MovieChat Forums > How the West Was Won (1963) Discussion > A story too big for a movie

A story too big for a movie

posted 10 years ago by jondoe888
3 replies | jump to latest

Many complain about the movie's story. It did cover a lot of ground, quickly. I like the scope of the movie, more than the short vignettes. I was moved by the stories, and the actors. And seeing it again, as an old-ish man, some of it really moved me. I look at life differently that when I was 14 and invincible!
And maybe the 'star' of the movie was the Cinerama process, showing the rapids, the stampede, the train scene. Maybe the only reason for the stories was to get us to these moments?
This week, I also watched my favorite western - 'the big country'. Also 2.75 hours, it told a bunch of stories, but they were all contained in the main story. It was a story easier to follow, we learned more about the cast - but it didn't have the sweep and grandeur of HTWWW.
On another thread, someone mentions the book it was from. And we learn that the dead scout that was found by Jethro (Fonda) was the son of Linus. And some connection with a granddaughter. Now I want to read the book and find other stories and tidbits that couldn't be in the movie!

[–] Tresix 10 years ago

The book came after the movie. The script was based on a series of articles that appeared in "Life" magazine. I think that this might be done as a miniseries if it were done today.

"There will be blood. Oh, yes! There will be blood."-Jigsaw; "Saw II"

[–] dollvalley 9 years ago

Is the HTWWW tv series from the 70s any good?

[–] joekiddlouischama 9 years ago

I like the scope of the movie, more than the short vignettes.

The quality of the writing fails to match the film's ambitiousness. Had there been a match, one would probably be talking about a universally-acclaimed classic.