Welcome to my website about the 1963 MGM-Cinerama movie, How The West Was Won. It is one of my favorite movies because of its blend of action, romance, pathos, scenic vistas, and an incredible cast. The movie's soundtrack is also one of my favorite soundtracks, and in many cases the music shines where the movie is only adequate. After over forty years, this Academy Award-winning movie can seem a little dated in some respects, but it still stands tall compared with its contemporaries.
This website is about the making of the movie, with articles from a variety of sources. Except for this page, the vast majority of the text was not written by me, but by the authors which I have tried to note. If you have any pictures or text that would be a good addition to this site, please let me know.
By the way, the movie should be seen in its original Cinerama format to really appreciate it. Unfortunately, while there are two or three theatres (such as The Seattle Cinerama and The Arclight Hollywood Cinerama Dome) that are still capable of showing HTWWW in its true three-panel format, no one is currently showing the movie (see the update below). While you are waiting for the theatrical re-release, get one of the new DVD boxsets and watch it in all of its restored glory.
That's enough from me. Go put on your HTWWW soundtrack music and explore the history of this great movie.
Thank you for visiting!
UPDATE - November 2, 2021: The Seattle Cinerama Theater (on of the two theaters in the U.S. capable of showing 3 panel Cinerama films) is in danger of being permanently closed. Please go here: https://www.change.org/p/jody-allen-save-seattle-cinerama-2cae1e71-931a-48ed-84b8-68eedb68ee78 to sign a petition to try to save this historic theater. And if you haven't already done so, sign the petition to save the Hollywood Cinerama Dome theater (https://www.change.org/p/arclight-save-the-dome) which finds itself in a similar predicament. (see April 19, 2021 update below) UPDATE - August 11, 2021: In preparation for the 60th anniversary of the film, I have just completed a big overhaul of this website. I've added several new pages and many dozens of new photos. I've also added a Scripts page so that you can see what was in the original script (as differing from the final version of the movie). Please explore the site and let me know if you find any glitches so that I can correct them. Thanks! UPDATE - April 19, 2021: The Arclight Cinemas is now out of business, and may not return. This means that the iconic Cinerama Dome theater in Hollywood is now closed and is in danger of not reopening if a buyer can't be found. If the Dome doesn't reopen we will lose one of two theaters left in the United States that are still capable of showing HTWWW in its original three-panel format. This means no more 3 panel HTWWW showings in a theater ever again (I don't think the other theater in Seattle has shown it in years). Please go here to sign the petition to save the Cinerama Dome: https://www.change.org/p/arclight-save-the-dome (new update as of July 28 - Arclight is hanging on to ownership of the Dome, and hopes that by selling off its other assets it may be able to keep the Dome and hopefully get it back in business) October 2019: I've added my ninth deleted scene to the Deleted Scenes page. It involves a scene that Debbie Reynolds filmed in a particular costume, which I saw in person and have photos of on my Deleted Scenes webpage. Check it out if you're interested in HTWWW's deleted scenes. September 2019 news: The Dome will be showing HTWWW again on October 1st, 2019 at 7:30pm. Unlike in 2018, when was shown in "Digital Cinerama", this year they will once again be showing it in the original three panel format using three projectors. This only happens rarely, so please come and show your support for 3-panel HTWWW. Buy your tickets before they sell out; there's only one showing, and it's filling up fast. I'll be there - will you? October 2018 news: The Dome will be showing HTWWW again on October 21st, 2018 at 7pm. However, this will be the first time that it will be presented in "Digital Cinerama", meaning that it will NOT be in the three panel format using three projectors. I assume that they will be using the digitally restored version of the film that had the panel lines (mostly) removed. Since they only show HTWWW every blue moon (so to speak), you might want to go and support the movie, so that we can hopefully get a return visit sooner rather than later... Some of the other post-HTWWW movies from Cinerama will also be shown that month, so check out the schedule at the ArcLight Dome. October 2013 news: Arclight Theaters is going to show HTWWW again! During the Cinerama Dome's 50th Anniversary event there will be a single showing of HTWWW, on October 27th at 12:40pm at the Dome (Hollywood). Arclight Theaters will be having a Cinerama extravaganza from September 28 - October 4, 2012. For the FIRST & ONLY time for one SPECTACULAR WEEK they will be playing twelve classic Cinerama productions. Select titles will be presented in the original 3 strip Cinerama process and additional titles will be digitally projected, re-mastered from the original negatives. Starting off the series is the world premiere of "In The Picture", the first film photographed in 3 strip Cinerama in 50 years!
