"How the West Was Won" (1978)TV mini-series

Directors:

Bernard McEveety
Vincent McEveety

Writers:

Jim Byrnes (writer)
Colley Cibber (writer) (episodes)
(more)

Release Date:

12 February 1978 (USA)

Genre:

Western

Plot:

The Macahans, a family from Virginia headed by Zeb Macahan, travel across the country to pioneer a new land and a new home in the American West.

Plot Keywords:

1860s | Native American | Based On Film | TV Mini-Series

Awards:

Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

James Arness	...	Zeb Macahan
Fionnula Flanagan	...	Molly Culhane
Bruce Boxleitner	...	Luke Macahan
Kathryn Holcomb	...	Laura Macahan
William Kirby Cullen	...	Josh Macahan
Vicki Schreck	...	Jessie Macahan
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Jean Allison	...	Mrs. Stillman
James Almanzar	...	Hazett (episodes 6 and 8)
Richard Basehart	...	Col. Jerrod Flint
Lynn Benisch	...	Mina (as Lynn Benesch)
Matt Bennett	...	Lout
Lucille Benson	...	Miss Walker
Ramon Bieri	...	Gen. Sheridan
William Boyett	...	Dr. Dupree
Eric Braeden	...	Francis Britten
Ralph Brannen	...	Otter Belt (episodes 5-8)
Lloyd Bridges	...	Orville Gant (episodes 1-4)
Horst Buchholz	...	Sergei (as Horst Bucholz)
Pepe Callahan	...	Pedro
Jorge Cervera Jr.	...	Bartender
Woody Chambliss	...	Mr. Greevy (as Woodrow Chambliss)
James Chandler	...	Bartley
Iron Eyes Cody	...	Arapaho Medicine Man
Don Collier	...	Capt. Poynton
Michael Conrad	...	Marshal Russell (episodes 7-10)
Elyssa Davalos	...	Hillary Gant (episodes 1-4)
Russ Dodson	...	Indian Brave
Robert Donner	...	Mr. Evans
Robert DoQui	...	Oran Nubley (as Robert Doqui)
Louie Elias	...	Plante
Stephen Elliott	...	Zachary Knight (episodes 8-10)
Mel Ferrer	...	Hale Burton (episodes 1-3)
Bruce M. Fischer	...	Booster (as Bruce Fischer)
Shug Fisher	...	Ziggy
Gertrude Flynn	...	Clara
Bert Freed	...	Hank Jimson
Silvana Gallardo	...	Shewelah
Joshua Gallegos	...	Stone Hand (episodes 5-10)
Burton Gilliam	...	Woodley
Richard Hale	...	Old man
Peter Hansen	...	Maj. Drake (episodes 1-3)
Ted Jordan	...	Charlie
Robert Karnes	...	Mr. Stone
Brian Keith	...	Gen. Stonecipher (episodes 1-3)
Warren J. Kemmerling	...	Judge Rensen (episodes 4, 7-9)
Sally Kemp	...	Bar hostess
Ed Lauter	...	Martin Stillman (episodes 7-10)
Christopher Lee	...	The Grand Duke
Kay Lenz	...	Doreen
Eddie Little Sky	...	Drives-His-Horses
Justin Lord	...	Wayne Nubley
Justin Lundin	...	Boy
Larry D. Mann	...	Mr. Pennington
Ted Markland	...	Nugget
Kristopher Marquis	...	Tommy Gant
Jared Martin	...	Frank Grayson (episodes 8-10)
Tim Matheson	...	Curt Grayson (episodes 3, 4)
Lin McCarthy	...	Dr. Cox (as Linwood McCarthy)
Peggy McCay	...	Maggie Taylor (episodes 1-4)
Sean McClory	...	Ben Dodge
Biff McGuire	...	Ed Walters
Vera Miles	...	Beth
Cameron Mitchell	...	Coulee John Brinkerhoff (episodes 1-3)
Ricardo Montalban	...	Satangkai (episodes 1-3)
Alvy Moore	...	Swenson
Read Morgan	...	Lem
Ivan Naranjo	...	One Wolf (episodes 5-10)
Anita Noble	...	Maria
Trisha Noble	...	Valerie
Henry O'Brien	...	Yucca
Henry Olek	...	Hubbard
Gregg Palmer	...	Loman
Pat Petersen	...	Jeffrey (episodes 5, 7-10)
Robert Phillips	...	Keesey
John Pickard	...	Jim Turner
John Reilly	...	Jeremiah Taylor (episodes 1-4)
Hal Riddle	...	Photographer
Jay Ripley	...	Jess Mudd
Jackie Russell	...	Britten's woman
William Shatner	...	Capt. Harrison
Tom Simcox	...	Marshal Logan
Jim B. Smith	...	Hoadley Baker
Martha Smith	...	Ellen Taylor
James Stephens	...	C.L. Bradley
Dub Taylor	...	Moss
Felipe Turich	...	Manuel's grandfather
Warren Vanders	...	Brant (episodes 6, 8)
Charles Wagenheim	...	Las Mesas citizen
George Wallace	...	Davey Wordley (as George D. Wallace)
Mills Watson	...	Felix
Robert J. Wilke	...	Appelton
Van Williams	...	Capt. MacAllister
Mark Withers	...	Tobe Harker
Morgan Woodward	...	The stranger
Richard Wright	...	Banes
David Yanez	...	Manuel
Buck Young	...	Will
Harris Yulin	...	Deek Peasley (episodes 7-10) (uncreditd in episode 6)
William Conrad	...	Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Slim Pickens	...	Tap Henry (uncredited)
Ray Tracey	...	Teel-O (uncredited)

