CARROLL BAKER

Eve Prescott, pioneer wife and mother. A product of the famed Actors Studio, Miss Baker was born in Johnstown, Pa., and began her career in television commercials. Discovered by Elia Kazan, she appeared on the stage in "All Summer Long" and became an overnight film star in Kazan's "Baby Doll." She has since appeared in numerous important films.

 

LEE J. COBB

Lew Ramsay, a frontier marshal. Recognized internationally as an actor of unusual versatility, Cobb was born in New York and studied to be an aeronautical engineer before deciding to become an actor. Years of struggle preceded his first success on the Broadway stage in "Clash by Night." Other plays have included "Jason," "Golden Boy" and "Death of a Salesman." His film credits include "Anna and the King of Siam" and "On the Waterfront."

HENRY FONDA

Jethro Stuart, buffalo hunter. At home on stage, screen and in television, Nebraska-born Fonda began his acting career with a playhouse in Omaha after studying journalism at the University of Minnesota. He served with the Navy in the Pacific during World War II. His stage credits include "Mister Roberts" and "The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial." His films include "Ox-Bow Incident," "Mister Roberts" and "War and Peace."

CAROLYN JONES

Julie, wife of a frontier lawman. Born in Amarillo, Texas, Miss Jones has established herself as a star of motion pictures, stage and television. For HOW THE WEST WAS WON, she forgoes her usual youthful, romantic roles to portray a middle-aged frontier wife. Her film credits include "The Tender Trap," "A Hole in the Head" and "Bachelor Party."

KARL MALDEN

Zebulon Prescott, a sod buster. This actor’s distinguished career began on Broadway in Maxwell Anderson's "Truckline Cafe." The first film to bring him to public attention was Tennessee Williams "A Streetcar Named Desire" in which he won an Academy Award as best supporting actor. He also has achieved success as a director, and his other films include "Ruby Gentry" and "On the Waterfront." He was born in Gary, Indiana.

GREGORY PECK

Cleve van Valen, tinhorn gambler. This actor has the distinction of having been starred in every one of his motion pictures. Born in La Jolla, California, he returned to the West Coast after a career on Broadway. His film credits include "Spell-bound," "Gentlemen's Agreement," "The Paradine Case," "Roman Holiday," "The Snows of Kilimanjaro" and "Pork Chop Hill," which he also produced.

GEORGE PEPPARD

Zeb Rawlings, soldier-turned-lawman. Born in Detroit, Michigan, this ex-Marine is a graduate of Purdue University. After his stage debut in 1949 at the Pittsburgh Playhouse, he enrolled in the Actors Studio in New York and worked in summer stock. An appearance in The Pleasure of His Company" on Broadway led to an MGM contract and his debut in "Home From the Hill." He also starred with distinction in "Breakfast at Tiffany's."

ROBERT PRESTON

Roger Morgan, wagonmaster. Robert Preston was born in Newton Highlands, Mass. After attending school in Los Angeles, he joined the Pasadena Community Playhouse. Forty-two plays later, he was signed by Paramount and became a star in "Union Pacific." After starring in such films as "Beau Geste," "Reap the Wild Wind" and "Northwest Mounted Police," he returned to the stage as star of "The Music Man," a role he has re-created for the screen.

DEBBIE REYNOLDS

Lillith Prescott, gambler's bride. Born in El Paso, Texas, but raised in Hollywood, Debbie Reynolds won the Miss Burbank contest and an MGM contract at the same time. Her boop-boop-a-doop performance in "Three Little Words" led to a career which has included dozens of important motion pictures, among them "Singin' in the Rain," "Tammy and the Bachelor," "The Catered Affair," "Susan Slept Here" and "The Tender Trap."

JAMES STEWART

Linus Rawlings, mountain man. Stewart was born in Indiana, Pa., and joined the Falmouth Players after graduation from Princeton University. He was decorated for his service in the Air Force in World War II and is a Brigadier General in the Air Force Reserve. His films have included "The Philadelphia Story," for which he won the Academy Award, "The Glenn Miller Story," and "Anatomy of a Murder."

SPENCER TRACY

The Narrator. Although this famous star, one of the few ever to be honored by two Academy Awards, does not appear in the film, his magnificent speaking voice has the important role of narrating the stirring drama of the winning of the West. His Oscars came for "Captains Courageous" and "Boys' Town," and this Milwaukee-born star also has appeared in "Boom Town," "Northwest Territory," "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo," "Bad Day at Black Rock" and "Judgment at Nuremberg."

ELI WALLACH

Charley Gant, outlaw leader. Another product of New York's Actors Studios, Wallach was born in New York, and now divides his time between stage and screen, plus an occasionaI television performance. Among his stage hits have been "The Cold and the Warm," "Camino Real," "Teahouse of the August Moon." His film credits include "The Magnificent Seven," in which he won international acclaim portraying a Mexican bandit.

JOHN WAYNE

General Sherman at Shiloh. One of filmdom's outstanding outdoor actors, Wayne was born in Winterset, Iowa, attended school in California and played varsity football at the University of Southern California. He now is both star and producer. Among his ninety motion pictures, including some of the most successful ever made, are "The Quiet Man," "Stagecoach," "The Horse Soldiers," "She Wore A Yellow Ribbon," "Red River" and "The Alamo."

RICHARD WIDMARK

Mike King, empire builder. After a brief career as a teacher, Widmark entered the theatre and appeared in such hits as "Kiss Me Kate"; but it was the motion picture, "Kiss of Death," which gave him an international reputation. Born in Sunrise, Minnesota, and educated at Lake Forest University in Illinois, his major roles have included "Panic in the Streets," "Broken Lance," "Prize of Gold," "Saint Joan" and "Time Limit."