I had no idea that the film barely broke even! You can’t have it both ways.”, Although there are skirmishes between the two sides, the situation is relatively stable until Bickford’s men push Ives too far. He's an unconventional hero. The same year, Ives appeared in the role he’s probably best remembered for, Big Daddy, in “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.” Likely some voters were awarding him for that as well, as the two characters are a lot alike. Chan Kong-sang SBS MBE PMW (Chinese: 陳 港 生; born 7 April 1954), known professionally as "You were right to emphasize two things about this picture that especially stand out for me. At least, the “grown up” Westerns do. Saturday. I thought the journey itself was going to be the adventure. Well, being an Arizonan, and of course, we ARE the Real West here, "The Big Country" is, in my opinion, the BEST. It really is worth it, if you get the chance. Very nice post, Kevin - and you are absolutely right that Wyler's films do get better with age. TMDb Score. WBC Middleweight Title. the biggest difference is the horizontals stretching of the image - as seen on the MGM Blu-ray - has been corrected. Gregory Peck and director William Wyler clashed repeatedly during filming. Image: mubi.com. The plot of "The Big Country⦠I was. I shared your article on my William Wyler’s group. I've really enjoyed reading the many fine entries. Charlton Heston and Gregory Peck fight scene from The Big Country and was co-produced by Wyler and Peck Big Country Powersports lined up on the front row with four of GNCC’s premier Side-by-Side teams for a dead engine start. Big Deals Recommended Country Inns The Midwest, 8th (Recommended Country Inns Series) Best Willy [director William Wyler] gave me secret instructions not to let go of her. Some really good lines and, of course, a superb cast. Thanks for the kind comment! Mercutio replies that Benvolio has as quick a temper as any man in Italy, and should not criticize others for their short fuses. I sometimes watch just the opening of the movie to hear that music played over those images of the wagon traveling over that vast screen. If the territory is to be tamed, it’s up to the McKays and Julie Maragons to make the frontier a civilized place. Thank you, everyone, for writing. I think sharing a film with a real enthusiast makes it a better experience all around, no? 76. Ives was fantastic, his hatred for Bickford palpable. Peck laughed, the ice was broken, and they were able to resume their friendship. As for the Cold War metaphor, I’m surprised to hear so many are surprised. Never miss out on gossip, celebrity photos, videos, divorces, scandals and more. I'm pretty sure I have found the Big Muddy. now playing Big Country, The (1958) -- (Movie Clip) You're A Bigger Fool. Police released surveillance still… The country is big, and Wyler often keeps his camera far, far away, showing how insignificant his characters are amidst the splendor of the country. Nothing gets folks talking like a good old artist on artist donnybrook. DAZN. But while the main event is certain to be at the very least fascinating, the one thing we should all look forward to come fight night is the walk-out music. amazing Westerns can’t go wrong with the classics. Discover UK showbiz and celebrity breaking news from the MailOnline. In 1930 he directed his first sound feature, “Hell’s Hinges”, which many consider the best version of the famous western novel, “The Three Godfathers” by Peter B. Kyne. It’s a long time in coming, and yet there really isn’t any point to it. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this written material without express and written permission from this siteâs author/owner is strictly prohibited. ADDITION: Kino - Region 'A' - Blu-ray - June 18': . I LOVE this film and it looks and sounds fabulous ⦠A New Englander arrives in the Old West, where he becomes embroiled in a feud between two families over a valuable patch of land. The two men hate each other, and we mean H-A-T-E. Bickford refers to Ives and his family as trash who “live like a pack of wild dogs”. The tension is palpable throughout and the connection between the movie’s setting and that of the film is so on point! Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. I really enjoyed your write-up, Kevin -- I saw the first half of it not long ago, but never the whole film. Subtitles for TV-Series, Movies, and Music videos, phrase by phrase curated and perfected by users. In the sprawling saga The Big Country, one of the few Westerns that the versatile and prolific Oscar-winning director William Wyler has made, Gregory Peck plays James McKay, a seafaring man heading West to marry Pat Terrill (Carroll Baker), the daughter of rancher Henry Terrill (Charles Bickford).. Terrill is embroiled in a water-rights feud with the imperious patriarch Rufus Hannassey … This 60th Anniversary release from Kino features an improved video transfer over the previous MGM disc, a strong mono mix, and a ⦠I