| Doomed attempt to get to California in 1846. More than just a riveting tale of death, endurance and survival. The Donner Party's nightmarish journey penetrated to the very heart of the American Dream at a crucial phase of the nation's "manifest destiny." Touching some of the most powerful social, economic and political currents of the time, this extraordinary narrative remains one of the most compelling and enduring episodes to come out of the West. | |
| Release Date: | Oct 28, 1992 |
|---|---|
| Director: | Ric Burns |
| Writer: | Ric Burns |
| Genres: | Documentary, History |
| Keywords | reenactment, american experience, cannibalism |
| Production Companies | |
| Box Office |
Revenue: $0
Budget: $0 |
| Updates |
Updated: Jan 30, 2026 Entered: Apr 27, 2024 |
| Name | Character |
|---|---|
| David McCullough | Narrator (voice) |
| J.D. Cannon | voice |
| Timothy Hutton | voice |
| Gene Jones | voice |
| Amy Madigan | voice |
| Donal McCann | voice |
| George Plimpton | voice |
| Paul Roebling | voice |
| Lois Smith | voice |
| Frances Sternhagen | voice |
| Eli Wallach | voice |
| Name | Job |
|---|---|
| Ira Spiegel | Sound Editor |
| Bruce Shaw | Editor |
| Ric Burns | Writer, Director |
| Brian Keane | Original Music Composer, Music Arranger |
| Allen Moore | Director of Photography |
| Buddy Squires | Director of Photography |
| Organization | Category | Person |
|---|
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