
    • Goofs
      There is no explanation of why Sheriff Ramsey is fine in one scene and wearing a bandage on his forehead in the next, immediately following. (There was a deleted or unfilmed scene where Zeb knocked Ramsey out when the Sheriff tried to stop him from going after the train robbers.)
    • Quotes

      Narrator: The west was won by its pioneers, settlers, adventurers is long gone now. Yet it is theirs forever, for they left tracks in history that will never be eroded by wind or rain - never plowed under by tractors, never buried in compost of events. Out of the hard simplicity of their lives, out of their vitality, of their hopes and sorrows grew legends of courage and pride to inspire their children and their children's children. From soil enriched by their blood, out of their fever to explore and be, came lakes where once there were burning deserts - came the goods of the earth; mine and wheat fields, orchards and great lumber mills. All the sinews of a growing country. Out of their rude settlements, their trading posts came cities to rank among the great ones of the world. All the heritage of a people free to dream, free to act, free to mold their own destiny.

      [final narrative from the film "How The West Was Won"1962 - narrated by Spencer Tracy]

    • Crazy credits
      Opening credits: Except for historical events and characters, the events and characters depicted in this photoplay are fictitious and any similarity to actual persons or events is purely coincidental.
    • Alternate versions
      Some prints (like the Swedish pan&scan video release) leave out the final modern travelogue scenes.
    • Connections
      Edited from This Is Cinerama (1952)
    • Soundtracks
      How the West Was Won
      (1962)

      Music by Alfred Newman

      Lyrics by Ken Darby

      Performed by Ken Darby (uncredited)

    User reviews191

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    Underrated . This is one heck of an epic film . Loaded with many favorite stars James Stewart, John Wayne, Gregory Peck, Carroll Baker.
    Underrated . This is one heck of an epic film . Loaded with many favorite stars James Stewart, John Wayne, Gregory Peck, Carroll Baker, Lee J. Cobb, Henry Fonda, Carolyn Jones, Karl Malden, George Peppard, Debbie Reynolds, Richard Widmark, Robert Preston, Eli Wallach, Brigid Bazlen, Walter Brennan, David Brian, Raymond Massey, Agnes Moorehead, Harry Morgan, Thelma Ritter, Mickey Shaughnessy, Russ Tamblyn, Spencer Tracy ...Narrated by (voice) Just rap your brain around these actors .

    Filmed in panoramic Cinerama, this star-studded, epic Western adventure is a true cinematic classic. Three legendary directors (Henry Hathaway, John Ford and George Marshall) combine their skills to tell the story of three families and their travels from the Erie Canal to California between 1839 and 1889. Spencer Tracy narrates the film, which cost an estimated $15 million to complete. Westward expansion shows scenes of the Indian's sorrow, the white man's greed, river pirates, outlaws, lawmen, and life and death on the Western plains. Dozens of marquee names worked with over 12,000 extras, 630 horses, hundreds of horse drawn wagons, and a stampede of 2,000 buffalo. The human cost of the concept of Manifest Destiny is revealed in all its colorful and violent glory. How the West Was Won garnered three Oscars, for screenplay, film editing, and sound production.

    A story as big, as brash, and as exciting as the west itself. You have to hand it to everyone involved, this is one mammoth viewing experience. This covers generations as well as historical events like no other movie has attempted to do. I think the wisest decision was having multiple directors so each time period has a different feeling and vision. There is no denying the spectacle, the adventure, and the romance in How the West Was Won. It really is true to say they don't make them like this any more.
    helpful•27
    4
    • robfollower
    • Feb 20, 2019

    FAQ2

    • How can I see How The West Was Won in CINERAMA?
    • George Peppard---How Many Dye Jobs Did He Have?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • February 20, 1963 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Arapaho
    • Also known as
      • Kako je osvojen divlji Zapad
    • Filming locations
      • Cave-In-Rock State Park - 1 New State Park Road, Cave-In-Rock, Illinois, USA
    • Production companies
      • Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
      • Cinerama Productions Corp.
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $15,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $76,729
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $28,568
      • Sep 14, 2003
    • Gross worldwide
      • $76,729
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      2 hours 44 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.89 : 1

    Related news

    Contribute to this page

    Suggest an edit or add missing content
    How the West Was Won (1962)
    Top Gap
    By what name was How the West Was Won (1962) officially released in India in English?
    Answer
    • See more gaps
    • Learn more about contributing
    Edit page

    More to explore

    View list
    List
    The Best Movies and Shows to Watch in May
    See the full list
    View list
    List
    2022 TV Guide: The Best Shows Coming This Year
    See the full list

    Recently viewed

    Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
    Get the IMDb App
    • Get the IMDb App
    • Help
    • Site Index
    • IMDbPro
    • Box Office Mojo
    • IMDb Developer
    • Press Room
    • Advertising
    • Jobs
    • Conditions of Use
    • Privacy Policy
    • Interest-Based Ads

    © 1990-2022 by IMDb.com, Inc.