The Big Country
"A Giant-sized motion picture, lusty, rousing and with great sweep!" -Variety
One of Hollywood's greatest directors teams with a cast of incredible screen legends for this bold, sweeping tale of a ship's captain who ventures west to find a hotbed of jealousy, hatred and dangerous rivalries. As the reluctant hero is thrust into the maelstrom, he must summon all of his resolve to save not only his own life, but also the life of the woman he loves.
William Wyler directs this action-packed adventure that triumphs as "a work of art" (Motion Picture Herald). Starring Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston, Jean Simmons, Chuck Connors and Burl Ives, this magnificently entertaining epic will take your breath away with unbridled suspense, exhilarating excitement and explosive drama on a grand scale.
Member Reviews
Masterful - TaBobo
This is one of those titles, I've always seen and just never been enticed to rent. Having run out of westerns that Zip carries, I finally zipped it and what a great surprise. The performance by Peck is.... impeckable. The upright character portrayed both confidently and somewhat naively is flawless.
I would recommend moving this to the forefront of your list if you're a western fan or just a fan of finely executed drama.A Wonderful, Sprawling Classic - MovieProf
This is a one of the best westerns Hollywood has made to date, in my humble opinion. The all-star cast certainly lends credence to my argument: Gregory Peck, Charleton Heston, Jean Simmons, Burl Ives, Carroll Baker, and Charles Bickford all turn in excellent performances, though only Ives was successful in terms of recognition, winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his work. The cinematography does much to show off the vastness of the American frontier, and director William Wyler uses countless extreme long shots to further demonstrate just how big the west was/is. Charleton Heston plays against type as an arrogant, unlikeable ranch hand who has no use for newcomer Gregory Peck. Peck, meanwhile, plays a calm, controlled, affectionate, and fair man, in a way somewhat reminiscent of his career-defining role of Atticus Finch in "To Kill a Mockingbird" a few years later. As well, the score by Jerome Moross, nominated for an Academy Award, adds much to an already exciting film. It's long--just under three hours--but the time is well spent to build so many strong characters and make this a western worth seeing.Great Western - TMFan1
This is a gripping and unusual western. Peck plays a complex combination of western hero with pascifist leanings. He challenges the social norms of the wild west, and it takes people a while to figure out that he is just as tough as they, if not tougher. Great story telling in this one: a story with many characters and relationships that is expertly handled. Long but not boring at all. Beautifully filmed with great scenery; the DVD transfer is not great during the credits, but it improves after that. I could have used some more intensity in the colour, though. Excellent score. Fine acting by all: Peck, Burl Ives, Chuck Conners, Jean Simmons, and all the reat are uniformly fine. Even Charlton Heston is fine - and perfectly cast. Great fight scene with Peck and Heston. An excellent movie!
Member Reviews
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Masterful - TaBobo
This is one of those titles, I've always seen and just never been enticed to rent. Having run out of westerns that Zip carries, I finally zipped it and what a great surprise. The performance by Peck is.... impeckable. The upright character portrayed both ...A Wonderful, Sprawling Classic - MovieProf
This is a one of the best westerns Hollywood has made to date, in my humble opinion. The all-star cast certainly lends credence to my argument: Gregory Peck, Charleton Heston, Jean Simmons, Burl Ives, Carroll Baker, and Charles Bickford all turn in excellent ...Great Western - TMFan1
This is a gripping and unusual western. Peck plays a complex combination of western hero with pascifist leanings. He challenges the social norms of the wild west, and it takes people a while to figure out that he is just as tough as they, if not tougher. Great ...