Westward Ho, the Wagons!

Westward Ho, the Wagons! is a 1956 live-action Disney western film. Based on Mary Jane Carr's novel Children of the Covered Wagon, the film starred Fess Parker and George Reeves. It was released to theaters on December 20, 1956.
The film was later split into two parts for Walt Disney's weekly television show, each part titled Ambush at Wagon Gap and White Man's Medicine.
Digital releases are in pan-and-scan fullscreen, have several scenes missing and omit the Buena Vista logo.
==Plot==
A wagon train must find another way than fighting to cross hostile Pawnee territory in 19th Century America.
A small group of families join together to travel to Oregon in 1846. Their leader is ostensibly James Stephen (George Reeves, TV's Superman), who has made the trip before, and is now bringing his family along. John Grayson (Fess Parker), known as Doc for his ambition to study medicine, however, proves to be the real leader of the wagon train.
The pioneers deal with the elements and occasional raids, but after hostile Pawnees drive off their spare horses, they realize they may not make it to the Oregon Territory. While stopping at Fort Laramie, the pioneer children make friends with Sioux children. After the Sioux chief's son is injured in an accident, Doc Grayson helps heal him, earning the trust of the Sioux. As the story ends, the Sioux warriors escort the wagon train safely through Pawnee territory.
==Cast==
*Fess Parker as John 'Doc' Grayson
*Kathleen Crowley as Laura Thompson
*Jeff York as Hank Breckenridge
*David Stollery as Dan Thompson
*Sebastian Cabot as Bissonette
*George Reeves as James Stephen
*Doreen Tracey as Bobo Stephen
*Barbara Woodell as Mrs. Stephen
*John War Eagle as Wolf's Brother
*Cubby O'Brien as Jerry Stephen
*Tommy Cole as Jim Stephen
*Leslie Bradley as Spenser Armitage
*Morgan Woodward as Obie Foster
*Iron Eyes Cody as Many Stars
*Anthony Earl Numkena as Little Thunder
*Karen Pendleton as Myra Thompson
*Jane Liddell as Ruth Benjamin
*John Locke as Ed Benjamin
*Brand Stirling as Tom Foster (uncredited)
*Eddie Little Sky as Pawnee Brave (uncredited)
==Songs==
*"Westward Ho, the Wagons! (song)" - lyrics by Tom Blackburn, music by George Bruns
*"The Ballad of John Colter" - lyrics by Tom Blackburn, music by George Bruns
*"Wringle Wrangle" - written by Stan Jones
*"I'm Lonely My Darling" (based on "Green Grow the Lilacs", Traditional) - lyrics by Fess Parker, music arranged by George Bruns
*"Pioneer's Prayer" (from The Vanishing Prairie) - lyrics by Hazel "Gil" George, music by Paul J. Smith
==Gallery==
Westward ho the wagons pic.png
Westward Ho, the Wagons Poster 2.jpg
Westward Ho, the Wagons Poster 3.jpg
Westward Ho, the Wagons.jpg
Westward Ho, the Wagons DVD.jpg
Westward Ho, the Wagons Poster.jpg
The Movie Story of Walt Disney's Westward Ho, the Wagons!.jpg
Westward ho french poster.jpg|Poster from the release in France on August 7, 1957
Westward_ho_uk_poster.jpg|Poster from the release in the United Kingdom on June 14, 1957
Ambush at wagon gap title.jpg|Title for the first half of the TV airing: "Ambush at Wagon Gap"
White man's medicine title.jpg|Title for the second half of the TV airing: "White Man's Medicine"
Karen pendleton in Westward Ho The Wagons.JPG
Eddie little sky in Westward Ho the Wagons.jpg
==Trivia==
*The film's copyright was renewed on January 23, 1984.Online Copyright Catalog search (form autofilled, pressing "begin search" brings up the entry) The copyright to the book it is based on was also renewed.Catalog of Copyright Entries (Source material)
*Props and set pieces from the film were utilized in creating the Indian Village attraction at Disneyland.
==References==
*Once upon a Time In a Western - Westward Ho!, the Wagons
Category:1956 films
Category:Live-action films
Category:Disney films
Category:Western Films
Category:Cinemascope Films
Category:Westward Ho, the Wagons!
Category:Unrated films