Directed by
Bernard McEveety
Vincent McEveety

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Jim Byrnes		writer
Colley Cibber		writer (episodes 1-3)
Calvin Clements Sr.		writer (as Calvin Clements)
Howard Fast		writer (episodes 6 and 7)
William Kelley		writer (episodes 1-3)
John Mantley		writer
Jack Miller		writer (episodes 4 and 5)
Katharyn Powers		writer (episodes 1-4)
Earl W. Wallace		writer

Produced by
John A. Fegan Jr.	....	associate producer
John Mantley	....	executive producer
John G. Stephens	....	producer

Cinematography by
Edward R. Plante

Film Editing by
Steven C. Brown
Neil MacDonald		(as Neil Macdonald)
Gregory Prange

Casting by
Pam Polifroni

Art Direction by
Archie J. Bacon		(as Arch Bacon)

Set Decoration by
Herman N. Schoenbrun

Makeup Department
Richard Cobos	....	makeup artist
Mary Hadley	....	hair stylist
Joan Phillips	....	hair stylist
Walter Schenk	....	makeup artist (as Walter Schenck)

Production Management
Hal Klein	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Robert M. Beche	....	assistant director
Michael Kusley	....	assistant director (as Michael N. Kusley)
Carol Smetana	....	second assistant director (episodes 4-10)
Gerald Walsh	....	second assistant director (episodes 2-4)

Art Department
Earl W. Huntoon Jr.	....	property master
Alan Sims	....	leadman

Special Effects by
Charles Schulthies	....	special effects (as Chuck Schulthies)

Stunts
Russ Dodson	....	stunt coordinator
Richard Lundin	....	action coordinator (as Richard A. Lundin)
Dean Smith	....	stunt coordinator
Neil Summers	....	stunts

Camera and Electrical Department
Ron Anderson	....	best boy
Steve Stafford	....	assistant camera

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gilda Craig	....	wardrobe: women

Editorial Department
Ron Honthaner	....	post-production coordinator
Michael J. Sheridan	....	post-production coordinator
Robert H. Souders Jr.	....	additional editor

Music Department
Harry V. Lojewski	....	music supervisor

Other crew
Jim Byrnes	....	developed for television by
Calvin Clements Sr.	....	executive story consultant (as Calvin Clements)
John Dutton	....	script supervisor (as John C. Dutton)
Norman Gary	....	bee sequences (episode 4)
Ron R. Kinsey	....	co-operator: Soutwest Museum (episodes 1, 2, 3 and 5)
Rita Lundin	....	double
Albert S. Ruddy	....	developed for television by
Calvin Spencer	....	double: Lloyd Bridges
Sharon Thurgood	....	studio teacher
Jack N. Young	....	location manager

Production Companies

• MGM Television (in association with)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1978) (USA) (TV)

Other Companies

• Brown & Bigelow, A Saxon Company  Charles M. Russell paintings courtesy of
• C.M. Russell Museum, Great Falls, Montana  (Charles M. Russell paintings courtesy of
• Mackay Gallery, Montana Historical Society  Charles M. Russell paintings courtesy of
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)  titles and opticals
• National Park Service, The  co-operation (episodes 1, 2) (as U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service)
• Pike San Isabel National Forest  co-operation (episodes 1-3)
• Transcord Enterprises  location services
• U.S. Department of Agriculture  forest service (episode 7)

Also Known As:

Conquista del oeste, La (Argentina) (Venezuela) [es]
Durch die Hölle nach Westen (West Germany) [de]
Familjen Macahan (Sweden) [sv]
I ville vesten (Norway) [no]
Jak zdobywano dziki zachód (Poland) [pl]
Verovering van het westen, De (Belgium: Flemish title) [un]

Runtime:

Sweden: (82-94 (10 episodes)

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Argentina:13

Filming Locations:

Coronado National Forest, Arizona, USA

Company:

MGM Television

Trivia:

Luke and Josh Macahan were called Seth and Jed in the pilot.

Movie Connections:

Follows The Macahans (1976) (TV)

Excellent Western mini-series !

This TV-series is/was truly excellent ! It is interesting, fun and exciting. The characters are all watch-able ; Zeb, Luke, Laura, Aunt Molly, Hillary and Mr.Beasley. :-) The actors all do a great job.

The main title (theme) is terrific and I wish somebody would post a link to somewhere on the web, where it can be obtained/purchased. I can only seem to find the soundtrack for the original movie (1963) and NOT the TV-mini (1978)...

I saw the show for the first time when I was 10 - so that doesn't count. :-) he he However, I saw it again last year and now that I'm thirty-something, I still think it's a tremendous show ! :-)

I recommend the show to anybody, although obviously some parts may be a little scary for small children.

All in all, one of the greatest (mini) TV-series ! :-)