The Way West | 
| Director: Andrew V. Mclaglen
Actors: Kirk Douglas, Robert Mitchum, Richard Widmark, Lola Albright, Sally Field
Studio: United Artists
Category: DVD
List Price: $14.98
Buy New: $7.57
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Avg. Customer Rating:  6 reviews
Sales Rank: 16723
Format: Color, Dvd-video, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), Spanish (Subtitled)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 122
Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.4 x 0.6
MPN: MGMDM110715D
UPC: 883904107156
EAN: 0883904107156
ASIN: B0014BQR2O
Theatrical Release Date: 1967
Release Date: May 13, 2008
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Product Description
Studio: Tcfhe/mgm Release Date: 05/13/2008 Run time: 122 minutes Rating: Nr
Amazon.com
From a year that produced such groundbreaking "New Hollywood" films as Bonnie & Clyde and The Graduate, Andrew V. McLaglen's The Way West is an old-fashioned western--grandly shot on location by William Clothier--that did for Oregon what John Ford did for Monument Valley. Based on A.B. Guthrie, Jr.'s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, The Way West stars a steely Kirk Douglas as widowed senator William J. Tadlock, who is determined to "plant a new Jerusalem in the Oregon wilderness." Robert Mitchum costars as Dick Summers, a weary and grieving scout whom Tadlock persuades to help him lead the disparate group of "greenhorn storekeepers and tenderfoot farmers." A lively Richard Widmark also stars as restless Pennsylvania farmer Lije Evans, who's "got to go where I've not been." Traditional western action, including disastrous river crossings and Indian encounters, takes a backseat to the sudsy human dramas. Tadlock is a stern taskmaster who drives the settlers as mercilessly as John Wayne drove those cattle in Red River. At one point, he even makes a play for Evans' wife (Lola Albright). Sally Field makes a memorable screen debut as sexually precocious Mercy, "all hellfire and sin," and who seduces a newly married man whose wife refuses to consummate their marriage. Throw in the accidental shooting of an Indian boy, plus such welcome faces as Jack Elam and Stubby Kaye, and you have an epic adventure that western buffs will follow all the Way. --Donald Liebenson
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| Customer Reviews: Read 1 more reviews...
 A Good Film As I saw It August 25, 2008
The one thing I have learned about the so-called "professional" reviewers of films is that they have built in prejudices and ideas just like the rest of us...so I really do not pay that much attention to a review, good or bad. As for The Way West" I have seen this film at least twice. I enjoyed it both times. While I like The Big Sky better, that is not to say I did not enjoy this film. Probably the one negative I have is Sally Fields portraying a young tramp who causes problems for others along the way. But then I was never a Sally Fields fan. I have nothing personal against her, but I liked other actresses much better. I did enjoy watching Robert Mitchum, Richard Widmark and Kirk Douglas; I consider all of them to be great actors, so what is not to like? And I liked Lola Albright's performance as well. The Way West is worth watching as far as I am concerned, the professionals' criticisms notwithstanding. If memory serves me correct, most of them hated John Wayne and frankly I think he was one of the best! Of course, I am not a professional film reviewer, Thank God. Oh yes, the snide remark about Andrew McGlagen's directing was not needed; but what can one expect from those those think they know it all?
 Way Great.... August 25, 2008
Great western, Kirk Douglas plays a ego-maniac hell bent on getting to Oregon at any cost. Widmark is in a typical role and Bob Mitchum is so laid back you'd think he was smoking his favorite herb throughout the filming.
An Unofficial Remake of The Big Trail June 29, 2008
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
With a cast that includes Kirk Douglas, Richard Widmark, AND Robert Mitchum, how can anyone who is a fan of Western Movies pass up The Way West? You can't - and you shouldn't, it's a good movie.
The surprising thing is how The Way West takes so many plot points from The Big Trail. It's the first wagon train to Oregon, and big scenes include a tough river crossing, Indian attacks, and lowering both wagons AND livestock over the edge of a cliff by ropes! All of those things were straight out of The Big Trail.
But there are some significant differences. The Way West plays much more like a late 60's Western, with bits of TV Soap Opera drama thrown in. That both gives it some charm and holds the movie back from being as good as it could have been.
Andrew V. McLaglen (Victor McLaglen's son) does a good job moving the story along, and gets some strong performances (although nowhere near their best) from Douglas, Widmark, and Mitchum. As the director on The Way West, McLaglen's visual style is good, but not quite up to the great levels of some of the better Western directors of the 40's and 50's. There is plenty of beautiful scenery to be had here, though, and the scope of the film is pretty big.
While it doesn't quite meet it's full potential, The Way West is still a strong movie, and with a cast like this it's certainly worth a purchase.
 Much better than expected June 10, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
Despite the lukewarm reviews, and maybe because I've never heard of the book it's based on, I thought this movie was a real hoot. Widmark, Mitchum and especially Douglas ham it up pretty good but that just adds to the fun of this sprawling epic about pioneer settlers determined to make it to Oregon. It's fun to see Widmark playing against type as a boozy, happy-go-lucky farmer with a beautiful wife and a serious case of wanderlust and Mitchum hilariously underplays his role as the requisite indian-wannabee trail guide, but this is Kirk's show through and through. He plays the hard edged ruthless tycoon, determined to reach Oregon at all costs so that he can fulfill his dream of empire building and it's always a delight to see him going fullstop, as he does here. Sally Field plays a raunchy southern girl too, a character that seems a bit daring for the times. Not a great western by any means, but a very entertaining flick and a worthy addition to any classic film library.
Disappointing film of great book November 10, 2002
14 out of 19 found this review helpful
The film version of A. B. Guthrie, Jr.'s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel is scenic but uncompelling. Reading the book, which is the middle volume of the Big Sky Trilogy (between _The Big Sky_ and _Fair Land, Fair Land_), the reader feels that he or she has been along on the first (1843) wagon train on what was to become the Oregon Trail. Watching the 1967 movie, the viewer sees a trio of highly competent male stars who appeared in many westerns--Kirk Douglas, Robert Mitchum, and Richard Widmark--and the first movie appearance of Sally Field (already hammy). The movie (directed by the undistinguished mostly tv director Andrew McLaglen) shows various difficulties of the trip and some spectacular western scenery, but it's hard to care very much what happens to anyone on the trek.The soap opera aspects, particularly a vengeful harridan widow, Mrs. Mack (Katherine Justice) are played up and the movie's plot is less epic, considerably more melodramatic than the book. I guess that it's redundant to say the book is better, but this is a considerable understatement. The book is moving and engaging. The movie is neither. The cinematography of William H. Clothier is impressive, but the viewer does not know where on the way the travelers are, how far they have gone, how far they have yet to go.... or much care if they get there.
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