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Westward the Women

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Westward the Women DVD
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Westward the Women on DVD


Though Frank Capra wrote the original story treatment for MGM's Westward the Women, he was too busy to direct the film, and handed the reigns instead to his former Liberty Films partner William A. Wellman. This stark, no-nonsense outdoor drama stars Robert Taylor as a trail guide named Buck, who in 1851 is hired by California settler Roy Whitman (John McIntyre) to head a wagon train full of mail-order brides from Chicago to the West Coast. Though Buck spares the brides nothing in describing the hardships they're about to face, most of the ladies agree to undertake the journey. Starting out with 104 women, Buck leads the expedition through some of the most treacherous territory in the West. Several of the women die en route, killed off by the elements, Indian attacks, and sundry unexpected mishaps. Most of the male travellers likewise fall victim to disaster, save for Buck and his courageous Japanese cook Ito (Henry Nakamura). Even when the wagon train reaches its destination, the story is far, far from over. Though second-billed Denise Darcel is the most prominent of the women, the large cast generally works as an ensemble, with everyone pitching together for the common good, just as their real-life counterparts had done back in the 1850s. Throughout, the film abruptly (and effectively) switches moods, veering precipitously from raucous comedy to profound tragedy (some of the deaths occur so suddenly that they can still elicit gasps from the audience). An expertly assembled and reasonably realistic saga, Westward the Women is one story that needs to be told in black-and-white; the currently available colorized version should be avoided like the plague. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
  • Sound By: Dolby Digital Mono
  • Released By: Warner Bros. Digital Distribution
Audio commentary by film historian Scott Eyman
Vintage M-G-M promotional featurette Challenge the Wilderness
Original theatrical trailer

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  • Westward the Women DVD
Westward the Women DVD

Editorial Reviews

An extremely unusual Western, especially given the time in which it was made, Westward the Women has a great deal going for it. Chief among its virtues is its story and the treatment of the female characters therein. The trek of mail order brides across an incredibly dangerous West is full of suspense, intrigue, humor, adventure and tragedy. And director William Wellman and screenwriter Charles Schnee do not pamper the women involved; they are unglamorized, called upon to get as dirty and tough as any men would do in a Western. They also are as prone to death and injury as any man would be in a similar film. This fascinatingly egalitarian treatment reveals the strength that actual pioneer women had to possess and pays fine tribute to them and their spirit. Wellman also utilizes his location shooting to very good effect, making the landscape a part of the story rather than just decoration. As the male leader of the troupe, Robert Taylor gives one of his finest performances, relishing the range that the role provides. He's supported by excellent work from a strong Hope Emerson, a sympathetic Renata Vanni, a spirited Lenore Lonergan and an amiable Henry Nakamura. Taylor's love interest, Denise Darcel, is only adequate, which does damage the film somewhat, especially in the second half; when Darcel and Taylor's relationship moves forward, the film is much less interesting. Still, Westward overcomes this flaw, offering the viewer several powerful scenes -- the attack, the birth, the climactic "prettification" -- that stick with the viewer and linger long after the movie is over. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi