The Big Country
|
List Price: Our Price: $7.21 You Save: $7.77 (52%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $4.94 (click here) Category: DVD See more DVD releases |
|---|
Canada
Movie Reviews of The Big Country
Movie Review: Atticus Finch goes West
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a sprawling, glorious saga that will be appreciated by people who don't even like the Western genre. With fabulous cinematography, an excellent script, and two of my favorite actors, it's a film I never tire of watching.
Gregory Peck is the sea captain with principles who goes west to meet his future bride, only to find feuds and fighting, and some lawless varmints who need his "non violent" ways of resolving territorial issues. He is terrific as James McKay, who is sort of an Atticus Finch in boots, and looks mighty fine as well.
Charlton Heston has the smaller part as Leech, a foreman who is seething with jealousy and obeys the orders of his unscrupulous boss (rancher Terrill, played with subtle menace by Charles Bickford) as he yearns for his daughter. Heston is brilliant as this rather complex character, and would a year later star in director William Wyler's next epic, "Ben Hur", which is perhaps my all-time most viewed and enjoyed film.
Both female leads are wonderful, and are portrayed with enormous strength; Jean Simmons, with her luminous eyes is the schoolteacher, and Carroll Baker is the tough daughter of rancher Bickford, and is too much like her daddy to make a suitable bride for Peck.
Among the many strong performances in the supporting parts are Burl Ives, and received a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his gnarly old Rufus, Chuck Connors is his bad to the bone son, and Alfonso Bedoya, is a delight as Ramon, who along with a horse named "Old Thunder", provides some of the humor in the film.
The score by Jerome Moross is lovely (and received an Oscar nomination) and the cinematography by Franz Planner spectacular. The film was shot in the San Joaquin and Stanislaus Counties as well as Last Chance Canyon in California, and it is breathtakingly beautiful.
If you like a good screen fight like I do, this has a great one, "mano a mano" between Peck and Heston; it initially has no music, just the pounding of the fists and the men gasping for breath, and is very effective.
Romance, drama, and lots of action make this a film that appeals to many, and is suitable for the whole family. Total running time is 165 minutes.
Movie Review: A terrific story and a great family film.
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a terrific movie and is a fabulous family film. Almost all of the left-wing allegory of the Cold War that William Wyler et al intended in the film is lost to history and will only be noticed by those looking for it. The cast is so fabulous that Charlton Heston is a secondary star in this film. He plays Steve Leech, the foreman of the Terrill Ranch and was raised there since a boy by Major Terrill (played by Charles Bickford).
Gregory Peck plays James McKay, a ship's captain who has come to this "Big Country" to marry the Major's daughter, Patricia (pronounced Patreesha by the Major) played by Caroll Baker. McKay immediately finds himself embroiled in the fight between the poorer but more numerous Hannasseys and the Terrills, who consider themselves more deserving and elite. Each side wants another ranch owned by the local school teacher Julie Maragon (Jean Simmons) because it has the only water in the region. Her family has had the ranch since the family was given it by Mexico generations previously. One of the people McKay has trouble with is the foreman Leech because Leech wants Patricia, but can't have her (since he is a hand and not good enough).
McKay is bewildered by the fight and everyone fails to read McKay correctly. They see his being unwilling to fight and escalate trouble as cowardice and his shrewdness in not being duped into riding a horse that would throw him as timidity. McKay goes about doing what he thinks best when he thinks best and this causes him some trouble, but he has a higher goal in mind. Of course things culminate in a large conflict, but not in the way you might predict and even if you do, it is handled very well.
Burl Ives plays Rufus, the head of the Hannassey clam He is so compelling on the screen that he won the Oscar for best supporting actor in 1958 for this role. Chuck Connors (only 11 years Ives junior) plays his oldest son, Buck. I will leave the rest of the plot for you to discover.
Enjoy it as a straight story and a Western of a different flavor rather than looking for some silly allegory.
Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI
Movie Review: The Big Country: A Big Experience
Summary: 5 Stars
The Big Country (1958)
William Wyler did a magnificent job directing THE BIG COUNTRY. You won't see many films as well constructed. The story of a New England sailor, James McKay (Gregory Peck), who enters the Old West, is told so effectively, the 165 minute run-time seems half that length.
The plot concerns McKay, who unwittingly enters the family feud between the Hannasseys and the Terrills. Both families are cattle ranchers who rely on Julie Maragon (Jean Simmons) who owns 'The Big Muddy', a stretch of land that controls the water flow in the area. Essentially, the film follows McKay, as he endlessly struggles; with his feelings for his betrothed, Patricia Terrill (Carroll Baker); with the envy of chief Terrill ranch-hand Steve Leech (Charlton Heston); and with the blood-lust, pride and tradition of his prospective father-in-law, Major Henry Terrill (Charles Bickford).
Aside from Julie Maragon, the only character who is quick to understand McKay is patriarch Rufus Hannassey (Burl Ives), who is nevertheless, blinded by his own need for revenge. Worse yet, is Rufus' son Buck (Chuck Connors), who is a character foil to McKay, and symbolizes everything low and cowardly. While dealing with this largely unsavoury cast of characters, McKay tries to stay true to himself.
My favourite scene involves a fist-fight between Heston and Peck. But it is not the fight which is principally arresting. Rather, it is the backdrop of the fight ... an early morning sky with a shock of blue Technicolor light. This background gives the scene a certain ethereal majesty, and is reminiscent (probably intentionally) of Jacob fighting the angel to a standstill in the Book of Genesis. A most memorable, beautiful visual experience.
Every facet of the film was above par. The writing, Jerome Moross score, the cinematography, editing; everything clicks. Kudos to Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston, Charles Bickford, Burl Ives, and Chuck Connors for superlative performances.
I look forward to this release on Blu-ray, where I hope a remastered edition will correct current picture deficiencies.
Movie Review: An exquisite and underrated film
Summary: 5 Stars
The Big Country has so many fabulous elements to it that it's hard to know where to begin. The acting is universally superb and every actor is cast to perfection in their individual roles. Gregory Peck has rarely been as understated, subtle and magnificent as he is in the title character of the handsome, secure Jim McKay. He is the quintessential American character and only Peck, Jimmy Stewart, or Henry Fonda could lay claim to that mantle. Carroll Baker plays his shrewish, manipulative and petulant girlfriend to a "T." Charlton Heston is excellent in a supporting role, as are Charles Bickford and Chuck Connors, who is surprisingly effective as the drunken roustabout Buck. Jean Simmons loses her British accent and delivers a memorable, strong performance as well.Ultimately, the best performance is delivered by Burl Ives, who won a much-deserved Academy Award in his role as the patriarch of the Hannessey clan. Watch particularly for the scene where he disrupts the Major's party and delivers a searing soliloquy on the selfishness and tyrannical tendencies of the Terrell family. This is an acting tour de force from Ives, who is every bit as powerful here as he was playing Big Daddy in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." Another great scene is when Chuck Connors walks into the house and says, "Pa, did you want me?" Ives sneers, "I did before you was born!"
The score is incomparable, the mesmerizing string section will have you humming for days. The cinematography is eerily derivative of John Ford and the sweeping vistas makes you want to be there, in every frame.
There are some clichés, notably the fight scene between Peck and Heston, which goes on too long and is a little contrived. The ending is also melodramatic and improbable, yet somehow a fitting climax to this wonderful movie. Rarely has an ensemble cast been so universally excellent, the acting alone makes this a truly outstanding film. I rooted for the Hannessey's throughout the film, others may opt for the Terrell's, but it doesn't really matter in the end. My highest recommendation.
Movie Review: If you love Westerns, you'll love this one now on 16:9 DVD!!
Summary: 5 Stars
MGM's Western Legends Series presents William Wylers (Director of BEN-Hur) 1958 epic western classic "The Big Country". Now on DVD presented in WideScreen and enhanced for WideScreen HDTV's (16:9) format. This DVD is beautifully presented with the huge panoramtic display of "The Big Country".This western was overshadowed in the late 1950's by the new "Rebel Without A Cause" youth gendre films.
Now we can recapture this 165 minute WideScreen western epic in the home on this fabulous DVD. Perfect script, magnificent photography, superb musical score, masterful direction of William Wyler & a brilliant ensemble cast providing all the elements for a great story. Lead by Gregory Peck - at his best, Jean Simmons - beautiful & intelligent, Charleton Heston - excellent Peck nemesis, Carrol Baker - rich & spoiled, Burl Ives - strong & rough (Oscar Winner - Best Supporting Actor), Chuck Connors - outstanding villian & Charles Bickford - arrogant & vane.
Summary: An Eastern Sea Captain / Dude (Peck) with a high moral code arrives in "The Big Country" to marry spoiled rich girl (Baker). Immediately he discovers he is in the middle of a range & water rights war against two feuding families, the Terrills (Bickford, Baker & hired foreman Heston) vs the Hannasseys (Ives & Connors). A local school teacher (Simmons) holds the deed & control of the water rights in "The Big Country". Who will get control of the water & will Peck be able to maintain his high morale ethical code? We journey throughout this epic western captured in the plot complexity & magnificent scenes discovering these answers & lots more.
A great family film. This is when Hollywood provided us with all the key ingredients for a great story, including the classical happy ending. An epic western you'll enjoy over & over. This DVD has an excellent transfer of sight & sound. The only extra is a trailer. Enjoy.