Great movie! If you want to be entertained and have a few good laughs, see this movie. The music is also very good,

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

One of the best movies of the year! Incredible from the beginning to the end.

I thought about buying this series until I started to watch it. James Arness is great as the old mountain man of the small clan of Macahan's that are the main plot line of this series. Without him I don't think I would have watched it. Eve Marie Saint's character is just to namby-pamby for that time period of our history in my opinion. She doesn't want any one killed but also doesn't see why her son should run just because he is chased by the law for desertion, whether right or wrong. Bruce Boxleitner is the son on the run and he is plus and minus acting his part. The two sisters, one is a dreaming socialite wanna be and the other is a down to earth common sense type. Indians show up as the usual protagonists and are beaten as usual. Jack Elam is excellent is his relatively brief role. He laughs as the Injuns are torturing him until Arness does a mercy (?) killing. There is a gunman who appears as honorable (as much as that time frame had honor) who is developing into a love interest for Saint. She is a 3 year widow since husband dear went and died in the Civil War. This death is conveniently witnessed by the oldest son. Eventually they will set out for Oregon, make it, well some will, and be successful in the end.

"HOW THE WEST WAS WON" Was first - to my knowledge - a Louis L'Amour story. Louis was a storyteller and novelist who started his career in the 1940's. He wrote simple stories for magazines. He did this until he learned to do more.The 1962 movie is much more true to the novel.That being said,. I Love the TV Series. Jim Arness, all 6 foot 4 of him, Bruce, the kid who learns his lessons and marries his co-star, the scene where Arness tosses his knife underhand in the bushes and sticks the bad guy in the belly...How The West Was Won the TV series is much more Jerimiah Johnson with family obligations. It's great and I love it.I hope you will all see both the 1962 movie, and the 1979 TV series. The movie is Louis L'Amour's novel. The TV series is a wonderful adaptation beyond that.

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 ! :-)

I've seen the original John Ford film by the same name and then this series and I found the series to be much better. It is, of course, MUCH longer, which allows for more story telling, more character development and a lot more depth than the original film could ever hope to achieve. But it is precisely that depth that makes this series so much better. This thing had a great cast, including James Arness, Bruce Boxleitner and Fionnula Flanagan. Other great actors and actresses made appearances in some of the episodes. The acting in this whole series is great by everyone. The Civil War also plays a huge role in this film. The story is gripping and will definitely keep the viewer interested - there are no "slow" places in this entire series. The screenplay was written by several writers but was seamlessly integrated. There are several emotional rollercoasters going at once with the family being torn apart and put back together a few times. Viewers just can't seem to tear themselves away. Movies of this caliber are rare and should you ever see this miniseries being run on TV, be sure to crank up your VCR and tape it. You'll want to see it again and again.