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The Big Country

The Big Country

List Price: $14.95
Your Price: $11.96
Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 5 stars
Summary: **THE BEST WESTERN EVER MADE!!**
Review: My all time favorite western. No other tops this perfect cast of: Peck,Connors, Heston! Action, humor and good old fashioned western romance fuels this classic!!!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Strong story, strong characters, strong art direction
Review: This unforgettable story will affect young and old. Parents should require their teenagers to see this movie and talk about it. Peck's character is a bit too noble, fearless and selfless to be fully believable, but he makes you think. The only human failing he seems to have is to have somehow fallen for a shallow, ditzy, clinging rich girl. Charlton Heston got a rather insignificant part as Peck's rival, but Burl Ives plays another memorably philosophical "Big Daddy" from Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, disappointed again by his own wretched offspring (played by a greasy young Chuck Connors). The film's visual splendor demands widescreen format, and the music is impressive (if repetitive) through a good stereo system. I only wish I could see this movie in all its splendor in a good theatre. A classic film.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: absolutely spendid, action-packed, great love story
Review: This movie is one of my most favorite. It has a good story line and a story within a story. The score is fabulous and you find yourself rooting for Gregory Peck at every turn. Recommend it highly for an action packed western!

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Should be rated as one of the best movies ever made.
Review: My father took me to see this movie soon after its release. The greatest value of The Big Country are the lessens taught regarding morality, ethics and having a personal code of conduct strong enough to sustain one during times of moral decisions. This movie should be required viewing for every youngster during their formative ages. It certainly had a positive impact on me and my children and I intend to see that my grandchildren have an opportunity to experience the message brought by "The Big Country". The musical score is superlative throughout and is simply unequaled by any other soundtrack. The overall performance by the entire cast, the wonderful scenery and this story has resulted in an all time classic we can repeatedly enjoy.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: The characters of Peck and Simmons are models of heroism.
Review: This movie would be worth watching just for the inspiring score and scenery. But played in front of these is the best character study of any movie I have seen, richly drawn and superbly acted. An underappreciated masterpiece.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A magnificent story of man-versus-man-versus nature
Review: Only through repeated viewings of movies the like of Ben-Hur, Funny girl, Wuthering Heights and of course "The Big Country" did I realize that, next to Hitchcock, William Wyler is my favorite director. In The Big Country, he guides wonderful actors over magnificent scenery, supported by a memorable music score and teeming with sprawling action. However, the best part of this movie is the study of the characters, who are some of the most respectable, loved and hated in movie history. I could not wait until this movie was released on video, and as soon as I was able, I bought a copy in the pan and scan version. Now that I know that it is available in widescreen, I have placed my order for a copy of that version. the magnificence of this movie is easily appreciated in the modified version, but only widescreen will give one the maximum viewing pleasure for years to come. Bravo! again, Mr. wyler...wherever you are.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A wonderful MOVIE movie!
Review: This is one of the great MOVIE movies of all time. Don't expect it to be more than it is, and you'll love every minute of it. The scale of the visuals ("this is a BIG country"), the casting, and the timeless drama of the family feud are all the things you want in a real entertainment.

Among many wonderful moments, two in particular stand out. The early morning fist fight between Gregory Peck, the quiet but dignified transplanted sea captain, and Charlton Heston, the jealous ranch foreman, has become a classic. And Burl Ives' Rufus Hannassey, the mountain man patriarch whose family is threatened by the well-bred flat landers (led by Charles Bickford) is worth the price all by himself, especially when he is forced to do the right thing and ... (well, you'll see).

Jerome Morross's musical score set the direction for just about every Western to follow.

A great American classic.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: One of the best movies of "the old West" -in color!
Review: Great acting, excellent plot and entertaining to watch! It's a Western movie with Classic Western music. If you like good Westerns, this one will be an outstanding surprise!

Rating: 4 stars
Summary: A good Western movie
Review:


Director: William Wyler
Format: Color
Studio: Mgm/Ua Studios
Video Release Date: May 2, 2000

Cast:

Gregory Peck ... James McKay
Jean Simmons ... Julie Maragon
Carroll Baker ... Patricia Terrill
Charlton Heston ... Steve Leech
Burl Ives ... Rufus Hannassey
Charles Bickford ... Major Henry Terrill
Alfonso Bedoya ... Ramon Guiteras
Chuck Connors ... Buck Hannassey
Chuck Hayward ... Rafe Hannassey
Buff Brady ... Dude Hannassey
Jim Burk ... Blackie/Cracker Hannassey
Dorothy Adams ... Hannassey Woman
Chuck Roberson ... Terrill Cowboy
Bob Morgan ... Terrill Cowboy
John McKee ... Terrill Cowboy
Slim Talbot ... Terrill Cowboy
Donald Kerr ... Liveryman
Carey Paul Peck ... Boy
Jonathan Peck ... Boy
Stephen Peck ... Boy
Ralph Sanford ... Party Guest
Richard Alexander ... Party Guest, (Oceans)
Harry Cheshire ... Party Guest

It is said that Gregory Peck and William Wyler, erstwhile friends who had previously worked together successfully had a falling out over this film and never spoke for years afterward. Both were co-producers, and Peck became agitated over the fact that Wylie was working too slowly and the film was going 'way over budget. Wylie resented anyone else telling him how to make a movie. It also appears that three of Peck's children had children's parts in the film.

The fight seen between Peck and Heston is one of the high points of the film that has caused much comment, as it was filmed from a great distance, rather than close-uo.

Such details aside, the story depicts a sea-captain, James McKay (Peck) coming West to marry Patricia Terrill (Carol Baker). He walks straight into a personal vendetta between Major Henry Terrill (Charles Bickford) and Rufus Hannassey (Burl Ives) over an old grudge, and the usual battle over water rights typical in many Western stories. McKay is a peaceful man who tends to avoid resorting to violence, causing his would-be bride to accuse him of cowardice.

Buck Hannassey (Chuck Connors) and Steve Leech (Charlton Heston) play supporting roles, each of whom has designs on the leading women in the story, leading to antagonisms. Ramon (Alphonso Bedoya) plays his part well, as a Mexican ranch employee. He was better in the Treasure of the Sierra Madre, I think, but he always turns in a good performance.

This is a good Western, with the usual scenery typical of the West. The plot is somewhat hackneyed, but is well-played and comes off well, thanks to the staff.

Joseph (Joe) Pierre

author of Handguns and Freedom...their care and maintenance
and other books



Rating: 5 stars
Summary: A wonderful MOVIE movie!
Review: This is one of the great MOVIE movies of all time. Don't expect it to be more than it is, and you'll love every minute of it. The scale of the visuals ("this is a BIG country"), the casting, and the timeless drama of the family feud are all the things you want in a real entertainment.

Among many wonderful moments, two in particular stand out. The early morning fist fight between Gregory Peck, the quiet but dignified transplanted sea captain, and Charlton Heston, the jealous ranch foreman, has become a classic. And Burl Ives' Rufus Hannassey, the mountain man patriarch whose family is threatened by the well-bred flat landers (led by Charles Bickford) is worth the price all by himself, especially when he is forced to do the right thing and ... (well, you'll see).

Jerome Morross's musical score set the direction for just about every Western to follow.

A great American classic.


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