Dream West (DVD)

Richard Chamberlain heads an all-star cast in this rousing true story about the legendary explorer and politician who mapped and opened the American West. Based on the best-selling book by David Nevin, Dream West follows the adventures of John Charles Fremont (Chamberlain), the Army officer who blazed the Oregon Trail, took California away from Mexico, served as its first governor, came within grasp of the presidency and fought for the Union during the Civil War. Shot over a four-month period on locations in Wyoming, Colorado, Arizona, Virginia, Utah and California, this seven-hour epic was scripted by novelist Evan Hunter and features an extraordinary cast that includes Alice Krige, Rip Torn, Jerry Orbach, Cameron Mitchell, Mel Ferrer and Oscar winners* Ben Johnson and F. Murray Abraham. Broadcast in April 1986, Dream West has never been repeated, making it one of the rarest and most requested miniseries in television history. * Ben Johnson: Actor in a Supporting Role (The Last Picture Show, 1971); F. Murray Abraham: Actor in a Leading Role (Amadeus, 1984)

• drama
• western