Quartile rating: 7.5/10 · 1 rating
The epic tale of the development of the American West from the 1830s through the Civil War to the end of the century, as seen through the eyes of one pioneer family.
How the West Was Won is a genuine spectacle of American cinema — its use of three-strip Cinerama photography produces an immersive, panoramic grandeur that remains visually breathtaking and historically significant. The episodic anthology structure covering decades of frontier history is ambitious and distinctive, anchored by an all-star cast that delivers solid if uneven performances across five separate segments. The plot, by necessity of its sprawling episodic format, lacks narrative cohesion and emotional depth, feeling more like a pageant than a drama. The final segment and denouement feel rushed and anticlimactic given the epic scope that preceded it, leaving the film trailing off rather than concluding triumphantly. As a showcase for Cinerama and as a uniquely scaled vision of American mythology, it remains a one-of-a-kind cinematic artifact.