Durch die Hölle nach Westen

This must be the best ever series made for TV. I have for years been looking for this to come on video or DVD, but with no luck in finding it as yet. I am not giving up hope, though, as I have just read that it is obviously very popular still. I watched it in Norway about 25 years ago when I was only about 14, but I still remember the series very clearly. I absolutely love it and hope that there will be a box set made with the entire collection of episodes from "The Macahans" and "How The West Was Won" and the films. It must be the best ever western series, with the actor James Arness as the perfect man for the job. All the actors are brilliant and really drags you into the story. A must have for all western fans all over the planet. Brilliant!!!

This TV-series is/was truly excellent ! It is interesting, fun and exciting. The characters are all watch-able ; Zeb, Luke, Laura, Aunt Molly, Hillary and Mr.Beasley. :-) The actors all do a great job.

The main title (theme) is terrific and I wish somebody would post a link to somewhere on the web, where it can be obtained/purchased. I can only seem to find the soundtrack for the original movie (1963) and NOT the TV-mini (1978)...

I saw the show for the first time when I was 10 - so that doesn't count. :-) he he However, I saw it again last year and now that I'm thirty-something, I still think it's a tremendous show ! :-)

I recommend the show to anybody, although obviously some parts may be a little scary for small children.

All in all, one of the greatest (mini) TV-series ! :-)

A huge success here in Sweden when it was first televised, and has been shown over and over again on different TV channels here (including as recent as yesterday). For some reason it does not seem to be as well known in America as it is here in northern Europe. Among the things you will find are great acting, great characters, great script, great direction, excitement, emotions and humor. It is also educating as it tells the story of the situation in North America during the 1860s, etc. It also pays great respect to the native Americans, portraying them as generally fair and honest people trying to live in peace with nature.

In my opinion the TV-series "How the West Was Won" is the greatest western ever made straight to TV. The cast is superb with James Arness (Zeb Macahan) in the lead and Bruce Boxleitner (Luke Macahan) co-starring.

I've now been watching all the episodes of this western on Swedish television for the third time (1978, 1989 and 2000). The quality of this series is how it's being able to get the grip of the viewer in such a fashion that not even a frontrunner like Gunsmoke can compete with "How the West Was Won".

Few shows (mini-series) except for "Centennial" have depicted the gritty realism of the west as well as How The West Was Won. Jim Arness brought the character of Zeb Macahan to life / bigger, rougher and tougher than Matt Dillon could have ever hoped to be. I have the entire multi-season mini series, including the premiere movie, on 15 year old VHS tapes that are losing their quality. I wish the series would be released on DVD in a boxed set. Gunsmoke has been released, and considering some of the awful shows that HAVE been released I don't know why they don't. Does anyone know the status of this situation? I would like to find out who produced the series and perhaps recommend that there is a large audience out there for this kind of DVD release. Perhaps Jim Arness' website could help.