The Way West (1967)

"The Way West" could have been a classic. Kirk Douglas plays a driven wagon master determined, like Burger King, to have it his way -- the goal being to herd pioneers to Oregon, to fulfill his dream of establishing an ideal city, with a crystal-covered playground for the kiddies.Unfortunately, Douglas quite fails to engage with the character or his situation. He is so distant and (generally) uninvolved that he might just as well delivered his lines from a Barcalounger. The rest of the actors rarely show much interest, either.The potential for intense drama and powerful emotion is present, but unrealized. The flabby script doesn't help, and first-time director Andrew McLaglen (son of Victor) has no idea what to do about it. * Only Jack Elam (arguably one of the all-time great actors) survives this snooze-fest, delivering a pitch-perfect turn as a minister.The fun moments come during an attempt to lower the pioneers over the edge of a high, steep cliff to the river bank below, one at a time. The first to go down dies when the wagon bumps against the cliff wall, and he -- or rather, an obvious dummy -- is thrown out.After Douglas unconvincingly convinces the pioneers to keep truckin' on down with him, he, too, (or rather a re-dressed dummy) also falls to his death when Psycho Sally cuts the rope to spare the pioneers having to put up with this monster of a man."The Way West" is inexcusably bad. Unless you like being bored to death by annoying films, the funny stuff takes too long to arrive.* His poor direction is particularly noticeable when the wagon train reaches a fort near the end of their journey. The commander has an Indian sidekick who insists on shaking Douglas's hand, and won't let go. A smart director would have built up the part a bit, to add some badly needed humor.

When this movie starts out, you're apt to think, "Hey this is going to be a good one!" It's a handsome production, great scenery, and it has a great cast -- Kirk Douglas, Robert Mitchum, and Richard Widmark.But the longer if goes on, the more you feel as if you have seen it before...and you have...there are a lot of wagon train clichés here. But let's think about that for a minute. Clichés are often based on truth, and on a wagon train journey of this scope, I rather imagine many of these trials and tribulations -- and many more -- faced the pioneers. Heck, I hate driving through some of these states on an Interstate due to the risks of breaking down and being stranded. Taken one by one, there isn't an incident here that I could discount. Again, it's just that we've pretty much seen them all before.The problem I see here is that we never learn very much about the main characters. Who is Senator William Tadlock (Kirk Douglas). What makes him like he is? Is he just the type that likes to be boss? I think that's way too simplistic. Who is Dick Summers (Robert Mitchum). He seems rather passive here; we do finally learn that he is going blind...maybe that's why. No character development at all. We know the most about Lije Evans (Richard Widmark)...although that's darned little. All the characters are far too simplistic. And for that, I blame the writers, producer, and director.Kirk Douglas is VERY restrained here...and I'm not sure that's why most of us went to the theater to see a restrained Kirk Douglas. Robert Mitchum is very passive as the guide, but as I mentioned earlier, perhaps that was because of his approaching blindness. Or,maybe he was just walking through this role. Richard Widmark, often an underestimated actor, probably comes off the best here.The supporting cast includes Lola Albright (as Widmarks's wife; and she does well here); Jack Elam as a preacher of sorts (he does well); Sally Field in her film debut, here as a somewhat slutty young woman (perhaps her worst screen portrayal); and oddly enough, Stubby Kaye as one of the pioneers.I have a hard time recommending this film UNLESS you are really into Westerns, or like gorgeous scenery, or want to contemplate how the early pioneers must have suffered on the way west. It's not that it's a bad film...it's just not that good, either.

"The Way West" came from a Pulitzer Prize winning novel, with Kirk Douglas, Robert Mitchum , Richard Widmark and a fantastic young Sally Fields on the cast. That should make it a winner, right? But Andrew McLaglen, even being a good director ,with minor flaws, is no John Ford or Anthony Man or Budd Boetticher. Also McLaglen was ordered by David Picker, vice president of production of United Artists to cut the first 20 minutes of the film (from an interview, "The Westerners:Interviews with Actors,Directors…" C.Courtney Joyner). The result was that the movie was a disappointment to those who had great expectations, which were many. But the disappointment changes into a happy surprise when one see the film now. There are the great scenes with Sally Fields, the cinematography of William H. Clothier, the good screenplay, but still those twenty initial minutes are missing,

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.