How the West Was 'Cast

On this deep-dive episode, author and professor Brooks E. Hefner visits the studio to chat with Andrew Patrick Nelson about director Nicholas Ray's fever-dream Western, Johnny Guitar . Together, they discuss the film's unique production history, its intriguing gender politics, its enduring cult legacy and much more. So don't miss this fascinating look at one of the oddest Westerns ever made. Brooks's latest book is titled Johnny Guitar , published by the University of New Mexico Press as part of the Reel West series, edited by Andrew. We also want to give special thanks to outlaw songstress Sarah Vista for graciously allowing us to include her haunting cover of the Johnny Guitar theme song in this episode. To purchase a digital copy of Sarah's beautiful collection of classic Western movie themes, "Songs from the Silver Screen," visit her Bandcamp page .

Since the birth of the genre, Hollywood has promoted Western movies with eye-catching posters promising adventure, romance and frontier justice at every turn. In this sprawling episode, we look back at 15 fascinating Western film posters that offer something for every fan. From a 1930s tricolor showcard to a '60s East German surrealist advertisement to a minimalist 2012 teaser image, the posters you'll discover here reveal a vision of the West that goes far beyond stereotypes. Click here for a gallery of every movie poster mentioned in this episode. Joining us is renowned artist Tracy Stuckey , whose hyperrealistic paintings and drawings both celebrate and satirize the mythology of the American West. For more info on Tracy and his artwork, visit his website . To watch videos, see photos and purchase tickets for Western Spirit Museum's exhibition, "Still in the Saddle: A New History of the Hollywood Western," visit their website . And be sure to listen all the way to the very end of this episode for a special bonus segment featuring two returning guests who share their picks for favorite Western movie posters.

Here’s a question for you: What do the beloved Westerns The Ox-Bow Incident , 3 Godfathers , Ride Lonesome , The Gunfighter , Nevada Smith and How the West Was Won all have in common? The answer is they were all filmed in the breathtaking hills of Lone Pine, California! On this special bonus episode, we speak with Steve Latshaw , Director of the Museum of Western Film History , about the exciting 35th Annual Lone Pine Film Festival . Packed with rare screenings, celebrity guests, fascinating presentations and exclusive location tours, this four-day celebration honors Lone Pine’s remarkable on-screen legacy and its deep connection to the Western movie genre. Join us as we explore an incredible area where literally hundreds of your favorite films and TV shows, many of them Westerns, have been shot since the dawn of the silent era. To learn more about the Lone Pine Film Festival — or to purchase tickets for this year’s festivities — CLICK HERE.

Are you brave enough to venture into the harrowing world of The Thicket ? Join us for an in-depth conversation with visionary director Elliott Lester , the man behind the mayhem! In this gripping episode, Andrew Patrick Nelson sits down with Lester to discuss the making of what many consider the best theatrical Western of 2024. Currently topping the movie rental charts on streaming platforms like Amazon Prime , YouTube , Apple TV+ , Tubi , and more, The Thicket is a bold and brutal winter Western that's perfect for fans of cinematic intensity.

A towering figure in the history of the Western, Clint Eastwood redefined the image of the lone hero with his portrayal of the flint-eyed, morally ambiguous gunslinger in Sergio Leone's influential “Dollars Trilogy.” Later, as a director, he fused the stylized detachment of the Italian subgenre with the classic structure of the Hollywood Western — and created a series of unforgettable films that deconstructed the myths of the Old West and earned critical acclaim, including the Academy Award for Best Picture. On this very special episode, bestselling author Shawn Levy joins us to discuss his brand new biography, Clint: The Man and the Movies . And stick around for a bonus interview with returning guest Mark Swan, who shares his thoughts about Eastwood’s Westerns and offers a behind-the-scenes look at his new album, All the Gold in the West ! Click HERE to purchase Shawn Levy’s book. Click HERE to purchase Mark Swan’s album. You can find and follow Shawn Levy HERE You can find and follow Mark Swan (aka Rex Hooper) HERE

You asked for it, so we’ve delivered! Since the launch of this podcast, John Ford’s masterpiece The Searchers has been our most frequently requested film by far. In this highly anticipated episode, we have a fascinating conversation about it that you won’t want to miss. Joining us to discuss Ford’s influential Western is author and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Glenn Frankel , whose bestselling book The Searchers: The Making of an American Legend belongs on the shelf of every serious Western movie fan. So saddle up and hit the trail with us as we explore one of the greatest films of all time. The conversation with Frankel took place at the American West Center of the University of Utah on January 17, 2025. Special thanks to the podcast Music of Bond for permission to use a clip from their show. To hear the entire episode featuring Matthew Chernov’s guest appearance, visit their Apple Podcast page or look for it wherever you download your favorite podcasts.

