The Big Country
List Price:
Our Price: $6.85
You Save: $8.13 (54%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $4.90 (click here)
Category: DVD
See more DVD details
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Burl Ives, Carroll Baker, Charlton Heston, Gregory Peck, Jean SimmonsBrand: Sony
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: English (Unknown), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; Spanish (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); English (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; French (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono; Spanish (Original Language), Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 2.35:1
Running Time: 165 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2001-03-20
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
DVD Reviews of The Big Country
DVD Review: The Big Country transcends the confines of its own genre
Summary: 5 Stars
THE BIG COUNTRY (1958) Starring Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston, Jean Simmons, Carol Baker, Burl Ives, Charles Bickford and Chuck Connors.
Well, let me start by saying that this is one of my favorite films of all time and not just in the western category. It's a movie that transcends the confines of its own genre. From the moment the movie starts...with that amazing Jerome Moross score, you know you're in for something special. The music in this film is, for me at least, one of the main characters. The first shot...of the stage coach riding across the huge expanse of this "Big Country" carries us through the credits with shots of a spinning wagon wheel super imposed on scenes of a vast frontier accompanied by a rousing musical score.
The stagecoach arrives at its destination with James McKay (Gregory Peck) in tow from the east...a former navy man and retired ships captain whose family owns a shipping line. The film quickly establishes him as the quintessential "fish out of water" with his eastern clothes and bowler hat that is quickly made fun of by the locals. Peck has come to marry Carol Baker...a pretty, headstrong blonde that Peck met when she visited the east coast. Peck is met at the station by Charlton Heston as Steve Leech, foreman of the ranch that belongs to Bakers father, Henry Terrill aka "The Major" played by Charles Bickford. Heston takes an instant dislike to Peck as he is also in love with Baker. Peck and Baker are reunited at the house of Bakers best friend Jean Simmons.
Soon, Baker and Peck are off to Bickfords ranch...a giant expanse of land which he owns almost as far as the eye can see. On the way to the ranch, Peck and Baker are harassed by members of the "Hannassey" family. The Hannassey's are a more scruffy and financially humble family with an empire of their own hidden away behind the bleached stone cliffs of "Blanco Canyon" and led by Hannassey family patriarch Burl Ives. Connors playes Ives oldest son. Connors and his brothers subject Peck to a little hazing which Peck takes rather good naturedly. Baker however is outraged and pulls out a shot gun to shoot at the drunken ruffians. Peck stops her and the situation is soon diffused. But Peck is somewhat surprised by Bakers extreme reaction of hate. Soon they are at Bakers home..Ladder Ranch.
Peck soon meets Major Terrill, a hard man who is drawn to Pecks "gentlemanly forbearance". Peck gives the Major his fathers old dueling pistols as a gift. Here we see glimpses of the origins of Pecks peaceful demeanor. His father was killed in a duel. Peck tells Bickford how "nobody knows what that last duel was even about". Bickford warns Peck that here in the west a man is still expected to defend himself. Peck soon discovers to his dismay the extent of this feud between the Terrills and the Hannasseys when he sees that the Major and Heston are taking a group of men to beat the tar out of the drunken brothers. Heston asks Peck to come along for a little revenge but Peck wants no part of it.
Later, at Peck and Bakers engagement party we find out more about this feud. It seems that Jean Simmons is the sole owner of her family's ranch the "Big Muddy". It is the main source of water for cattle for both the Terrills and the Hannasseys. She lets both families use all the water they want, but both are constantly trying to get her to sell her land to them so that each man might use it to cut off the others water supply for their cattle, effectively destroying their enemies' respective empires. Over the course of the film, Peck becomes even more deeply embroiled in the feud as he takes more proactive steps to prevent violence and bloodshed. But try as he might...he soon discovers that in this "Big Country" bloodshed is inevitable.
Of course we know that there will be a confrontation between Peck and Heston. But it isn't like any traditional "western brawl" that we have seen before. It's not just a fight over a girl, or for honor. The fight is more symbolic than anything. Especially given Pecks line after it's all over. As the two men stand, totally alone, bruised and bloody, Peck puts the whole thing into perfect perspective when he asks Heston...
"So tell me...what did we prove?"
This simple line speaks volumes about the senselessness of violence and reminds one of films such as Clint Eastwoods "Unforgiven".
The finale is nothing less than spectacular. Suspenseful and exciting confrontations all around and not at all in the way you might expect from a more traditional western from the period.
I think the films biggest problem is the actual print. On the DVD of the film, while some scenes are crisp and clear and beautiful, others seem fuzzy with washed out color. There are moments where it seems there are frames missing and we see quick split second jumps. It definitely needs some more restoration I feel. The sound is excellent. The film runs at just about 2 hrs and 45 minutes. I've heard critics say they felt it was too long, but I disagree. There is a specific pacing to this film that has a natural flow to it. There are no rushed scenes and then long boring scenes. Scenes gradually play out and build to a crescendo...sometimes fooling us, and then rewarding us with surprises we didn't see coming. Wyler films it with a wonderful consistency. It must also be said that it is imperative that this is watched in its original aspect ratio. The pan and scan version on VHS ruins several scenes in my opinion. In particular a scene between Baker, Peck and Heston at breakfast and later a scene between Peck and Simmons. And then at the end, during the major confrontations and battles. All these scenes need to be seen in wide screen.
