How the West Was Won
US (1962): Drama
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 (Use this link to view the IMDb Cast and Crew list) 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. (MGM-Cinerama) (Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide)
8 nominations, 3 Awards
· Writing (Best Story and Screenplay written directly for the screen) 1963: James R. Webb
· Film Editing 1963: Harold F. Kress
· Sound 1963: Franklin E. Milton (MGM Studio Sound Department)
· Best Picture 1963: Bernard Smith - Producer (MGM & Cinerama)
· Art Direction/Set Decoration (Color) 1963: George W. Davis, William Ferrari & Addison Hehr - Art Direction, Henry Grace, Don Greenwood, Jr. & Jack Mills - Set Decoration
· Cinematography (Color) 1963: William H. Daniels, Milton Krasner, Charles B. Lang, Joseph La Shelle
· Costume Design (Color) 1963: Walter Plunkett
· Music Scoring Awards (Music Score substantially original) 1963: Alfred Newman, Ken Darby