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 film history, including The Films of Randolph Scott , Last of the Cowboy Heroes , The Films of Budd Boetticher , and Goin' Crazy with Sam Peckinpah and All Our Friends. His latest book is titled Ride the High Country , and it's the first book to focus exclusively on Peckinpah's poignant 1962 classic. Robert Nott's book, Ride the High Country , is published by the University of New Mexico Press, and is part of the Reel West series, edited by Andrew Patrick Nelson.

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 a bold and breathtaking vision of the Old West or a television miniseries masquerading as a feature film? Our hosts debate the issue, covering everything from key scenes and performances to John Debney’s score to the critical and commercial reaction to the movie. And in a special bonus segment at the end of the episode, returning guest Travis Eller drops by to share his thoughts on the film’s impressive Western hats. He also discusses his principal lead role in the exciting new INSP television series Elkhorn ! Be sure to visit Travis’s custom hat shop, Ugly Outlaw Hats , to order your very own hand-crafted Western hat.

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 plenty of reading recommendations here that will deepen your love of Westerns. And joining us to talk about their own recent Western film books are two authors you’ll definitely enjoying meeting. First, Andrew interviews Henry C. Parke about his new book The Greatest Westerns Ever Made and the People Who Made Them . After that, Matthew chats with Cory Everett about his adorable children’s book My First Spaghetti Western . It’s an episode you’ll want to listen to from cover to cover! Books discussed on the show: The Greatest Westerns Ever Made and the People Who Made Them My First Spaghetti Western 100 Westerns Once Upon a Time in Italy: The Westerns of Sergio Leone Horse Opera: The Strange History of the 1930s Singing Cowboy John Wayne: The Life and Legend American Titan: Searching for John Wayne Bloody Sam: The Life and Films of Sam Peckinpah "If They Move . . . Kill 'Em!": The Life and Times of Sam Peckinpah Hang 'Em High: 110 Years of Western Movie Posters Click HERE to watch the trailer for Cory Everett’s My First Spaghetti Western

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 characters are hidden within this 3-minute trailer? What tone is Costner going for this time around, and how will his wildly ambitious cinematic epic fit into his already impressive Western filmography? There’s a lot here to chew on, so join Matt and Andrew as they break down the images, themes, dialogue, atmosphere and emotion on display in the brand new trailer for Horizon ! Check out the Horizon: An American Saga trailer for yourself RIGHT HERE . To receive an exclusive link to our “Secret Episode,” email us at howthewestwascast@gmail.com , and tell us what you think of our podcast.

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 Apple Podcast platform, or the Audible platform, or whatever platform you use. Simply review our podcast somewhere, take a screenshot of your review and email it to us, or just email us a message letting us know you reviewed the show, and we’ll send you an exclusive link to the secret episode. You can reach us by email at: howthewestwascast@gmail.com There are two additional ways to receive the secret episode. First, you can spread the word about How the West Was ‘Cast on social media. Share a link to our show on your Facebook page. Tweet your thoughts about our podcast on your Twitter account. Or mention our show on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, etc. Then email us a message letting us know that you spread the word on social media, and in exchange we’ll send you a link to the secret episode. And the last way to receive the secret episode is simply to email us directly and let us know what our podcast means to you. What do you enjoy most about How the West Was ‘Cast ? What are your favorite episodes? What films would you like us to cover in the future? Again, you can reach us by email at: howthewestwascast@gmail.com So that’s our “secret” offer. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

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 Yogerst , whose latest book - The Warner Brothers - was recently published by the University Press of Kentucky. On this fascinating episode, Chris and Andrew Patrick Nelson discuss the history of the Western film genre at Warner Brothers, and they look at several of the most memorable and important movies the studio released. To purchase a copy of Chris's new book, The Warner Brothers , in hardcover, audio, or digital download, visit the book's Amazon page .

