doug-balch Andrew McLaglen, the director, is the son of actor Victor McLaglen, who was a member of the John Ford troupe. As a result, Andrew pretty much grew up on the sets of John Ford westerns. Not much rubbed off, sadly. I was willing to give him a break for directing 99 episodes of the awful "Have Gun, Will Travel". Clearly he had no budget. But here he has plenty of money. No excuses.The Way West is pretty much a gigantic mess, in which three big stars, Kirk Douglas, Richard Widmark and Robert Mitchum, show up to cash checks. Not surprisingly, Mitchum almost literally sleep walks through his role as a grizzled old mountain man/trapper/trail guide. It's disappointing, because it's the type of role he could have been good in, if he had been motivated.Here's what I liked:this was the film debut of Sally Field, who looks about 16 years old. She does the best acting in the film also.the relationship with the Indians was handled pretty realistically.very nice location shooting. A lot of effort went into capturing panoramic Western vistas. t Here's what I didn't like:Robert Mitchum wears about the most ridiculous looking cowboy hat I've ever seen in a Western.There is a bizarre scene where Kirk Douglas orders the film's only black character to whip him. I'm not kidding.SPOILER HERE: I will say that the movie was interesting enough that I watched it until the end. I'm sorry I did, because the movie climaxes with Kirk Douglas' character being murdered by a woman driven insane by her frigidity. Hard to believe, I know. Makes you almost sorry there was a sexual revolution in the 60's. This would have never happened to Randolph Scott.

stevetadlock This movie was based upon a true story, Although he was a Illinois Tadlock and not of the Texas strain...We still honor him because we all came from the original 1779 Tadlock English emigrant. Most of the Tadlock's have been Farmer/rancher or Builders. William has been a predominate name in our family along with the physical trait of the cleft chin (it was nice that Hollywood selected "Kirk Douglas" who also has a cleft chin to play a Tadlock) My Great Grand Father left Texas (Gonzales County) in the early 1900's He (Malcolm Tadlock) and his brother (Rutherford Hayes Tadlock) traveled west building brick buildings along the way. Rutherford went back to Texas while Malcolm settled in San Diego in 1916 and became one of the founding members of the La Mesa 1st Baptist church. He and his wife "V" raise 65 thousand long leg Chickens during both world wars on their small ranch at 51st and Amherst in La Mesa, Ca. Along with running the commercial fishing boat the "Yellow Tail". They lost one son "Junior" in the south pacific during WW2.Steve Tadlock, Lakeside Ca. "God's Country" No stinking immoral liberal democrats here !!!

bkoganbing You would think that a film that starred three of the biggest male film stars of the post World War II era would have become a classic. These three who also happen to be three favorites of mine, walk around in a daze, looking like they'd rather be any place, but there.The sad thing is that The Way West definitely had some potential to be a classic. In these days of political correctness, a film about American pioneers and the travails of their westward migration is something not done now. It should have been better done back then.Kirk Douglas is a former United States Senator who's heading a wagon train west to build a settlement in Oregon's Willamette Valley. Being he's an ex-politician, he rates above the hoi ploi he's leading. The script calls for him to have not only a covered wagon, but a carriage to lead the train.You think that's ludicrous, you ought to see the whipping scene where Douglas orders his black servant, played by Roy Glenn to whip him. I won't spoil it by saying what causes Douglas to demand this of Glenn, but trust me, it's bad.Robert Mitchum is the trail guide and of the three stars he looks the most bored. There was supposed to be considerable friction on the set between Widmark and Douglas, but Mitchum just saunters through the film above it all.Maybe the friction helped somewhat because the movie calls for Douglas, a widower, to have an eye on Mrs. Widmark, played by Lola Albright. Now she's the best looking thing in the movie.The film billing says introducing Sally Field. This was made in between her Gidget and her Flying Nun days. She plays a piece of white southern trash with the musical comedy name of Mercy McBee. We first see her in the movie sitting on the back of her parents wagon, legs akimbo and inviting. Of course she gets taken up on her invitation.Her character is something like what's found in every trailer park in America and then again what was a wagon train, but one large trailer park on the move. Despite this film, Sally Field went on to a two Oscar career. What that woman had to overcome.Victor McLaglen's son Andrew directed this item and together with a lousy script turned this into a turgid mess. Shame on Andrew McLaglen, he's certainly done better in his career.And so will you, unless you're a stargazer.

scottj-mathew this film is a great disappointment to those who enjoy westerns.2 out of 10. the boredom i got out of watching this film was so immense i literally fell asleep for real! the way west is so boring and dreary that it should be banned !! ok maybe that is too drastic, but honestly, for you western movie lovers, take my advice and do not watch the way west if you have not already...boredom is one word to sum it all up.