"The Way West" in spite of it's three major stars in the leads, is disappointing to say the least. There's little action and the the cross country trek becomes tedious and boring.
Kirk Douglas plays ex-senator William Tadlock who organizes the trek from Independence, Missouri to Oregon to start a new life. He coerces scout Dick Summers (Robert Mitchum) to be the scout. Lige Evans (Richard Widmark), his wife Becky (Lola Albright) and son Brownie (Michael McGreevey) are among the pioneers.
Tadlock is a hard driving leader who pusshes the train relentlessly westward. Along the way, they experience a hazardous river crossing during which Cavelli (Nick Cravat) a lone traveller, drowns. Brownie takes an interest in the young but naive Mercy McBee (Sally Field in her first film). She in turn set herssights on the married Johnnie Mack (Michael Witney) whose wife Amanda (Katherine Justice) is experiencing emotional problems.
After a roll in the hay, so to speak, with Mercy, Mack accidently kills a young Indian boy dressed in a wolf pelt. The Indian chief, whose young son was the murder victim pursues the train and demands "an eye for an eye". Tadlock asks the guilty party to come forward but when no one does he selects Brownie as the candidate to be hanged to appease the chief much to the anguish of Evans.. However, Mack steps forward and accepts his fate. His wife goes ballistic following the hanging.
Mercy discovers that she is pregnant with Mack's child and repels Brownie's offer to marry her. When the train arrives at a Hudson Bay fort (which should have been in Canada but is not acknowledged) they are greeted by Captain Grant (Patric Knowles) a Scotsman who invites the travelers to stay on. Brownie and Mercy get married by Preacher Weatherby (Jack Elam) who had stowed away under the McBee's wagon.
In order to force the train to continue, Tadlock creates a panic when he announces that there is a small pox infection in the train. Grant drives the train away and they continue their journey. They reach an impassable gorge preventing their reaching their destination. Tadlock proposes that they lower the wagons and animals to the river below with block and tackle. Moynihan (William Lundigan) a likeable Irishman is the first to try it but falls to his death.
Eventually all are lowered to safety. Tadlock is the last to be lowered but as he descends...........................
In addition to those already mentioned, this large cast includes many recognizable faces such as Harry Carey, Stubby Kaye, John Mitchum (brother of Robert), Roy Glenn and "B" western bad guy Roy Barcroft,
Where was the Indian attack?
Kirk Douglas plays ex-senator William Tadlock who organizes the trek from Independence, Missouri to Oregon to start a new life. He coerces scout Dick Summers (Robert Mitchum) to be the scout. Lige Evans (Richard Widmark), his wife Becky (Lola Albright) and son Brownie (Michael McGreevey) are among the pioneers.
Tadlock is a hard driving leader who pusshes the train relentlessly westward. Along the way, they experience a hazardous river crossing during which Cavelli (Nick Cravat) a lone traveller, drowns. Brownie takes an interest in the young but naive Mercy McBee (Sally Field in her first film). She in turn set herssights on the married Johnnie Mack (Michael Witney) whose wife Amanda (Katherine Justice) is experiencing emotional problems.
After a roll in the hay, so to speak, with Mercy, Mack accidently kills a young Indian boy dressed in a wolf pelt. The Indian chief, whose young son was the murder victim pursues the train and demands "an eye for an eye". Tadlock asks the guilty party to come forward but when no one does he selects Brownie as the candidate to be hanged to appease the chief much to the anguish of Evans.. However, Mack steps forward and accepts his fate. His wife goes ballistic following the hanging.
Mercy discovers that she is pregnant with Mack's child and repels Brownie's offer to marry her. When the train arrives at a Hudson Bay fort (which should have been in Canada but is not acknowledged) they are greeted by Captain Grant (Patric Knowles) a Scotsman who invites the travelers to stay on. Brownie and Mercy get married by Preacher Weatherby (Jack Elam) who had stowed away under the McBee's wagon.
In order to force the train to continue, Tadlock creates a panic when he announces that there is a small pox infection in the train. Grant drives the train away and they continue their journey. They reach an impassable gorge preventing their reaching their destination. Tadlock proposes that they lower the wagons and animals to the river below with block and tackle. Moynihan (William Lundigan) a likeable Irishman is the first to try it but falls to his death.
Eventually all are lowered to safety. Tadlock is the last to be lowered but as he descends...........................
In addition to those already mentioned, this large cast includes many recognizable faces such as Harry Carey, Stubby Kaye, John Mitchum (brother of Robert), Roy Glenn and "B" western bad guy Roy Barcroft,
Where was the Indian attack?