‘Westward The Women’ Blu-Ray Review – Female-Focused Western Is An Underseen Classic

They are rugged pioneers and brave trailblazers who tame the wild west. These are the women of the great frontier – that’s right – the women! Based on historical records, this wagon-train saga details a 2,000-mile journey from Chicago to California. The men seek gold; the women seek matrimony. Both strike pay dirt! Buck Wyatt (Robert Taylor) is a tough, experienced scout who leads a wagon train comprised of two ex-showgirls (Denise Darcel and Julie Bishop), a hearty widow (Beverly Dennis) and fifteen men who function as guides. When one of the men disobeys Buck’s orders not to fraternize with the ladies, Buck shoots him, causing the others to desert. Instead of turning back, the determined women insist on going on, learning to ride, shoot, and drive mules. Although treacherous terrain and a deadly ambush lay ahead, these tough ladies are filled with the American frontier spirit, and nothing will stop them! Based on an original story by Frank Capra, and directed by signature gusto by the masterful William Wellman, Westward the Women is a cinematic masterpiece!

For thoughts on Westward the Women, please check out our discussion on The Video Attic: 

[youtube https://youtu.be/Kzb-KRvQnOg?si=Wd5kZeAkmGyJNw3k&t=2520]

Video Quality

Warner Archive presents Westward the Women with a stunning 1080p transfer sourced from a new 4K restoration of the best preservation elements. While some small stretches may not be from the Original Camera Negative, we would guess that the majority is from this original source given the unimpeachable level of quality. No matter the case, the magical touch of Warner Archive ensures you do not notice the seams regardless. The film is absolutely free of damage with no trace of wear and tear or dirt specks. Compression artifacts, banding, and other such anomalies do not crop up as a substantial issue. 

The film features some brilliant black-and-white photography from William Mellor which sparkles with the perfect amount of natural film grain intact. Black levels are deep with great stability throughout, and the contrast holds firm with nothing appearing overly bright. The vast desert landscapes provide a world of texture and clarity throughout the journey. There is nothing that ever feels second-rate when it comes to this picture. Warner Archive remains a force to be reckoned with in this field. 

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray comes with a restored DTS-HD 2.0 Master Audio track that showcases the effort perfectly. Dialogue and background noises are rendered with unmistakable accuracy along with the rousing score. Exchanges always come through clearly without being overshadowed by other elements. The more lively moments such as galloping are handled carefully as they give the track some substance. The restoration has eliminated nearly all instances of distortion to the track such as popping, hissing, and dropouts. This track allows every distinct sonic puzzle piece to come forth with great fidelity. Warner Archive has offered up a first-rate audio presentation. There are optional English (SDH) subtitles included for the feature film.

Special Features

• Audio Commentary: Author/Film Historian Scott Eyman provides a comforting and informative commentary track in which he discusses the background of the feature, the career and the direction of William Wellman, the feminist themes of the narrative, the nuances of the performances, the influence MGM head Dore Schary, and so much more. 

• Challenge of the Wilderness: A nearly 11-minute promotional featurette that explores the thrilling location shooting of the movie which rivals the likes of Green Dolphin Street and King Solomon’s Mines. There is some great footage of the filming in Utah. 

• Lux Radio Theater Broadcast: A 49-minute radio adaptation of the story is provided with Robert Taylor and Denise Darcel reprising their roles from the film. 

• Texas Tom: The nearly seven-minute Tom and Jerry short is provided here in HD which finds the titular pair mixed up in some Western shenanigans. 

• The Duck Doctor: The seven-minute Tom and Jerry short is provided here in HD which finds Jerry protecting a baby duck from Tom. 

• Original Theatrical Trailer: The three-and-a-half-minute trailer is provided here. 

Final Thoughts

Westward the Women is a western excursion that deserves a much bigger spotlight in film culture. Not all elements of this film hold up flawlessly, but the attention paid towards making this a more female-focused effort with the women given some level of agency works very well. The performances in this one are a highlight, and director William Wellman brings a dynamic touch to the proceedings. Warner Archive has released a Blu-Ray that features a terrific A/V presentation and several great supplemental features. If you are somewhat tired of dusty tales exclusively about men, this should provide a nice alternative. Highly Recommended 

Westward the Women can be purchased directly through MovieZyng or through various other online retailers. 

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Warner Archive has supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.