was lucky to buy a buzz-free DVD version of this film for only $5, if you can believe it! ABILENE, Texas (KTAB/KRBC) – Abilene police need help identifying two suspects who hit McDonald’s, causing extensive damage, before fleeing the scene. The film stars Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and James Dean and features Carroll Baker, Jane Withers, Chill Wills, Mercedes McCambridge, Dennis Hopper, Sal Mineo, Rod Taylor, Elsa Cárdenas and Earl Holliman. ), Now, Ives may sound like a real hick in this movie, but he’s smart and fed up. Kevin,You did a fine job here. So, speaking as a true Westerner, The Big Country IS The Big Country of all Westerns!! Peck said art be damned, they were out to make money. And it doesn't. â¤. Brian: Hope you get the chance to see it again. With Gregory Peck, Jean Simmons, Carroll Baker, Charlton Heston. The Big Country Blu-ray MGM / Fox 1958 / Color / 2:35 widescreen / 165 min. Not to say I don't like it -- I like it a lot, but it's time for a repeat viewing. GOM, your post on "The Westerner" was a stunner, and I almost felt embarrassed to have my post in the same blogathon as yours. The Big Country (1958) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. One justly famous sequence is a fist fight between McKay and Leech. Great post here, Kevin. MAD was a Cold War peace strategy that prevented countries with nuclear arms from getting too trigger happy. Buy … Disgusting 9. Yes, Peck’s question is as relevant today as it was in the 1950s. Wyler called it a wrap on location and Peck was furious. Sadly, one print made for television had some distortion of the fine soundtrack, and that marred version would pop up on various broadcast and cable plays of the film for at least a decade or so…if you remember a strong buzz on the soundtrack, you might want to see it again. The supporting cast features Charles Bickford and Chuck Connors. Charlton Heston recalled filming a scene with Carroll Baker: "I had to fight with Carroll in one of my scenes. Even decades later, the music was used in commercials and is one of the most identifiable ever for a western. Kevin, you did an admirable job of covering one of only two Westerns Wyler made after becoming a "name director." The supporting cast features Charles Bickford and Chuck Connors. My father’s favorite classic, too. Ernie is a giant chicken with whom Peter Griffin has had a long history of violence. Hi Kevin, I'm catching up on blog reading after a vacation and really enjoyed your post. Gaston Leroux. Even Chuck Connors got to act. William Wyler's The Big Country is an exciting and thematically rich western. Giant is a 1956 American epic Western drama film, directed by George Stevens from a screenplay adapted by Fred Guiol and Ivan Moffat from Edna Ferber's 1952 novel.. His secret fight with Charleton Heston, making him swear to keep quiet regardless of the outcome, impressed me very much.Thank you for your wonderful post. More info: UK: General viewing, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children. Herman quotes Peck: “There were a lot of good things about the movie, but I frankly don’t think it was audience’s fault. The character of the film and the way Peck, Heston, Simmons, Conners and of course, Rufus worked together made I consider one the the finest Westerns ever made. The project is funded via the Shuttleworth Fellowship awarded to Sean Jacobs. My thoughts on recent movies I've seen in the theaters or watched on DVD. His Rufus is talked about for the first half of the film and we know him only as the avowed enemy of the Terrills. He refuses to fight, he gets on Heston’s nerves, and he discovers that he and Baker don’t really understand each other. Buck picks on McKay, Leech wants to show up McKay in front of everyone, and Patricia wants McKay to stand up for himself. Still, I'm sure you're right that Academy voters were also thinking of "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" when voting for him. I’ve never seen it (though my dad is a fan of westerns, HE has probably seen it ð ) But it sounds interesting. It looks beautiful, it feels like a soap and has amazing music. This Saturday on PBS 6, Hollywood at Home will screen the epic 1958 western “The Big Country,” starring Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston and Burl Ives in an Oscar-winning performance. An underlying theme is the advent of civilization, as represented by Peck’s character. Based on the film's production, it's a miracle the film turned out as good as it did. Heston and Peck played well against each other. DAZN. Big Country are a Scottish rock band formed in Dunfermline, Fife, in 1981.. Like I said, his character is a mean, ornery cuss, but I did feel sympathetic towards him. Wrong. Anonymous, thank you so much for your insightful comments. I’m not that familiar with Burl Ives â only know him from 2-3 films â but I like him in everything so far. Rough men like the Major and Rufus may have been needed to tame the wilderness, but