{"id":72947,"date":"2021-06-15T14:32:40","date_gmt":"2021-06-15T21:32:40","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=72947"},"modified":"2021-12-23T15:10:39","modified_gmt":"2021-12-23T22:10:39","slug":"its-a-big-country-1951","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=72947","title":{"rendered":"It&#8217;s a Big Country (1951)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;Yes, it&#8217;s a big, wonderful country &#8212; proud of its past, strong in its present, confident in its future.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Poster-197x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"197\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-72948\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Poster-197x300.png 197w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Poster-84x128.png 84w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Poster-177x270.png 177w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Poster.png 499w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 197px) 100vw, 197px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen a man (James Whitmore) asks a fellow train passenger (William Powell) to verify how amazing their country is, we see an episodic film about various individuals navigating the American Experience &#8212; including an elderly woman (Ethel Barrymore) upset about not being included in the census; various Black Americans serving their country; a Hungarian immigrant (S.Z. Sakall) concerned that his daughter (Janet Leigh) is dating a Greek grocer (Gene Kelly); a young Jewish man (Keefe Brasselle) visiting the mother (Marjorie Main) of a deceased Army buddy; A Texan (Gary Cooper) clarifying &#8220;tall tale&#8221; facts about his state; a preacher (Van Johnson) learning to make his sermons more relatable; and a father (Fredric March) upset that his son&#8217;s teacher (Nancy Reagan) insists he needs glasses.\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Clarence Brown Films<\/li>\n<li>Episodic Films<\/li>\n<li>Ethel Barrymore Films<\/li>\n<li>Fredric March Films<\/li>\n<li>Gary Cooper Films<\/li>\n<li>Gene Kelly Films<\/li>\n<li>James Whitmore Films<\/li>\n<li>Janet Leigh Films<\/li>\n<li>John Sturges Films<\/li>\n<li>Keenan Wynn Films<\/li>\n<li>Van Johnson Films<\/li>\n<li>William Powell Films<\/li>\n<li>William Wellman Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nThis well-intentioned anthology film was MGM Studios&#8217; attempt to portray the &#8220;melting pot of America&#8221; through various touching and\/or humorous anecdotes &#8212; but the entire thing comes across merely as hokey, dated, and\/or offensive (as with the segment about African-Americans consisting exclusively of newsreel footage &#8212; presumably to be able to easily cut it out for screening in the South). <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Black-Americans.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Black-Americans.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"706\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72961\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Black-Americans.png 706w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Black-Americans-300x229.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Black-Americans-128x98.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Black-Americans-353x270.png 353w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 706px) 100vw, 706px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Poor William Powell&#8217;s beleaguered &#8220;Professor&#8221; &#8212; forced to listen to Whitmore&#8217;s clueless rah-rah banter before he turns the tables on him and &#8220;gets philosophical&#8221; &#8212; becomes a proxy for us as we sit and watch the various stories play out. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Banter.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Banter.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"706\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72953\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Banter.png 706w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Banter-300x229.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Banter-128x98.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Banter-353x270.png 353w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 706px) 100vw, 706px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>One mildly amusing stand-out in the bunch is Gary Cooper&#8217;s aw-shucks spiel about Texas (&#8220;Fact is, folks in other parts of this country got a lot of funny ideas about Texas&#8230; How come folks exaggerate so much? It just burns me up!&#8221;):<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Ranch.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Ranch.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"706\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72954\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Ranch.png 706w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Ranch-300x229.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Ranch-128x98.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Ranch-353x270.png 353w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 706px) 100vw, 706px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; but the others are all pretty groan-worthy, and, naturally, white-wash the American experience so that the worst sentiments we apparently dealt with back in the day were patronizing (and\/or forgetting about) the elderly: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Elderly.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Elderly.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"706\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72959\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Elderly.png 706w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Elderly-300x229.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Elderly-128x98.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Elderly-353x270.png 353w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 706px) 100vw, 706px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; mild antisemitism:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Mains.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Mains.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"706\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72955\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Mains.png 706w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Mains-300x229.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Mains-128x98.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Mains-353x270.png 353w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 706px) 100vw, 706px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; prejudice between different white ethnicities:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Leigh-Kelly.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Leigh-Kelly.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"706\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72956\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Leigh-Kelly.png 706w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Leigh-Kelly-300x229.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Leigh-Kelly-128x98.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Leigh-Kelly-353x270.png 353w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 706px) 100vw, 706px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; alienating white church-goers with boring sermons: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Pew.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Pew.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"706\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72957\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Pew.png 706w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Pew-300x229.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Pew-128x98.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Pew-353x270.png 353w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 706px) 100vw, 706px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; and a notion that wearing glasses is for sissies (!). <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Optometrist.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Optometrist.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"706\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72958\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Optometrist.png 706w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Optometrist-300x229.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Optometrist-128x98.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Big-Country-Optometrist-353x270.png 353w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 706px) 100vw, 706px\" \/><\/a>   <\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The mildly amusing Texas segment with Gary Cooper<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Great-Country-Cooper.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Great-Country-Cooper.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"706\" height=\"540\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-72949\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Great-Country-Cooper.png 706w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Great-Country-Cooper-300x229.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Great-Country-Cooper-128x98.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/06\/Its-a-Great-Country-Cooper-353x270.png 353w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 706px) 100vw, 706px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo; you can skip this one. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0043680\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thespinningimage.co.uk\/cultfilms\/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=11398&#038;aff=13\">Spinning Image Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/785\/its-a-big-country-an-american-anthology#articles-reviews?articleId=88232\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/catalog.afi.com\/Catalog\/moviedetails\/53410\">AFT Article<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Yes, it&#8217;s a big, wonderful country &#8212; proud of its past, strong in its present, confident in its future.&#8221; Synopsis: When a man (James Whitmore) asks a fellow train passenger (William Powell) to verify how amazing their country is, we see an episodic film about various individuals navigating the American Experience &#8212; including an elderly woman (Ethel Barrymore) upset about not being included in the census; various Black Americans serving their country; a Hungarian immigrant (S.Z. Sakall) concerned that his&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=72947\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-72947","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72947","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=72947"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72947\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":79057,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/72947\/revisions\/79057"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=72947"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=72947"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=72947"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}