How the West Was 'Cast
Whether you grew up watching the movies of John Wayne, cut your teeth on Clint Eastwood’s “Man with No Name” trilogy, or consider Kevin Costner to be the screen’s quintessential cowboy star, HOW THE WEST WAS ‘CAST is just the podcast you’ve been waiting for. Join screenwriter and journalist Matthew Chernov and film historian and professor Andrew Patrick Nelson as they discuss the beloved masterpieces, forgotten treasures, and curious cult movies that make up the Western film genre. From the timeless classics of the 1940s and ‘50s, to the bold and bloody titles of the 1960s and ‘70s, to the prestige Westerns of today, HOW THE WEST WAS ‘CAST explores one of cinema’s most fascinating and enduring genres.
Episodes
39 episodes
Ride the High Country (1962) - with Author Robert Nott
On this trailblazing episode, reporter and historian Robert Nott drops by to discuss Sam Peckinpah's Ride the High Country. Robert is the author of several acclaimed books on Western ...
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Episode 39
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1:01:35
Horizon: An American Saga - Chapter 1 (2024)
On this super-size episode, Matt and Andrew discuss the biggest Western movie event in recent memory. Is Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga – Chapter 1
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Episode 38
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1:57:49
Western Movie Books – with Authors Henry C. Parke and Cory Everett
Read any good Western movie books lately? On this page-turning episode, we’re highlighting some of our favorite books about the Western genre. From biographies and coffee table books to scholarly studies and acclaimed film guides, you’ll find p...
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Episode 37
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1:19:36
Horizon: An American Saga (2024) – Trailer Reaction
The official trailer for Kevin Costner’s Horizon: An American Saga was just released, and Matthew Chernov and Andrew Patrick Nelson are sharing their first reactions to it in this special episode! What clues to the film’s story and cha...
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Episode 36
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52:03
A "Secret" Announcement from How the West Was 'Cast!
Want to hear a secret episode of How the West Was ‘Cast? We’ve recorded a new hourlong show that won’t be published online. But we’ll gladly send you the secret episode in exchange for reviewing our show on the
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Episode 35
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6:15
Warner Brothers and Westerns - with Author Chris Yogerst
This year marks the centennial anniversary of Warner Brothers, the legendary Hollywood studio founded by Harry, Albert, Sam, and Jack Warner. To commemorate the occasion, we're joined by author Chris Yoge...
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Episode 34
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50:29
Revenge of the Horror Westerns
It’s the Halloween season, so we’re returning to the terrifying topic of horror Westerns! Join us as we discuss, dissect, and dismember six of the scariest, eeriest, and just plain weirdest Westerns ever made. From a moody 1959 vampire film to ...
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Episode 33
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1:32:59
BONUS EPISODE! Into the Wild Frontier - with Showrunner Paul Epstein
On this special bonus episode, we take a look at the factual Western drama series Into the Wild Frontier, which is entering its fourth season on the
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Episode 32
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38:33
Little Big Man (1970)
1970 was an important year for Indian-themed Westerns, with A Man Called Horse and Soldier Blue both released ...
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Episode 31
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1:18:13
Overlooked Westerns of the 1990s
Return with us now to the decade that gave the world Zima®, Beanie Babies, and the Macarena. That's right, we're traveling back to the 1990s for a discussion about six overlooked Westerns that deserve more attention! You won't find iconic '90s ...
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Episode 30
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1:04:37
Ride Lonesome (1959) - with Writer & Producer Kirk Ellis
Written by Burt Kennedy and directed by Budd Boetticher, the intense 1959 Western Ride Lonesome stars legendary actor Randolph Scott as a bounty hunter traveling acros...
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Episode 29
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1:07:23
Blood on the Moon (1948) - with Film Scholar Alan K. Rode
The gripping story of a down-and-out cowhand who becomes ensnared in a complex scheme to dupe a local rancher out of a fortune, the moody 1948 film Blood on the Moon combines the myth...
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Episode 28
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55:05
A Tribute to Western Movie Hats - with Actor & Hatmaker Travis Eller
Hold on to your hats, folks! On this episode, we're taking an in-depth look at some of the greatest Western movie hats of all time. You'll hear about iconic hats worn by John Wayne, Clint Eastwood, Burt Lancaster, Kevin Costner, Robert Duvall, ...
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Episode 27
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1:36:37
Western Film Scores - with Musician Mark Swan
Think about your favorite Western and chances are you can practically hear the rousing theme music playing in your head. On this melodious new episode, musician Mark Swan, from the band Natalie Pryce, joins us to discuss six Western film scores...
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Episode 26
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1:31:45
Animated Westerns - with 'Fievel Goes West' Director Phil Nibbelink
On this supersized episode, we’re discussing animated Westerns! From the charming 1956 Disney short A Cowboy Needs a Horse to the dazzling 2011 Oscar-winner
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Episode 25
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1:29:38
BONUS EPISODE! The Pioneertown International Film Festival
Later this month, the Pioneertown International Film Festival makes its debut in California’s High Desert region, kicking off three days of classic Westerns, world premieres, documentaries, sho...
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Episode 24
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41:25
High Noon (1952) – with Film Historian Austin Fisher
This year marks the 70th anniversary of High Noon. To celebrate that auspicious occasion, we’ve invited award-winning author, professor and cultural historian Austin Fisher on the show to talk about the film’s reputation as the quintes...
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Episode 23
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1:14:36
Heaven's Gate (1980) - with 'Cimino' Biographer Charles Elton
More than 40 years after its initial release, Michael Cimino's ambitious Western epic Heaven's Gate remains one of the most divisive films of all time. Some still see it as a colossal failure in every way, while others (like our very o...
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Episode 22
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1:04:51
Revenge Westerns - with Novelist Tony Healey
If it's true that revenge is a dish best served cold, then this episode of How the West Was Cast is damn near frozen! Join us as we welcome author Tony Healey for a loo...
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Episode 21
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1:04:38
Men of the West: Ford, Wayne, Leone, Eastwood
If there's a quaternity of artists whose work in the Western genre continues to attract legions of fans and inspire generations of filmmakers, it's most certainly John Ford, John Wayne, Sergio Leone, and Clint Eastwood. On this episode, c...
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Episode 20
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52:43
The Hateful Eight (2015) - with Costume Designer Courtney Hoffman
Join us for a frank and funny conversation with filmmaker Courtney Hoffman, who discusses the dazzling costumes she designed for Jared Moshe's DEAD MAN'S BURDEN and Quentin Tarantino's THE HATEFUL EIGHT. We also talk about THE GOOD TIME GIRLS, ...
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Episode 19
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1:04:05
Cowboys & Indians Magazine: The 100 Best Westerns Ever Made - with Film Critic Joe Leydon
Join us for a conversation with esteemed film critic Joe Leydon about the new "100 Greatest Western Movies" list he compiled for Cowboys & Indians Magazine. During the episode, Joe reveals why certain films ranked high, while others - like ...
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Episode 18
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1:09:10
The Comedy Western Roundup!
On this side-splitting episode, co-hosts Andrew Patrick Nelson and Matthew Chernov look at six comedy Westerns made between 1925 and 1998. From a silent classic about the friendship between a man and a cow to the final film of a Saturday Night ...
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Episode 17
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1:04:19
The Ballad of Little Jo (1993) - with Filmmaker Maggie Greenwald
Join us for an interview with award-winning writer-director Maggie Greenwald, whose superb movie "The Ballad of Little Jo" is one of the best Westerns of the '90s. We discuss Maggie's love of the genre, her early work as an indie filmmaker, and...
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Episode 16
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1:10:25