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 an occult oddity released in the '70s to a would-be Hollywood blockbuster from 2010, these macabre movies are guaranteed to send shivers down your spine. And as a blood-curdling bonus, we’ve got a special interview with author and editor Patrick R. McDonough at the very end of the show. Don’t miss our creepy conversation with Patrick about his brand new horror Western anthology, Hot Iron and Cold Blood . It’s a collection of 16 disturbing short stories that will shock even the bravest Western movie fans. To order your very own copy of Hot Iron and Cold Blood in paperback or digital download, visit the book’s Amazon page .

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 INSP network. Our very own Andrew Patrick Nelson has appeared numerous times on the series, providing info and commentary about the legendary figures and historic events covered on the show. Joining us on podcast to discuss the series is Emmy-nominated filmmaker Paul Epstein , the executive producer and showrunner on Into the Wild Frontier . Don’t miss this engaging conversation between Andrew and Paul, who talk about a wide range of topics related to the Western film and TV genre! To learn more about Paul Epstein and his work, visit the Paul Epstein Productions website . For additional information about Into the Wild Frontier , visit the INSP network webpage .

1970 was an important year for Indian-themed Westerns, with A Man Called Horse and Soldier Blue both released within months of each other. But by far the most popular Indian Western of that year was Arthur Penn’s Oscar-nominated Little Big Man . On this episode, Andrew Patrick Nelson discusses the film’s public reception, its Vietnam war symbolism, the acclaimed performance of supporting actor Chief Dan George, and many other issues surrounding the Dustin Hoffman classic. The episode also features a special bonus interview with documentarian Alex Sherratt, who co-directed The Real Wild West , a new 4-part docuseries available exclusively on the Curiosity Stream platform. To watch a trailer for The Real Wild West and to subscribe to the platform, visit the Curiosity Stream website .

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 classics like Dances with Wolves , Unforgiven , or Tombstone on this particular show. Instead, we're focusing on '90s Westerns that have been either ignored, forgotten, or underappreciated for far too long. So toss a burger on your George Foreman Grill®, lace up your inline skates, and download this special flashback episode of How the West Was 'Cast! Be sure to subscribe to our new YouTube channel! You can find us on YouTube at @westernpodcast .

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 across a desolate landscape on a secret quest for vengeance. Join us for a fascinating conversation with two-time Emmy-winning screenwriter and producer Kirk Ellis, whose new book - titled Ride Lonesome - offers uniquely personal insights about one of the most popular Westerns of the '50s. Kirk Ellis's book, Ride Lonesome , is published by the University of New Mexico Press, and is part of the Reel West series, edited by Andrew Patrick Nelson.

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 mythic milieu of the Hollywood Western with the dark psychological themes of a classic noir. On this engaging episode, Andrew Patrick Nelson chats with acclaimed author, biographer and film noir expert Alan K. Rode , whose latest book – titled Blood on the Moon – offers a fascinating analysis of this influential Western. Alan K. Rode’s book, Blood on the Moon , is published by the University of New Mexico Press, and is part of the Reel West series, edited by Andrew Patrick Nelson. And if you're interested in real-life Western history, be sure to check out The Wild West Extravaganza . It's a show we highly recommend.

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, Lee Marvin, and many more of your favorite stars. Joining us to talk about Western hats is actor Travis Eller , who owns and operates Ugly Outlaw Hats , a custom hat shop that specializes in creating authentic Western-style hats. Visit Ugly Outlaw Hats to browse their collection, and contact Travis directly to order your very own Western hat. Tell 'em How the West Was 'Cast sent ya!

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 that we highly recommend. It’s an entertaining look at classic movie music from the 1950s, ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘90s. We also chat about Mark’s amazing new album, Frontera USA , which is the soundtrack to an imaginary Spaghetti Western! So get ready to hum along with some of the greatest Western film scores ever composed. To purchase and download a copy of Mark’s album, Frontera USA , visit the Natalie Pryce Bandcamp page . This episode is brought to you in part by Ugly Outlaw Hats . Visit their online store today to browse their collection of authentic handmade Western-style cowboy hats.