Wikipedia article
'Dream West' is a 1986 American television miniseries starring Richard Chamberlain and directed by Dick Lowry.
Development
The seven-hour miniseries was broken into three parts (2 hours, 2 hours, and 3 hours). Part 1 aired on Sunday, April 13, 1986.[Holston, Noel (11 April 1986). [http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1986-04-11/lifestyle/0210300134_1_dream-west-charles-fremont-miniseries Cbs' 'Dream West' Spirited Miniseries], 'Orlando Sentinel'] It was the 16th most-watched show of that week.[(17 April 1986). [http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1986-04-17/features/8601280150_1_season-to-date-ratings-nielsen-ratings-cosby-show Nielsen Ratings], 'Chicago Tribune'] Part 2 had been intended to follow the next day, but was postponed a day until April 15 due to a press conference by President Ronald Reagan about Libya (see 1986 United States bombing of Libya). Part 3 was moved to Sunday, April 20. Part 2 was the 15th most watched television show for its week, and Part 3 came in 8th place.[(24 April 1986). [http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1986-04-24/features/8601290894_1_dream-west-nbc-cbs-movie Nielsen Ratings], 'Chicago Tribune']
Plot
The film was based on the 1984 novel of the same name by David Nevin, based on the life of 19th century explorer and politician John C. Frmont.[Hevesi, Dennis (29 March 2011). [http://archive.boston.com/bostonglobe/obituaries/articles/2011/03/29/david_nevin_83_author_of_epic_novel_dream_west/ David Nevin, 83, author of epic novel 'Dream West'], 'The Boston Globe' (reprint of New York Times obituary)][(13 April 1986). [http://newsok.com/article/2144041 "Dream West' has Oklahoma flavor], 'Oklahoman'][(11 April 1986). [http://articles.chicagotribune.com/1986-04-11/features/8601260452_1_jessie-benton-fremont-john-charles-fremont-mexican-american-war Up-and-down `Dream West` Tosses And Turns With Script], 'Chicago Tribune'][Jarvis, Jeff (14 April 1986). [http://people.com/archive/picks-and-pans-review-dream-west-vol-25-no-15/ Picks and Pans Review: Dream West], 'People' (giving the series a D minus rating)][Shales, Tom (12 April 1986). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1986/04/12/tv-previews/3535e6ee-953d-40e5-bbe8-d6c7ef4a3fbc/ TV Preview], 'The Washington Post'][Bobbin, Jay (13 April 1986). [http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/1986-04-13/entertainment/0210330015_1_richard-chamberlain-john-charles-fremont-john-blackthorne Miniseries Kingpin Richard Chamberlain Blazes Another Trail As Adventurer In Cbs Drama], 'Orlando Sentinel']
Cast
* Richard Chamberlain as John Charles Fremont
* Alice Krige as Jessie Benton Fremont
* F. Murray Abraham as President Abraham Lincoln
* Ren Enrquez as General Castro
* Ben Johnson as Jim Bridger
* Jerry Orbach as Capt. John Sutter
* G. D. Spradlin as General Steven Watts Kearney
* Rip Torn as Kit Carson
* Fritz Weaver as Senator Thomas Hart Benton
* Anthony Zerbe as Bill Williams
* Claude Akins as Tom Fitzpatrick
* John Anderson as Brig. Gen. Brooke
* Lee Bergere as 'Papa Joe' Nicollet
* Jeff East as Tim Donovan
* Michael Ensign as Karl Preuss
* Mel Ferrer as Judge Elkins
* Gayle Hunnicutt as Mrs. Maria Crittenden
Reception
The 'Encyclopedia of Television Film Directors' (2009) refers to the film as a "bracing yet relatively little remembered miniseries."[Roberts, Jerry. [https://books.google.com/books?id=kW8j6sHvrewC&pg=PA350&lpg=PA350#v=onepage&q&f=false Encyclopedia of Television Film Directors, Part I], p. 350 (2009)]
The film was released on DVD as part of the Warner Archive Collection in 2012.[(13 November 2012). [http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Dream-West-DVDs-Announced/17734 Dream West (mini-series) - Only Broadcast Once, This 1986 Richard Chamberlain Miniseries Comes to DVD] , tvshowsondvd.com, Retrieved 6 September 2017]
References
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