Then US President Dwight D. Eisenhower gave the movie four consecutive showings at the White House and called it "simply the best film ever made. My number one favorite film."
Jean Simmons was so traumatized by the experience making the film that she refused to talk about it for years until an interview in the late 1980s when she revealed, "We'd have our lines learned, then receive a rewrite, stay up all night learning the new version, then receive yet another rewrite the following morning. It made the acting damned near impossible."
Director William Wyler absolutely hated Jerome Moross's score for the film, and insisted on hiring another composer to redo the job. But preview audiences were so enthusiastic about the music, especially the opening theme, that star and co-producer Gregory Peck persuaded Wyler to back down. Moross went on to earn an Oscar nomination and his score for "The Big Country" is now considered one of the classic western soundtracks.
Charlton Heston initially turned down the role of ranch foreman Steve Leech because he didn't think the part was big enough. His agent convinced him that it would be worth it just for the opportunity to work with Gregory Peck and William Wyler.
According to actor Slim Pickens' daughter, her father doubled Gregory Peck in the scene where Peck's character was bucked off the horse. Pickens owned the horse and didn't want anyone else riding it.