there’s no place for blood feuds anymore. ð. 3:30PM EDT / 12:30PM PDT. I chose it because it highlighted Southern Illinois and I thought it would be interesting to read about somewhere close to home. Orvis Cattle Co. - The Big Country Locations. What am I talking about? Jean Simmons is fantastic in this film. This film certainly lived up to the "Big" in its title, because it runs almost 170 minutes, and that's too much country for one man to handle. Wonderful review – we like old westerns and this is going on our list. I will put it on my list, Ruth. View Full Item. Like John Ford’s “Stagecoach” (1939), it’s a western for people who don’t like westerns. I ranted about that for days. The Big Country is one such example. The big fight scene in Hot Fuzz. This post is part of The “Try It, You’ll Like It!” Blogation hosted by Sister Celluloid and Movies Silently. Can’t wait to see again. Granted, the film has its ⦠Wyler shook his hand, thanked him and said, "But I'm still not re-shooting that buckboard scene." Yes, I too was surprised at the weak entries for Best Supporting Actor that year. Maybe when I’m with him. A modest hit at the time, and only generating mildly enthusiastic reviews, “The Big Country”, for me, looks better with each passing year. Ha ha! The Big Country Gregory Peck and co-star Charlton Heston both played the infamous Nazi war criminal Dr. Josef Mengele : Peck in The Boys from Brazil , Heston in My Father, Rua Alguem 5555 . He did become a different man from what he was in the beginning. It's a small story, a battle over water rights, that has been done over and over again. He approaches Benvolio and Mercutio and asks to speak with one of them. With Gregory Peck, Jean Simmons, Carroll Baker, Charlton Heston. The Big Country is a 1958 American Technicolor epic Western film directed by William Wyler and starring Gregory Peck, Jean Simmons, Carroll Baker, Charlton Heston and Burl Ives filmed in Technirama. Well, I think your father shows excellent taste in classic film. One is Burl Ives, one of the least experienced members of that fantastic cast, who really does steal all his scenes. "Like all fine William Wyler films, "The Big Country" is endlessly engrossing. We were going after a commercial hit, not the Academy Awards.”. Big Sky Country Digital Network. Thanks for dropping by. Do you remember back in 08 when the AFI made up their list of top 10 westerns? ð, The fistfight by itself is fascinating – and even more because it ends with Peck’s bitter question. UFC Fight Night Abu Dhabi Prediction: Roy Nelson vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. More about this author > Get This BOOK. Yes, Burl Ives and Charles Pickford are CRUCIAL to this film. Willy [director William Wyler] gave me secret instructions not to let go of her. Check Local Listing. The band's music incorporated Scottish folk and martial music styles, and the band engineered their guitar-driven sound to ⦠52 Views. Sure it’s a parody, but it’s awesome in its own right. They’re fighting over water, a river called the Big Muddy, which everyone must access for their cattle. Excellent choice of film to get people interested in westerns. Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. While “The Big Country” movie ranked eleventh for 1958 releases, it barely broke even, grossing $5 million. Ives liked working with Wyler and was one of the few cast members not emotionally scarred by the filming of "The Big Country. Even the final showdown isn't as epic as we think its going to be. The Terrills and the Hannasseys clans detest each other like the Hatfield and the McCoys, and neither wants to give into the other. Don't know how anyone can get tired of the Jeromre Moross score. The Big Country: starring Gregory Peck, Jean Simmons, Carroll Baker. William Wyler started his directing career making two- and five-reel westerns for Universal in the twenties. Well, I've got a big ⦠I've only seen it once and everyone says it improves with age. Thanks for sharing. Outwardly, she seems like a delicate person, but her character has a lot of strength. It has ambitious scope and script, and it says a lot about human nature. Peck, ever the gentleman, held his hand out to congratulate him, telling him his Oscar was well-deserved. I love Heston as Peck’s antagonist, yet he still makes us sympathize with him. As they walk in the street under the boiling sun, Benvolio suggests to Mercutio that they go indoors, fearing that a brawl will be unavoidable should they encounter Capulet men. Change ), You are commenting using your Twitter account. Devin Haney vs Jorge Linares. (Ives’ entrance is at 0:38 below. About dram time Charlton Heston recalled filming a scene with Carroll Baker: "I had to fight with Carroll in one of my scenes.It's actually one of the best scenes I was in. Oh yes, I don’t think Ives and Pickford were acting in some of those scenes. Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in: You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. One justly famous sequence is a fist fight between McKay and Leech. The fact that it stars Peck AND Heston is just a bonus! Cinematography Franz F. Planer Supervising Film Editor Robert Swink Sam, you and I are both film music fans, so we tend to take this more seriously than a lot of people. Paul, thanks for your nice comments. Wow! I was much younger, too, when I first saw it and liked it well enough. The picture was based on the serialized magazine ⦠Great recommendation ~. ( Log Out / Movies. But McKay knows who he is and doesn’t think he has to prove anything to anyone. As the green flag dropped, John Yokley powered his Polaris RZR 900 to a great start, engaging in a battle with Polaris teammate Scott Kiger right away. My very great thanks to R.D. Post was not sent - check your email addresses! Jaime Munguia vs Maciej Sulecki. Loved your background info--I never picked up on the fact that Donald Hamilton was "the" Donald Hamilton of Matt Helm fame. Sit back and listen to the audience go nuts. Based on a lifetime of movie watching with no prejudices: black and white or color, silent or sound, Hollywood or foreign, old or new. He told Carroll, 'Break loose, so you can hit him.' In one scene, Peck, a gentrified man, becomes involved in a knock-’em-down brawl with Heston, a surly man with a spring-loaded temper. This Saturday on PBS 6, Hollywood at Home will screen the epic 1958 western âThe Big Country,â starring Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston and Burl Ives in an Oscar-winning performance. now playing Big Country, The (1958) -- (Movie Clip) You're A Bigger Fool. McKay gets grief from all sides. The Big Country is about an ex-sea captain who moves to cattle country to marry his fiancé (Carroll Baker), the daughter of a wealthy, powerful rancher (Charles Bickford). The picture was based on the serialized magazine novel Ambush at Blanco Canyon by Donald Hamilton. This film certainly lived up to the "Big" in its title, because it runs almost 170 minutes, and that's too much country for one man to handle. From our fight scene in The Big Country (1958) to his willingness to stand up for what he believed personally, Gregory Peck faced life's challenges with great vigor and courage. It’s a movie that improves with age for me. ... During the stage scene, if you look at the lower right corner of the screen, you can see a little … Finch of The Movie Projector for inviting me to participate in the blogathon. Yes, I can see how a husband would love Gregory Peck for different reasons that a woman would… But that aside, I hope you enjoy the film. I finally got to see this film from A to Z the other day. The almost three-hour running time flies by, and Peck's non-violence stance probably plays better today than 1958 audiences used to shoot-em-ups. © silverscreenings.org, 2011-2021. I think the key to its success are the excellent supporting performances by Charles Bickford (always underrated) and Burl Ives. It would be forgettable without their performances. They are seen again in a later scene shot from a similar angle. The 1950s have often been referred to as the decade that westerns “grew up”. Customs of the Old West were sort of debunked.”, Script problems could not be licked and the Hamilton story seemed the ideal back-up. I may have to have a few words with the hubby. It’s worth it! WILLIAM WYLER'S "The Big Country," which opened at the Astor last night, is a two-hour-and-forty-six-minute Western designed to demonstrate that men should live in ⦠I watch it often and I have the "original" soundtrack recording bought many years ago and to this day it sounds very good; all 42 tracks. And one would certainly hope they would take even more care with the dvd soundtrack than with the print or prints of the film run off for network repeats and other less showcased telecasts of the film. In that famous scene in Duel, he seemed to wallow in the mud alongside Gregory Peck, who, with Charles Bickford, appears in both Westerns. ð You are so right about the tension here – it never really lets up. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator. It goes without saying that Franz Planer's specious cinematography is utterly magnificent.You have written a passionate and authoritative piece here Kevin, and I much enjoy the hands on approach to Wyler's central role here! Karen, I don't have kids, but if I did, that is one line I would never use. for organizing the Wyler blogathon. Jun 19. Steve was my favorite character in the entire movie -- a really different kind of role for Heston.I completely agree with you about the Copland-esque score by Moross. Maybe Wyler was already moving, at least in his mind, toward the epic approach he would take in his next film, "Ben-Hur. I would love to check out the blu-ray someday. But $4 million was a heady sum in 1958 dollars, and despite the number of people who went to see it, it wssn't enough. He was the ⦠I love the cast, especially Jean Simmons. I’m not surprised at the good bargain…it’s