Rolling

The Way West (1967)

This western about a wagon train on the Oregon trail stars Kirk Douglas as the captain Ahab leading the train and Robert Mitchum as the wagon train's guide which is adapted from a novel of the same name. As you might expect the way to Oregon is not that easy and there are plenty of trials and tribulations along the way. Not all of the characters are straight out clean cut heroes either so it is not just a simplistic heroes against the elements story either.

Portrayal of Indians in westerns can often be problematic or just down right racist but the Indians encountered along the way here are dealt with fairly well, yes they might be only interested in booze initially but when there are problems between the settlers and the Indians they only want justice and not a massacre. Some of the characters are a bit weak, the actions of Mrs Mack are never really explains and she does set in motion a major chain of events.

While this is a well made film it does lack meat on it's bones and ends up being fairly middle of the trail 3/5.