DVD Released July 27, 2009
Cinerama was a smash when first unveiled to the public in the early 1950s. Cinemagoers couldn't get enough of the giant curved screen that offered a powerful immersive experience. Shot using a special rig containing three 35mm cameras, the first Cinerama films were a “cinema of attractions” designed to give audiences the rush of a rollercoaster ride or of flying low over snowcapped mountains. It was the IMAX of its day.
Despite its potential, only two narrative films were made using the three strip Cinerama process: The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm and How the West Was Won, both in 1962. Thanks to technological advances, for the first time on this three disc special edition, we are able to watch the film without the strip lines visible, though in certain scenes they have not been completely eliminated. An epic by any definition, How the West Was Won boasts no less than three directors, over a dozen major stars including Jimmy Stewart, Gregory Peck and John Wayne, and some of the most breathtaking scenery of any film.
The film is split into five parts over a fifty year period: “The Rivers”, “The Plains”, “The Civil War”, “The Railroad” and “The Outlaws”, each focusing on members of the Prescott family. The quality of each varies greatly, with those directed by Henry Hathaway (the first two and last) easily the strongest, possibly, as revealed in the extensive documentary about Cinerama on the third disc, because he was most comfortable operating with the cumbersome cameras. George Marshall (“The Railroad), and especially John Ford (“The Civil War”) seem far less at ease and unsure of how to best stage sequences to exploit the technology.
Clearly, a small flat television is not the best way to view this film, but even on a small screen, some of the footage still amazes: a shot inside a wagon as it tumbles down a hill during an Indian attack and a visceral sequence as the camera rises up and over charging horses stand out. Without the opportunity for close-ups, conversation scenes should be awkward, but while choices are more limited, many of the compositions and breadth of visual information are still impressive.
Narratively, if you are willing to ignore the blatant white American flag-waving and the broad strokes of Spencer Tracy's narration, many of the sequences are still engaging. The opening sequence finding one of the Prescott daughters Eve (Carroll Baker) vying for the affections of mountain man Linus Rawlings (the great Jimmy Stewart) is endearing, as is the second, where Cleve Van Halen (Gregory Peck) attempts to woo Lily (Debbie Reynolds, whose singing and dancing pedigree is put to good use) who has just come upon the inheritance of a gold mine. The depth of acting talent is just endless, with other roles filled by Henry Fonda, Karl Malden, Lee J. Cobb and Eli Wallach.
Bar the Blu-ray release, which contains the option to view the film in a special letterbox format that simulates the Cinerama experience, this special edition is the best way to view this minor classic at home. While not a masterpiece, How the West Was Won is historically important and a worthy addition to any film buff’s library
Watch it on the biggest screen you can find.
