How the West Was Fun

How the West Was Fun is a 1994 contemporary western television film starring Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen.

How the West Was Fun
Promotional poster for the video release
Genre	Family Western
Written by	Jurgen Wolff
Directed by	Stuart Margolin
Starring	Mary-Kate Olsen Ashley Olsen Martin Mull Patrick Cassidy Peg Phillips
Music by	Richard Bellis
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Executive producers	Allen S. Epstein Jim Green
Producers	Mark Bacino Adria Later
Cinematography	Richard Leiterman
Editor	David Blangsted
Running time	96 minutes
Production companies	Dualstar Productions Green/Epstein Productions Kicking Horse Productions Ltd. Warner Bros. Television
Original release
Network	ABC
Release	November 19, 1994 (1994-11-19)

Synopsis

Eight-year-old twins Jessica and Susie Martin (Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen) live with their widowed father, Stephen (Patrick Cassidy), in Philadelphia. One day they receive a letter from their late mother Sarah's godmother, Natty (Phillips), inviting Sarah to help at her struggling dude ranch. Unaware of Sarah’s death, Natty seeks help to keep the ranch afloat. The girls convince their father to visit, though they accidentally get him fired after appealing to his strict boss, Ms. Plaskett (nicknamed "The Dragon Lady").

At the ranch, the girls meet Natty’s kind but mysterious foreman, George Tailfeathers (Cardinal), and her lazy, scheming son Bart Gifooley (Mull). Sarah's old horse, Lightning, leads the twins to a hidden diary revealing that Bart once tried to burn the ranch and plans to sell it. The girls discover his secret hideout, “The Bear’s Mouth,” and overhear his schemes to sabotage visitors.

With George’s support, Jessica and Susie persuade Natty to refurbish and reopen the ranch. Bart, meanwhile, secretly arranges to sell the property to businessman Leo McRugger, planning to turn it into "Gifooley Land" theme park. When the girls expose his deception, Natty angrily expels Bart.

Stephen, still unemployed, fails to secure a bank loan, unaware that the bank is already aligned with Bart’s plans. Determined to save the ranch, the girls travel to Denver to meet McRugger, convincing him and his associates to visit and experience the ranch themselves. Stephen, Natty, George, Laura Forrester (Greene), and the twins prepare activities to impress the investors, but Bart repeatedly sabotages their efforts. The twins then search for a hidden treasure based on their mother’s map. Though they find only fool’s gold, McRugger is charmed and agrees not to purchase the ranch.

Bart attempts one last act of revenge, kidnapping the girls on a raft and sending them downriver toward a dam. They escape by grabbing a rope hanging from a bridge, while Bart crashes over the dam and is seriously injured. In the end, the ranch is saved, and everyone celebrates with a dance, except for Bart, who is left sulking.

Cast

• Ashley Olsen as Jessica Martin
• Mary-Kate Olsen as Susie Martin
• Elizabeth Olsen as Girl In Car
• Martin Mull as Bart Gifooley
• Michele Greene as Laura Forrester
• Patrick Cassidy as Stephen Martin
• Ben Cardinal as George Tailfeathers
• Leon Pownall as Leo McRugger
• Peg Phillips as Natty
• Wes Tritter as Cookie
• Georgie Collins as Mrs. Plaskett
• Heather Lea MacCallum as Leona
• Shaun Johnston as Phil
• Daniel Libman as Roger
• Bartley Bard as Mr. Sutton

Reception

Variety said that "young female viewers will no doubt identify with these resourceful sisters, but, for others, the helming is generally routine and doesn’t light up the family/juvenile market."^[1]

Production

The Olsens signed on with an initial agreement of $1 million minimum each, with a larger pay raise of the film was completed underbudget.^[2] The film was filmed in the Canadian Rockies, one hour west of Calgary, Alberta at Rafter Six Ranch Resort. Shots in the city were done within Calgary, including a ride on Calgary Transit's C-Train.

See also

• List of American films of 1994