Journey to the heart of the American dream
Over view
a six-week television event, explores one of the most powerful and defining chapters in American history. As the desire for adventure, wealth and a better life inspires thousands to risk their lives traveling across the vast western territories, the inhabitants of this land see their way of life being destroyed. Set against a backdrop of major historical events, the Gold Rush, Pony Express, Transcontinental Railroad, the Indian Wars, this powerful epic adventure unfolds as told through the struggles, triumphs and heartaches of two families as they journey in search of the American dream.
Directors
Robert Dornhelm, episode 1
Simon Wincer, episode 2
Executive producer Steven Spielberg
Cast
Lew Alexander .... Good Thunder
Kwesi Ameyaw .... Henry Foster
Sean Astin .... Martin Jarrett
Gerald Auger .... Soaring Eagle
Simon R. Baker .... Loved By The Buffalo (Younger)
Irene Bedard .... Margaret / Light Shines (older)
Tom Berenger .... Colonel J. Chivington
Gil Birmingham .... Dog Star (Older)
Sean Blakemore .... Ben Franklin
Christian Bocher .... Bloody Bill Anderson
Beau Bridges .... Stephen Hoxie
Josh Brolin .... Jedediah Smith
Josh Bryant .... general William T. Sherman
Gary Busey .... Johnny Fox
Jessica Capshaw .... Rachel Wheeler
Tonantzin Carmelo .... Thunder Heart Woman
Keith Carradine .... Captain Richard Henry Pratt
Tyler Christopher .... Jacob Wheeler Jr.
Rachael Leigh Cook .... Clara Wheeler
Derek de Lint .... Preacher Hobbes
Travis Dugas .... Bear Blood
John Pyper Ferguson .... Josiah Bell
Balthazar Getty .... David Wheeler
Daniel Gillies .... Ethan Biggs
Graham Greene .... Conquering Bear
Joanna Going .... Clara Wheeler (older)
Scott Heindl .... Thomas Lebeck
Lance Henriksen .... Daniel Wheeler
Emily Holmes .... Leah Wheeler
Rebecca Jenkins .... Susannah Wheeler
Jonathan Joss .... Wovoka/Jack Wilson
Christian Kane .... Abe Wheeler/High Wolf
Dylan Kenin .... Captain Fetterman
Katherine Kerbes .... Mrs. Hobbes
Warren Kole .... Robert Wheeler
Tinsel Korey .... Bluebird
Nakotah Larance .... Voices That Carry (Younger)
George Leach .... Loved by The Buffalo (Older)
Robert Maloney .... John Charles Fremont
Joseph M. Marshall III .... Loved by the Buffalo (oldest and voice over)
Zahn McClarnon .... Running Fox
Russell Means .... Running Fox (Older)
Tatanka Means .... Crazy Horse
David Midthunder .... White Crow
Matthew Modine .... Samson Wheeler
Will Patton .... Fletcher
Tyler Posey .... Abe Wheeler / High Wolf (Younger)
Kalani Queypo .... White Bird
Francesco Quinn .... Captain de Salamanca
Steve Reevis .... Loved By The Buffalo (Older)
Rod Rondeaux .... Roman Nose
Judge Reinhold .... Douglas Hillman
Keri Russell .... Naomi Wheeler
Elizabeth Sage .... Margaret Light Shines (Younger)
Jonathan Scharfe .... George Armstrong Custer
Eric Schweig .... Sitting Bull
Matthew Settle .... Jacob Wheeler
Craig Sheffer .... Robert Wheeler (Older)
Arron Shiver .... Edward Wynkoop
Geno Silva .... Padre Sanchez
Eddie Spears .... Red Lance (Older)
Michael Spears .... Dog Star
Chaske Spencer .... Voices That Carry
Wes Studi .... Black Kettle
Jay Tavare .... Chief Prairie Fire
John Terry .... Jacob Wheeler (Older)
Gordon Tootoosis .... Growling Bear
Sheila Tousey .... Thunder Heart Woman (Older)
Raoul Trujillo .... Red Cloud
Alan Tudyk .... Nathan Wheeler
Skeet Ulrich .... Jethro Wheeler
Garrett Wang .... Chow-Ping
Chantelle Webster .... Corn Flower
"Wheel to the stars" (aka Migration) Episode 1/6
The year is 1827. In Virginia, young Jacob Wheeler dreams of adventure. Leaving his family behind, he joins renowned mountain man Jedediah Smith on an expedition to California. Meanwhile, a young Lakota holy man, Loved By The Buffalo, receives disturbing visions about the coming of the white man and the demise of the buffalo. When his sister, Thunder Heart Woman, is saved by Jacob, the lives of the two families become forever intertwined.
