HotToastyRag I haven't seen every western in the world, but I've seen my fair share, and in my opinion The Big Country is one of the best classic western films. If you haven't seen this oldie yet, go out and buy it now. Trust me, you'll want to watch it over and over again.William Wyler, director of another perfect American classic The Best Years of Our Lives, helmed The Big Country the year before using Charlton Heston again in Ben-Hur. Charlton Heston plays the antagonist in this movie, and it's great to see him in that rare role. The lead, the out-of-towner with a strong moral character, is played by Gregory Peck, the very portrait of American integrity. Greg comes to the open country to reunite with his fiancé Caroll Baker. He's an outsider, and he isn't welcomed with open arms by everyone. Along the way, he builds a friendship with Jean Simmons, who appreciates his high morals, and he finds himself in the middle of a decades-old family feud, led by Charles Bickford and Burl Ives.Jerome Moross wrote one of the greatest film scores of all time to The Big Country, but of course, lost the Oscar that year to a far less deserving rival. It's such a beautiful score, romantic, equestrian, and adventurous in all the right places.Every wonderful element that makes a classic western is found in The Big Country. There's a slow but steady pace set by a gentle director, grizzled old men with memorable one-liners in their bickering, a clash between country folk and city folk, love triangles, an untamable horse, a shootout, and beautiful music.

ipp-50484 This is in response to the many critics who have slated the "The Big Country" for being too long (a famous cry of derision) and for dragging along without the proverbial action. What I cannot understand is how many of these same critics wax lyrical about so many other films that "drag on" for well nigh three hours. I am thinking about some of David Lean's epics, for example ("Doctor Zhivago" and "Ryan's Daughter") which come to mind here. I am not for one moment suggesting that these films are boring or lacking in artistic merit. I am simply curious as to why "The Big Country" is constantly singled out in almost the all the opening lines of the commentaries that have been written.Is this tendency, perhaps, attributed to the fact that the film is a western? Is the western, then, supposed to adhere strictly to the time honoured formula of blood and thunder, hell and leather bang-bang served up in the customary ninety-minute time capsule? Strait-jacketed? Comparisons, I concede, are odious. Pray, allow me a moment to allude to another Western purely in an attempt to illustrate my point.A fellow reviewer on this forum, in his denunciation of "TBC" ("boring, boring") drew comparisons with Sergio Leone's "Once Upon A Time in the West" (a brilliant film, no doubt). In the words of respected critic, Leonard Maltin, the film is, "a languid operatic masterpiece". Maltin however, dismisses "TBC" as "an overblown western". And herein lies the rub!Both these films are thematically rich and complex, layered with gripping sub-plots emerging in all the respective stages of development. Both films are enrich by stellar performances from star-studded casts. There is never a dull moment in each. Even though the viewer may guess the outcome of "TBC", he or she is intrigued as to how the plot will finally resolve itself. This is what sustains the heart and soul of the picture.There is not a single flawed performance in "TBC". The actors remain true to the script. The action, like in "Once Upon a Time ..." and in Lean's masterpieces, is measured and seamless. It represents a study in the concentrated stream of consciousness (personified in the character of James Mackay). This is diametrically opposed by the smouldering temperments of many of the other characters in the fabric of the work; a classic case of antithetical counter-balancing, here. Pound for pound, ounce for ounce, "TBC" stands up to "Once Upon a Time ..." and its counterparts. Why then this prejudice against, "The Big Country"? It intrigues me!

dougdoepke A ship's captain ventures out west in pursuit of his intended bride, only to get caught up in a feud between rival ranch families.Epics were popular in the latter 50's, including, for example, Giant (1955), Raintree County (1957) and this one (1958). Typically, they involved A-productions with headliner casts and sweeping dramatic canvasses. Of course, as epics, run-times usually exceeded 2-hours plus, so the challenges to both filmmakers and viewers were obvious.To me, this epic western is as good as any from that cowboy-obsessed period. The secret, I think, lies in an unusually persuasive male cast, and a cleverly suspenseful screenplay. I don't think I've seen more broad-shouldered male leads in one movie than are featured here with Peck, Heston, and Connors. Add the commanding Ives and Bickford as feuding patriarchs, and the sum-total makes for an unusually compelling male cast. Then split them all into rival families with outsider Peck caught in the middle, and the subplots almost smolder with tension. And, oh yes, mustn't forget the ladies, Baker and Simmons. Baker seems a little too Hollywood to be convincing, but both hang in there.Peck's character McKay amounts to an interesting variation among western stereotypes. He's very much self-enclosed. First and foremost, he must answer to his own self-imposed rules no matter how others might view him. As a result, he appears a coward by refusing to respond to provocations like being roughed up or insulted. Thus his apparent pacifism in the face of personal abuse implies a strict inner code and not simply a lack of guts as we eventually find out. Then too, it's this independence of mind plus a sense of humane values that enables him to work out a solution to the debilitating feud over the watering hole. Happily, the results show that Peck is darn near perfect in his under-stated role.Anyway, it really is a big country on screen, a boggling stretch of prairie and sky as far as the eye can see. From the sheer emptiness, it looks like location for cast and crew was not much fun. And mustn't forget the film score, which, as I recall, made it onto the pop-charts of the day. In fact, hearing again the distinctive opening melody brought back welcome memories. Speaking of memories, who would have thought Ben Hur would make such a delectable villain, but Heston did. Same goes for The Rifleman Connors whose menacing squint is a real grabber. I was hoping for a face-off between the two brawny hunks.All in all, the various threads weave into an effective whole, while cast and visuals add up to a highly entertaining package, despite the lengthy run-time.

grantss A big western, with big ideals.The story of a former sea captain (played by Gregory Peck) who settles in a western town, only to discover a bitter feud exists between the two main families in the area.Decent plot. Starts off looking like a standard good guys vs bad guys drama, but the further you go the more you discover that things aren't anywhere near as simple as that. A bit idealistic though. Gregory Peck's character is overly goody- two-shoesy and the movie does feel quite sappy from time to time. Incredibly long too, at nearly three hours. Some scenes weren't entirely necessary, or could have been edited to a shorter length.Overall, a good western, with a good message. Just takes some time to deliver the message..