Seven Alone (1974)

A frontier family crosses the U.S. by wagon train, hoping for a better life in the Oregon Territory.

Director:

Earl Bellamy

Writers:

Honore Morrow (book), Douglas C. Stewart (as Douglas Stewart)

Stars:

Dewey Martin, Aldo Ray, Anne Collings

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Dewey Martin	...	Henry Sager
Aldo Ray	...	Dr. Dutch
Anne Collings	...	Naome Sager
Dean Smith	...	Kit Carson
James Griffith	...	Billy Shaw
Stewart Petersen	...	John Sager
Dehl Berti	...	White Elk
Bea Morris	...	Sally Shaw
Scott Petersen	...	Francis Sager
Debbie van Orden	...	Catherine Sager
Diane Petersen	...	Matilda Sager
Suzanne Petersen	...	Lousia Sager
Julie Petersen	...	Elizabeth Sager
Christy Clark	...	Anna Sager
Kliss Sparks	...	Mrs. Whitman

Storyline

A fictionalized account of the real-life adventure of the Sager family. Travelling with a wagon train from Missouri to Oregon, things are going well for them, until Henry Sager dies from blood poisoning following an Indian attack, and Naomi Sager dies soon afterward from pneumonia. The leaders of the wagon train decide to send the children back, but the oldest, John (who had been described by all the adults as lazy and worthless), decides to lead his siblings through the wilderness to complete the journey their parents started.

---

Plot Keywords:

wagon train | oregon | missouri | indian attack | snow | 

---

Taglines:

In the year 1843, John Sager, a boy of 13 with his brothers and sisters including an infant set off on one of the most incredible journeys in American history. This is a true account of their hazardous 2000 mile trek along the legendary Oregon trail in pursuit of a dream.

---

Genres:

Adventure | Family | Western

---

Certificate:

G

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

20 December 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

House Without Windows

Filming Locations:

Cokeville, Wyoming, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Doty-Dayton Production

Technical Specs

Runtime:

97 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

John and Francis Sager were killed in the Whitman Massacre near Walla Walla, Washington on 29 November 1847 by Cayuse Indians. The surviving Sager children were kidnapped and held for ransom, with Louisa Sager dying in captivity.

---

Goofs

When the settlers are shown walking beside their wagon train (at around 46 mins) just before reaching Fort Hall, one is wearing a modern green and white horizontal striped shirt.

---

Soundtracks

Only a Dream Away
Music by Robert O. Ragland
Lyric by Arthur Hamilton
Performed by Pat Boone

User Reviews

True greatness of this film is in its historical value

As one who grew up in Oregon and remembers reading in history about the Sager children on the Oregon Trail, this film has personal sentimental value.

I agree completely with the other reviewer's comments regarding the flaws in this film. Yes, it does seem very low budget and amateurish, especially by today's standards. There are some fairly believable scenes here and there, but the true greatness of this film is in its historical value. The fact that this adventure profiles a family during the great migration on the Oregon trail, using real characters, not made-up ones, to do so is unique. It seems today's great epics, Titanic, Pearl Harbor, etc. tend to rely on fictional characters that pollute the authenticity of the real story. The irony is that real people are far more interesting and compelling as well as being more believable.

The real Sager story is a great one and deserves a good telling using the best available. I'd like to see it attempted again with better writing, acting, and production. Unfortunately, Hollywood's recent track record for remakes is mixed at best and I wouldn't hold my breath expecting such a remake to be even as true to the facts as this one was.

In spite of its flaws, this film is a must see for anyone wanting to know about the history of the Oregon Trail though films. Any collection of Oregon Trail related films will include it.

Roger