{"id":81475,"date":"2022-02-21T14:04:52","date_gmt":"2022-02-21T21:04:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=81475"},"modified":"2022-02-21T16:16:38","modified_gmt":"2022-02-21T23:16:38","slug":"big-country-the-1958","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=81475","title":{"rendered":"Big Country, The (1958)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;I&#8217;m not responsible for what people think; only for what I am.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Poster.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Poster-195x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"195\" height=\"300\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-81477\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Poster-195x300.png 195w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Poster-665x1024.png 665w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Poster-83x128.png 83w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Poster-175x270.png 175w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Poster.png 719w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 195px) 100vw, 195px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nWhen a former sea captain (Gregory Peck) arrives out west to marry his new sweetheart (Carroll Baker), he quickly finds himself embroiled in a years-long rivalry between Baker&#8217;s father, Major Terrill (Charles Bickford), and a rival patriarch, Rufus Hannassey (Burl Ives), whose sociopathic son Buck (Chuck Connors) has a deluded notion that the town&#8217;s schoolteacher (Jean Simmons) is romantically interested in him. Meanwhile, Bickford&#8217;s right-hand-man (Charlton Heston) &#8212; who has long had a crush on Baker &#8212; is determined to get Peck to stand up for himself in a fight, but Peck prefers more peaceful ways.\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>Burl Ives Films<\/li>\n<li>Carroll Baker Films<\/li>\n<li>Charles Bickford Films<\/li>\n<li>Charlton Heston Films<\/li>\n<li>Gregory Peck Films<\/li>\n<li>Jean Simmons Films<\/li>\n<li>Love Triangle<\/li>\n<li>Rivalry<\/li>\n<li>Westerns<\/li>\n<li>William Wyler Films<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nWilliam Wyler and Gregory Peck co-produced this nearly three-hour widescreen Western &#8212; with an original script by Jessamyn West of <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=24329\"><em>Friendly Persuasion<\/em> (1956)<\/a> fame &#8212; intended to present parallels to the Cold War nuclear standoff of the day. Within the first fifteen minutes of the film, we see Peck&#8217;s character simply accepting the bullying maneuvers of nasty Connors and his brothers: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Bullying.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Bullying-1024x429.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"268\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-81483\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Bullying-1024x429.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Bullying-300x126.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Bullying-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Bullying-768x322.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Bullying-1536x644.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Bullying-604x253.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Bullying.png 1654w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&#8230; which makes Baker (and us) wonder what kind of man, exactly, she fell in love with while on the east coast. The gradual revelation of Peck&#8217;s views on the world &#8212; and the stances he will and won&#8217;t take &#8212; form the primary arc of the narrative. Meanwhile, we see ample evidence of how entrenched and futile the ongoing rivalries between the fancy Terrills and &#8220;white-trash&#8221; Hannasseys are: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Dragging.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Dragging-1024x438.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"274\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-81484\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Dragging-1024x438.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Dragging-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Dragging-128x55.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Dragging-768x328.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Dragging-1536x657.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Dragging-604x258.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Dragging.png 1649w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a> <\/p>\n<p>&#8230; with Connors&#8217; Buck Hannassey particularly loathsome. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Connors.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Connors-1024x446.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"279\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-81485\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Connors-1024x446.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Connors-300x131.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Connors-128x56.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Connors-768x334.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Connors-1536x669.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Connors-604x263.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Connors.png 1651w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Heston&#8217;s role as Steve Leech &#8212; a year before Wyler hired him on to star in <a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=81345\"><em>Ben Hur<\/em><\/a> &#8212; is a supporting one, but nicely played; and Ives won an Oscar for his role as the bushy-eyebrowed cattleman who has far more integrity than Bickford gives him credit for. <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Ives3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Ives3-1024x434.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"271\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-81486\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Ives3-1024x434.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Ives3-300x127.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Ives3-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Ives3-768x326.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Ives3-1536x652.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Ives3-604x256.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Ives3.png 1657w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The film&#8217;s most magnificent feature, however, is how beautifully Wyler and DP Franz Planer capture the wide vistas of <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Red_Rock_Canyon_State_Park_(California)\">Red Rock Canyon<\/a> and the Sierra foothills. Wyler strategically frames numerous scenes &#8212; including Heston and Peck&#8217;s pivotal <em>mano-a-mano<\/em> &#8212; within a vast landscape which utterly engulfs their tiny bodies: <\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Fighting.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Fighting-1024x431.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"269\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-81487\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Fighting-1024x431.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Fighting-300x126.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Fighting-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Fighting-768x323.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Fighting-1536x647.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Fighting-604x254.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Fighting.png 1655w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a> <\/p>\n<p>&#8230; reminding us (as we hear and see repeatedly) that this is indeed &#8220;big country.&#8221; <\/p>\n<p><strong>Notable Performances, Qualities, and Moments:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fine performances by the entire cast<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Simmons.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Simmons-1024x448.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"280\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-81478\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Simmons-1024x448.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Simmons-300x131.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Simmons-128x56.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Simmons-768x336.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Simmons-1536x672.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Simmons-604x264.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Simmons.png 1639w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Heston-Baker.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Heston-Baker-1024x446.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"279\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-81479\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Heston-Baker-1024x446.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Heston-Baker-300x131.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Heston-Baker-128x56.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Heston-Baker-768x334.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Heston-Baker-1536x668.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Heston-Baker-604x263.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Heston-Baker.png 1634w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Ives.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Ives-1024x439.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"274\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-81480\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Ives-1024x439.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Ives-300x128.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Ives-128x55.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Ives-768x329.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Ives-1536x658.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Ives-604x259.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Ives.png 1651w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Beautiful Technirama cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Simmons3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Simmons3-1024x432.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"270\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-81482\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Simmons3-1024x432.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Simmons3-300x127.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Simmons3-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Simmons3-768x324.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Simmons3-1536x649.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Simmons3-604x255.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Simmons3.png 1665w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Still.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Still-1024x434.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"271\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-81481\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Still-1024x434.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Still-300x127.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Still-128x54.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Still-768x325.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Still-1536x651.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Still-604x256.png 604w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/Big-Country-Still.png 1659w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Jerome Moross&#8217;s score\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though it&#8217;s worth a look, especially if you&#8217;re a fan of westerns. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.imdb.com\/title\/tt0051411\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/17447\/the-big-country#articles-reviews?articleId=25835\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1958\/10\/02\/archives\/war-and-peace-on-range-in-big-country-gregory-peck-stars-in-wylers.html\">NY Times Original Review (spoiler alert)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thespinningimage.co.uk\/cultfilms\/displaycultfilm.asp?reviewid=9972&#038;aff=13\">Spinning Image Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/dvdsavant\/s3731big.html\">DVD Savant Review<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.dvdtalk.com\/reviews\/review\/73132\">DVD Talk Review<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m not responsible for what people think; only for what I am.&#8221; Synopsis: When a former sea captain (Gregory Peck) arrives out west to marry his new sweetheart (Carroll Baker), he quickly finds himself embroiled in a years-long rivalry between Baker&#8217;s father, Major Terrill (Charles Bickford), and a rival patriarch, Rufus Hannassey (Burl Ives), whose sociopathic son Buck (Chuck Connors) has a deluded notion that the town&#8217;s schoolteacher (Jean Simmons) is romantically interested in him. Meanwhile, Bickford&#8217;s right-hand-man (Charlton Heston)&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=81475\"> 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-81475","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\/81475","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=81475"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81475\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":81523,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81475\/revisions\/81523"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=81475"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=81475"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=81475"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}