I enjoy all the characters. Baker does get slightly grating near the end. She has a great scene where she slaps Heston with her riding crop. Heston grabs her wrists and pulls her to him and kisses her roughly. She bits his lip and draws blood. In the after math of the incident between them...she tries to fix her mussed hair and starts to tremble and throws a major breakdown. Nice scene. Simmons doesn't really have a lot of scenes but they are integral and there is an attempted rape scene that is very intense and she is very good in it. It's easy to see how Ives won the best supporting actor Oscar here, he is great. And I don't think I need to go on anymore about the Oscar nominated score. It's brilliant and emotional and exciting and a crucial part of this films success.
This is one of those films in which I love the story and the characters so much that I want to know more. I want to see a prequel and find out the source of this decades long hate between Ives and Bickford. Likewise, I want to see these characters lives in the aftermath of the films events. I've never read the Donald Hamilton book that the film is based on, but I want to just to see if there is more to this story. This western breaks a lot of traditional clichés in Pecks character. He tries to avoid fighting and pulls off not looking cowardly, but trying to reason, to negotiate. Peck tries to bring peace, but still finds himself having to fight, albeit reluctantly. He doesn't need to prove anything to anyone but himself. We gradually see that he is a force for peace, with the strength to maintain that peace.
The film seems to spiral around all these characters, going around the edges and slowly finding the center of what everyone is about. They are epic characters, but their pettiness is made small with long distance camera shots that make them seem tiny and inconsequential. But the more the film starts to bring them into tighter focus, we see their faults. We see characters that seem weak who turn out to be the sources of true strength and character. Characters that seem like simple stooges...one dimensional tools of the two, more complex, warring old men. But as the film probes deeper, we see a reversal of all this. The seemingly complex patriarchs are simplistic symbols of hate, while the followers, like Heston...start to change and see the wrongness of their leader's actions. The characters could be considered symbols...they parallel the actions of nations in a way. I think this film has a wonderful message about character, force, peace and strength used both wisely and foolishly. Minor problems with the print aside...this is still a 5 star film from beginning to end.
Description of The Big Country
One of Hollywood's greatest directors teams with a cast of incredible screen legends for this bold,sweeping tale of a ship's captain who ventures west to find a hotbed of jealousy, hatred and dangerous rivalries. As the reluctant hero is thrust into the maelstrom, he must summon all of his resolveto save not only his own life, but also the life of the woman he loves. Four-time Academy AwardÂ(r) winner* William Wyler directs this action-packed adventure that triumphs as "a work of art" (Motion Picture Herald). Starring Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston, Jean Simmons, Chuck Connors and Burl Ives (in an OscarÂ(r)-winning** performance), this magnificently entertaining epic will take your breath away with unbridled suspense, exhilarating excitement and explosive drama on a grand scale.Bestsellers in DVD
![The Story of Jeremiah [VHS] Image](/images/noimg.gif)
The Story of Jeremiah [VHS]Vision Video; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Wresting With God [VHS]by Vision Video
Vision Video; Published: 1990-10-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
Study Bible Video with Workbook [VHS]Spring Arbor Distributors; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.95
Price in other shops:
Tempo:Childrens TV Favourites Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $9.17
Price in other shops:
Tempo.Herbs:Parseley'Sb/ Party Video [VHS]HarperCollins Audio; VHS Tape; VHS Video
![Strike the Original Match [VHS] Image](/images/Strike-the-Original-Match-VHS-0001374079-X.jpg)
Strike the Original Match [VHS]New Liberty Films; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops:
![Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS] Image](/images/Medjugorje-The-Miracles-and-the-Message-VHS-0001373293-X.jpg)
Medjugorje The Miracles and the Message [VHS]JPN Film Production; Release date: 1995-12-15; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $29.99
Mayo Clinic Echocardiography Review Course for Boards and Recertification DVD 2008by Mayo
DVD
Price in other shops:
Pediatric Diagnostic Imaging DVD: Single Userby Oakstone
DVD
Price in other shops:
Cost Accounting [VHS]by Charles T. Horngren, George Foster, Srikant M. Datar, Howard Teall
Pearson Canada, Toronto; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
How the West Was Won (Three-Disc Special Edition)WAYNE,JOHN; Release date: 2008-09-09; DVD
Best price: $8.55
Price in other shops:
The Professionals (Special Edition)Sony; Release date: 2005-04-05; DVD
Best price: $6.95
Price in other shops:
The Wild Bunch - The Original Director's Cut (Two-Disc Special Edition)Warner Brothers; Release date: 2006-01-10; DVD
Best price: $4.99
Price in other shops:
John Wayne: The SearchersWarner Brothers; Release date: 2007-05-22; DVD
Best price: $4.74
Price in other shops:
The Stalking MoonWarner Brothers; Release date: 2008-08-26; DVD
Best price: $5.42
Price in other shops:
Yellow SkyFox; Release date: 2006-05-23; DVD
Best price: $7.19
Price in other shops:
The Magnificent Seven (Special Edition)BRYNNER,YUL; Release date: 2001-05-08; DVD
Best price: $6.78
Price in other shops:
Once Upon a Time in the WestParamount; Release date: 2010-05-18; DVD
Best price: $3.20
Price in other shops:
The Guns of NavaronePECK,GREGORY; Release date: 2000-05-23; DVD
Best price: $10.36
Price in other shops:
Friendly PersuasionCOOPER,GARY; Release date: 2000-12-05; DVD
Best price: $5.79
Price in other shops: