The Big Country

A New Englander (Gregory Peck) arrives in the Old West to marry a beautiful young (Carroll Baker) , there he becomes embroiled in feuding families with rival patriarchs (Burl Ives , Charles Bickford) over a valuable patch of land and water rights on a river . Furthermore , this exciting Western pits stubborn Gregory Peck and tough ranch foreman , Charlton Heston, as ongoing adversaries , both of whom carry out a marathon fist-fight .

Impressive and big-budgeted Western with action , adventure , thrills , energetic drama , spectacular scenarios and interesting message about peace and no violence. Outstanding acting from Gregory Peck as obstinate ex-sea captain forced to take sides in familiar battle and Charlton Heston stands out as quick-tempered cowboy . Two beauties as Jean Simmons and Carroll Baker give splendid performances . Special mention to Burl Ives who deservedly won Academy Award as burly pater families. Brief appearance , almost extra , of Roddy McDowall as watchman . Wonderful camera work by Franz Planer who photographs marvelously the colorful outdoors and interior . Classic musical score by Jerome Moross , one of the best from cinema's history . This marvelous Western , as long as epic , has become a classic , being stunningly and finely crafted directed by the maestro William Wyler . Wyler was an expert on Western as proved in ¨The Westener , Friendly persuasion, Big Country¨, but his specialty were dramas as ¨Jezebel, Best years of our lives , Dodsworth , The heiress, The letter , Wuthering heights , Dead , These three ,The collector ¨ , his biggest hit was ,of course, ¨Ben Hur¨. Rating : Very good but overlong as the runtime is approx three hours . This famous Western will appeal to Peck and Heston fans . Worthwhile watching and above average .

A delightful movie with particularly strong characters that pound the silver screen (in a good way)

No one actor steals the show making for a balanced film without any downturns.

Beautifully shot and excellently paced.

Great western :)

As several characters state in the film, "This is a big country" and THIS is a BIG MOVIE. It screams out for widescreen viewing. Many of the characters are largely and broadly drawn with big strokes (stubborn Peck, fiery Baker, resentful Heston, righteous Simmons, imperious Bickford, cantankerous Ives and slithering Connors) yet they all are dwarfed by the huge landscape. Tall men, horses, trees and houses are all presented as so many ants on an ant hill in many of the images. The film has a compelling story and intriguing interpersonal relationships and rivalries which are all enhanced by this larger than life approach. The landscape is sometimes awe-inspiring, notably in the Blanco Canyon scenes near the end of the film. Peck is appropriately straight-laced and uncomfortable in this rough & tumble setting, lovely Simmons is a likable heroine and Baker is an effective daddy's girl with misplaced affections. Connors acquits himself very nicely as a thoroughly detestable punk. Heston comes off extremely strong in this film. He's completely at home and was probably never more handsome (check out the scene in which he's roused from his bed by Peck!) He makes the most out of this secondary role. Bickford and Oscar-winning Ives make a great pair of adversaries...almost makes one wish for a prequel to see what got these two so riled up (but today's filmmakers couldn't be counted upon to do it in a tasteful, classy way.) Memorable scenes include the taunting of Peck by Connors and his brothers, Ives grand entrance into Bickford's house and an almost legendary fight scene between Heston and Peck. All of the above are raised to an even higher plane of excellence by what must be one of the greatest musical scores in film history (western or otherwise.) Jerome Moross composed several themes (the opening title is the best known) which put this film into a whole new category of enjoyment. The score stands alone as a beautiful listening experience and paired with the images in this film, it is amazing. It occasionally seems intrusive, yet knows when to keep quiet as well. The Oscar that year went to Tiompkin's "Old Man and the Sea", but it seems astonishing that anything could have bested this score. The film's only real flaw is slight overlength, but nothing really stands out as aching to be cut! Maybe just bits and pieces....but, really, the story just takes it's time and builds to some stirring moments.

The Big Country was passed over by the professional critics as being empty, ernest, and not enough sweep to be called a true epic. Well, I remember seeing The Big Country and was properly swept off my feet by the grand scale of the Big Country, the death feud between Burl Ives and Charles Bickford, the shaky and doomed romance between Gregory Peck and the spoiled Carroll Baker and the quiet understanding between Peck and the lovely Jean Simmons, but most of all, the thing that propelled me to see The Big Country over and over was the magnificant score by Jerome Moross. Sure, I could site many scores that have aided films to glory, Max Steiner for The Letter, Maurice Jarre for Lawrence of Arabia, Miklos Roza for an excellent score for a weak epic Land of the Pharaohs, and Hans Zimmer for an excellent score for a great epic Gladiator but I still say that for a western you can't get any better than the magnificant score for The Big Country. The sweep and majesty and the quiet moments of Jerome Moross's music sets the tone for this truly underated movie. United Artist released the music on LP and I wore mine out along with my neighbors complaints, I now own an excellent CD produced by SILVA SCREEN which I can't wear out. All in all see The Big Country on your big screen in Widescreen and give yourself a real treat. Who needs Giant?

Alec West said spoke well in his post about the movie. It is one of my favorite movies for similar reasons. I would only add that I have used the film to illustrate different male and female values and styles. In Jim and Leech, and Buck as well, we see quite different versions of maleness: their world-views and how they present themselves to others. The contrast between Terrill and Hannassay is another interesting study. Pat and Julie offer a couple wonderful contrasts of female ways of being in the world. As a therapist, I have seen present day versions of these characters' values and behaviors time and again. My favorite character is Jim, but the character of greatest interest to me is Steve Leech. I admire his loyalty and find his transformation through his interactions with McKay well drawn.