The Big Country


The Big Country

Overview:

Retired, wealthy sea Captain Jame McKay arrives in the vast expanse of the West to marry fiancée Pat Terrill. McKay is a man whose values and approach to life are a mystery to the ranchers and ranch foreman Steve Leech takes an immediate dislike to him. Pat is spoiled, selfish and controlled by her wealthy father, Major Henry Terrill. The Major is involved in a ruthless civil war, over watering rights for cattle, with a rough hewn clan led by Rufus Hannassey. The land in question is owned by Julie Maragon and both Terrill and Hannassey want it.

Votes 68 (7.8/10)

Runtime: 165 minutes

Release Date 1958-09-30

Tagline: Big they fought! Big they loved! Big their story!

Production company:

  • United Artists

Production country:

  • United States of America

Genres:

  • Drama
  • Western
  • Romance

Trailer

Further Information

James McKay
Gregory Peck
Gregory Peck
Julie Maragon
Jean Simmons
Jean Simmons
Patricia Terrill
Carroll Baker
Carroll Baker
Steve Leech
Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston
Rufus Hannassey
Burl Ives
Burl Ives
Major Henry Terrill
Charles Bickford
Charles Bickford
Ramón Guiteras
Alfonso Bedoya
Alfonso Bedoya
Buck Hannassey
Chuck Connors
Chuck Connors
Rafe Hannassey
Chuck Hayward
Chuck Hayward
Dude Hannassey
Buff Brady
Buff Brady
Blackie / Cracker Hannassey
Jim Burk
Jim Burk
Hannassey Woman
Dorothy Adams
Dorothy Adams
Terrill Cowboy
Chuck Roberson
Chuck Roberson
Terrill Cowboy
Bob Morgan
Bob Morgan
Terrill Cowboy
John McKee
John McKee
Terrill Cowboy
Slim Talbot
Slim Talbot
Hannassey Watchman (uncredited)
Roddy McDowall
Roddy McDowall
Party Guest - Oceans (uncredited)
Richard Alexander
Richard Alexander
Party Guest (uncredited)
Harry Cheshire
Harry Cheshire
Party Guest (uncredited)
Ralph Sanford
Ralph Sanford
Lefty Hannassey cowhand (uncredited)
William Hoehne Jr.
William Hoehne Jr.
Liveryman (uncredited)
Donald Kerr
Donald Kerr
Director
William Wyler
William Wyler
Novel
Donald Hamilton
Donald Hamilton
Screenplay
James R. Webb
James R. Webb
Screenplay
Sy Bartlett
Sy Bartlett
Screenplay
Robert Wilder
Robert Wilder
Producer
Gregory Peck
Gregory Peck
Producer
William Wyler
William Wyler
Original Music Composer
Jerome Moross
Jerome Moross
Director of Photography
Franz Planer
Franz Planer
Editor
Robert Belcher
Robert Belcher
Editor
John Faure
John Faure
Producer
Robert Wyler
Robert Wyler
Casting
Dorothy Whitney
Dorothy Whitney
Art Direction
Frank Hotaling
Frank Hotaling
Set Decoration
Edward G. Boyle
Edward G. Boyle
Costume Design
Yvonne Wood
Yvonne Wood
Makeup Artist
Dan Greenway
Dan Greenway
Hairstylist
Joan St. Oegger
Joan St. Oegger
Assistant Director
Ivan Volkman
Ivan Volkman
Stunts
Buff Brady
Buff Brady
Camera Operator
Fred Mandl
Fred Mandl
Makeup Artist
Harry Maret
Harry Maret
Assistant Director
Ray Gosnell Jr.
Ray Gosnell Jr.
Title Graphics
Saul Bass
Saul Bass
Stunts
Slim Talbot
Slim Talbot
Adaptation
Jessamyn West
Jessamyn West
Adaptation
Robert Wyler
Robert Wyler
Hairstylist
Gale McGarry
Gale McGarry
Second Unit
Robert Swink
Robert Swink
Second Unit
John Waters
John Waters
Sound Effects Editor
Del Harris
Del Harris
Sound Recordist
Roger Heman Sr.
Roger Heman Sr.
Sound Recordist
John K. Kean
John K. Kean
Set Costumer
Neva Rames
Neva Rames
Supervising Film Editor
Robert Swink
Robert Swink
Assistant Editor
Hal Ashby
Hal Ashby
Orchestrator
Alexander Courage
Alexander Courage
Orchestrator
Gil Grau
Gil Grau
Orchestrator
Bernard Mayers
Bernard Mayers
Orchestrator
Conrad Salinger
Conrad Salinger
Script Supervisor
Sam Freedle
Sam Freedle
Script Supervisor
Robert Gary
Robert Gary
Choreographer
Carey Leverette
Carey Leverette
Gaffer
Harry Sundby
Harry Sundby

John Chard

I'm not going to go on living in the middle of a civil war. Retired sea Captain James McKay (Gregory Peck) arrives in the sprawling land of the West to marry fiancée Patricia Terrill (Carroll Baker). With an amiable, almost pacifistic approach to life, McKay confounds the ranchers he is now mixing with. Particularly the Terrill ranch foreman Steve Leech (Charlton Heston) who takes an immediate dislike to him. Not only that but it seems that James has landed right in the middle of a family rivalry between the Terrill's and the Hannassey's: just as it's about to fully ignite into war. Directed by William Wyler (Ben-Hur/Mrs. Miniver), The Big Country is adapted from a short story called Ambush at Blanco Canyon that was written by Donald Hamilton. Beautifully photographed by Franz Planer on location at the Red Rock Canyon in Mojave, California and at the three-thousand acre Drais ranch in Stockton, the film is epic in many ways. Though the story, with its twin themes of violence begets violence and you don't have to act tough to be tough, is a thin one, it's given such an operatic make over by Wyler that it's not hard to be swept away by it all. Helped enormously by the afore mentioned Planer, music composer Jerome Moross, and an impressive and on form cast (Heston in superb tough guy mode and Burl Ives delivering a Oscar winning performance as head Hannassey patriarch Rufus), it's a big production in many ways. Overall, The Big Country sees a small story made big as it's told in an astutely classic style. With memorable acting, gorgeous scenery, big music and notable moments of action (a fist fight between Peck & Heston alone is epic and apparently took three days to get right) it's a must see for the Western enthusiast. 8/10

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