So if
it's been a long time since you've seen HTWWW in real Cinerama 3-strip,
now's your chance! There will be one showing on Friday September 28, and one
showing on Thursday October 4. Get your tickets while you can, the seats are
selling out fast! THIS WEBSITE IS MOVING TO A NEW ADDRESS (URL)!!!
http://www.daveswarbirds/HTWWW HOW THE WEST WAS WON to be shown in Seattle, WA from Sept 30-Oct 2, 2011! The next screening of HTWWW will be during a three day run at the Seattle Cinerama Theater. Check their Coming Soon webpage at http://seattlecinerama.com/coming-soon/ for more information. As a bonus, they will also be showing the rare "This Is Cinerama", of which only 3 prints remain (and which was never released on DVD). HOW THE WEST WAS WON was shown in England on March 26th, 2011 The National Media Museum’s Pictureville Cinema, Bradford, England showed HTWWW in 3-strip Cinerama on their curved screen (with 7 track magnetic stereophonic sound) on Saturday March 26, 2011. This screening was of their vintage dye transfer (IB) Technicolor print. If you were able to attend, send me an email and let me know how it went.... http://www.nationalmediamuseum.org.uk/film/viewfilm?id=739&format=Cinerama MUSIC NEWS! - By popular request, I've added a page of lyrics for the songs of How The West Was Won. You can check it out by clicking the link on my HTWWW music page. EARLIER NEWS FROM 2008-2010: I just found out about another deleted scene from the movie, plus much more information on the deleted scenes of Hope Lange. Go here to see the latest updates: deleted scenes from the movie. Were you there? Did you see HTWWW at the Cinerama Dome on September 7th (2008)? I was there, and it was great to see it in three-panel format again (last seen in 2005 at the Dome), but the sound system suffered from a Dolby glitch that somewhat marred the presentation. It was worth the trip to Hollywood again in any case. We'll keep our fingers crossed for another showing there in the coming years.... DVD NEWS In related news, click HERE to see an article on the restoration of HTWWW, a project meant to restore and preserve the film for future generations; the results of which will be seen on the new DVD boxset. DVD REVIEWS OLDER NEWS (December 2007): It appears that the upcoming DVD box set will be taking advantage of new software technology to remove the 3-panel join lines from the movie. See http://www.hpl.hp.com/news/2006/apr-jun/movie.html for an article on this. The concept and process seems like a great idea, though I'm a little concerned that the color levels seem to have really dropped in the "fixed" version. The "fix" does seem to eliminate some of the distortion problems caused by the translation of the original curved format to a flat screen, however. OLDER NEWS (March 2008): I added a link to Debbie Reynold's Hollywood Motion Picture Museum on my Weblinks page. It's great to see Ms. Reynolds preserving the history of Hollywood! (2019 Update: Unfortunately, Ms. Reynolds was forced to close her museum shortly before her death.) OLDER NEWS (May 2008):
The new DVD box set will be released in three versions:
OLDER NEWS (June 2008): there's a new (June 2008) web article on the digital restoration of How The West Was Won here: http://www.in70mm.com/news/2008/west_digital/index.htm OLDER NEWS (July 2008): The Warner Home Video release date for the remastered DVDs of How The West Was Won has been moved to September 9. The fully restored master will be aired on TV as a special event on the Encore Westerns channel on Labor Day Weekend, just prior to the DVD release. It will also be aired on the Encore and Encore On Demand HD channels. Stay tuned for more specific information as it becomes available. - FROM LAST YEAR (2007) - There is now a page on my October 2005 trip to
see HTWWW at the Cinerama Dome. (See also the paragraph
below.) I created a handout (brochure) for the
Dome to give their patrons during their HTWWW presentations, but it wasn't ready in time
for the printers. But you can download it, print it, and have it ready for the next time
you watch the movie. By the way, in case you didn't know, the Cinerama Dome has been restored with a curved screen and three original Cinerama projectors, making it the only theater in California (and one of only three in the U.S.) capable of showing Cinerama-format movies. |
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