The Way West (Harold Hecht's The Way West) (1967)

42% of users liked it
(281 ratings)

Senator William J. Tadlock (Kirk Douglas) enlists the help of veteran scout Dick Summers (Robert Mitchum) to lead a wagon train of settlers from Missouri to Oregon in this plodding, routine western. A scared settler accidently shoots an Indian boy who is mistaken for a wolf, prompting Summers to… More Senator William J. Tadlock (Kirk Douglas) enlists the help of veteran scout Dick Summers (Robert Mitchum) to lead a wagon train of settlers from Missouri to Oregon in this plodding, routine western. A scared settler accidently shoots an Indian boy who is mistaken for a wolf, prompting Summers to order newlywed triggerman Johnny Mack (Michael Witney) to be hanged to avoid an Indian attack. Sally Field appears in her first big-screen role as the slatternly Mercy McBee. ~ Dan Pavlides, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 2 hr. 2 min.
Directed By: Andrew V. McLaglen
Genres: Western, Classics

In Theaters: May 24, 1967 Wide
On DVD: May 13, 2008

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Victor McLaglen's son Andrew directed in a lackluster way this dreary epic of the move Westward.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

Stephen M

I thought it might be fun to see Mitchum and Douglas reunited twenty years after Out of the Past; I couldn't have been more wrong. The Way West is an overlong, tedious western based on a Pulitzer Prize winning novel, set - like Anthony… More
I thought it might be fun to see Mitchum and Douglas reunited twenty years after Out of the Past; I couldn't have been more wrong. The Way West is an overlong, tedious western based on a Pulitzer Prize winning novel, set - like Anthony Mann's infinitely superior Bend of the River - along the Oregon Trail. For all I know, the book may be wonderful, but McLagen's film of it has very little forward momentum. The three stars (Kirk Douglas, Robert Mitchum and Richard Widmark) struggle to find anything to get their teeth into, while the secondary characters - including an impressive Sally Field in her film début - meander through subplot after superfluous subplot. Mitchum's trademark world-weariness is so close to genuine boredom in this picture, I can only assume he spent too much time watching the rushes while making it. Beautiful to look at; a chore to watch.

Cast

            Kirk Douglas as Sen. William J. Tadlock

            Robert Mitchum as Dick Summers

            Richard Widmark as Lije Evans

            Lola Albright as Rebecca Evans

            Jack Elam as Preacher Weatherby

            Mike Witney as Johnnie Mack

            Sally Field as Mercy McBee

            Stubby Kaye as Sam Fairman

            Katherine Justice as Amanda Mack

            Michael McGreevey as Brownie Evans

            Connie Sawyer as Mrs. McBee

            Harry Carey Jr. as Mr. McBee

            Elisabeth Fraser as Mrs. Fairman

            William Lundigan as Michael Moynihan

            Anne Barton as Mrs. Moynihan

            Roy Barcroft as Master

            Eve McVeagh as Mrs. Masters

            Paul Lukather as Turley

            Peggy Stewart as Mrs. Turley

            Hal Lynch as Big Henry

            Timothy Scott as Middle Henry

            John Mitchum as Little Henry

            Roy E. Glenn Sr. as Saunders

            Patric Knowles as Col. Grant

            Nick Cravat as Calvelli

            Gary Morris as Paw-Kee-Mah

            Michael Lane as Sioux Chief

            Michael Keep as Sioux Brave

            Clarke Gordon as Caleb Greenwood

            Ken Murray as Hank

            Paul Wexler as Barber

            Everett Creach as Cattleman

            Jim Burk as Cattlemen

            Gary McLarty as Cattleman

            Stefan Arngrim as Billy Tadlock

            Edward Little Sky as Sioux Brave
See full cast