"Manifest Destiny" Episode 2/6
The changes in the western frontier take their toll on the Native people. Some choose to cast their lot with the white man, while others cling to their traditional ways. Jacob Wheeler and his wife, Thunder Heart Woman, return to Virginia, but soon the promise of a new life in California entices Jacob to set out again along with his brother Jethro. The road is long and hard. Many are lost, and in the end, one brother makes the ultimate sacrifice.
"Dreams & Schemes" Episode 3/6
Gold fever spreads throughout the land bringing thousands of prospectors to California, and leaving a wake of destruction across Lakota sacred land. Greed overtakes Jethro Wheeler, who risks his life to strike it rich. In exile, Loved By The Buffalo continues to seek the prophet who will save the Lakota and their land. Meanwhile, back east, the election of President Abraham Lincoln divides the Union.
"Hell on Wheels" Episode 4/6
The race is on as the Central Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads lay down tracks across the U.S., bringing East and West together. Joining the railroad crew is Jacob Wheeler's son Abe, while his other son, Jacob Jr., becomes a scout for the Army. Jacob’s daughter, Margaret, is captured and adopted by the Cheyenne, whose village is then attacked by U.S. soldiers. Seeing the horrors of how her Native American brethren are treated by the soldiers, Margaret decides to stay with her Cheyenne family, who refer to her by her Lakota name, Light Shines. Meanwhile, Robert Wheeler and his orphaned and distant cousin Clara seek their fortune in a railroad boomtown.
"Casualties of War" Episode 5/6
When gold is discovered in the Black Hills, the U.S. Army moves in to take possession of the land. However, Chief Sitting Bull refuses to yield the sacred lands and has a vision of the Army’s defeat. His vision of victory becomes reality when Crazy Horse and his warriors overcome Custer and the 7th Calvary at Little Big Horn. But the Lakota victory fuels increased hatred toward the Native Americans. Meanwhile, Robert and Clara’s general store prospers as a result of the gold rush, while Margaret/Light Shines finds purpose in a nearby refugee camp helping the women and orphaned children. Robert and Clara are enticed into teaching at an experimental school in Pennsylvania designed to “civilize” Native American children.
"Ghost Dance" Episode 6/6
Robert and Clara return home, disillusioned by the school they have been hired to run, and Clara begins to teach Native American children on the reservation. Loved By the Buffalo believes he has found the foretold prophet when a mysterious Indian named Wokova inspires his people with the Ghost Dance and a vision of their restored land. But the ritual stirs up more fear among those who wish to contain the Native Americans. After Sitting Bull is “accidentally” killed by soldiers, the Ghost Dance rebellion grows, which in turn leads to more brutality toward the Native Americans. Loved By the Buffalo and Jacob meet again, closing a circle that began many years ago, and Loved By the Buffalo resolves to pass on his Lakota traditions to the next generation so their ways continue on.
Air date
10 juin 2005 on TNT
Did you know that?
Christian Kane is the third one to work with Spielberg, after Amy Acker in Catch me if you can, and Julie Benz in Taken. He appears in episode Dreams & Schemes, working for the Pony Express, and Hell on Wheels.
Also seen in Hell on Wheels, Keith Szarabajka who portrayed Angel's nemesis Daniel Holtz during Angel season three.
(summary from Spielberg films. Into the west (c) TNT.) |
Official TNT website
 
Dreams & Schemes
Hell on Wheels
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