a catalog title that probably sells steadily, but not in cult-favorite nor blockbuster numbers. The Big Country. There's a site called 50 Westerns from the 50s that I visit on a regular basis. Silverscreenings, with that cast, one would think it would be more of a hit. Kisses! When you say that everything about "The Big Country" is BIG, you practically summmed up the whole movie. Change ), You are commenting using your Google account. A New Englander arrives in the Old West, where he becomes embroiled in a feud between two families over a valuable patch of land. As Ives’ son (Chuck Connors) says, “You have to be on one side or the other. The Big Country is a 1958 American Technicolor epic Western film directed by William Wyler and starring Gregory Peck, Jean Simmons, Carroll Baker, Charlton Heston and Burl Ives filmed in Technirama. Thanks for dropping by. Peck recommended the larger-than-life balladeer for the role and Ives brought The Big Country ⦠Back to Orvis Ranch history. She is willing to let both families make use of it but they fight with one another so much that one easily concludes this will not end well. Wyler blew it up on a large scale (Technirama) with admittedly excellent cinematography and a big cast. The spark is lit with the arrival of Jim McKay (Gregory Peck), a former sea captain and fiance of Patricia Terrill (Carroll Baker), daughter of Major Terrill. The supporting cast features Charles Bickford and Chuck Connors. Peck wanted Wyler to do another take when he is lassoed by the Hannassey gang, as he felt he looked too silly in the scene. My father, and the others before him was a cattle rancher and water was always an ignition point when it involved other ranchers fighting for the right to water their beeves. Wrong. Tybalt enters with a group of cronies. I n 1962, Jean-Luc Godard claimed that, “The Americans, who are much more stupid when it comes to analysis, instinctively bring off very complex scripts.” One can’t help but think of The Big Country as epitomizing the sort of screenplay Godard had in mind. I love how you write such small blog posts and yet says so much in them! “Grand” is the perfect word for this Western. The pair divided their producing responsibilities and formed separate companies. I love so many things about this film â the wide open spaces, the script, the costumes, Burl Ives’ monologue and Charlton Heston as the tightly-wound ranch foreman. This is a great movie but having seen it when I was young, I never thought much of the context. The 1950s is probably my favorite decades for westerns as well. I thought it held up really well. 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. None of this takes away from your excellent background information and overall presentation. Competition was Arthur Kennedy for “Some Came Running”, Gig Young for “Teacher’s Pet”, Lee J. Cobb for “The Brothers Karamazov” and Theodore Bikel for “The Defiant Ones.” Ives’s closest competition was likely the criminally underrated Arthur Kennedy, but Ives is so memorable in “The Big Country that he easily dwarfs the competition. Excellent post! Julie can barely stomach Buck, but Buck tells Rufus otherwise. Thanks for your in-depth review! Directed by William Wyler. The vast territory here is backdrop to a power struggle between Bickford and a fellow rancher (Burl Ives). I've got a grip on her wrists, and she's struggling to get out of it. At one time, the Big Muddy was shared by both families, as it was under the control of the grandfather of the local school teacher Julie Maragon (Jean Simmons). Change ). Characters in this film are continually pointing out the big country, as though nobody could see that for themselves. It's amazing that he came practically from out of nowhere to give two such tremendous performances in a single year.The other thing about the movie that sticks in my mind is the music score you so rightly praise. Wyler keeps the camera at a very great distance and while there are some close-ups, much of the fight is filmed from a great distance, showing how petty the fight really is. P.S. Although I did get a little tired of it when my husband was arranging it for a trombone group to play. Thanks again for writing. “The Big Country” is a big movie, and never was a movie’s title more appropriate. Summary. Despite the lack of large-scale action set pieces, the almost three-hour running time flies by as we watched a gallery of flawed characters and hesitant heroes and heroines. If he’s anything like his son Buck and his wranglers, then he’s a scourge to the countryside. Learn how your comment data is processed. “We wanted to make money out of this. Apr 9, 2016 - Charlton Heston and Gregory Peck fight scene from The Big Country. Le, The fistfight is fascinating, like you said. title details and video sharing options. ; Real-Life Relative: Gregory Peck's sons are in the film. It sounds like a fun evening, to watch a western with your father.
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