The Big Country (1958)

Director William Wyler made a rare western that eschewed the bombast typical of the genre, relying instead on superb characterization of complex characters to generate its impact. The result will not satisfy the action craving crowd but will enthrall those who enjoy a story with a little more depth that takes its good time to explore the emotional landscape before drawing to a close.

The Big Country is a B-I-G movie spanning almost t-h-r-e-e h-o-u-r-s (2:47) in its exploration of intolerance, its main theme; water rights, the pretext that the principals operate under, and how opposites attract. Throughout the running time, which doesn’t seem as long as it sounds, Wyler provides grand 2.35:1 vistas of the wide open spaces and a grand, open Jerome Moross score almost like that Elmer Bernstein wrote for Magnificent Seven

Gregory Peck stars as the ship's captain who leaves the sea to make his home in the West. He finds his fiancee (Carroll Baker) and her family led by patriarch Charles Bickford, who goes by the epithet Major.

Peck, who has sailed many unfamiliar seas, is apparently unprepared to face the dark, uncharted territory of the human hearts he meets with, choosing instead to keep his own counsel and be thought less of in the action-oriented milieu. He first refuses to be goaded into a fight, then to ride an unbroken bronco, finally another insult is overlooked to his fiancee's shame and their resultant breakup.

The Major also proves to be a harsh, unforgiving man only concerned with his own well-being. This is evidenced by his disparaging remarks and treatment of neighbors the Hannesseys led by patriarch Burl Ives, who won an Academy Award for his performance.

Much of Wyler's art lies in the shifting point of view of his camera. He wordlessly compares outlooks of Peck and co-star Charlton Heston as they look over the same territory with widely different vistas. Similarly, the looks exchanged between Peck and co-star Jean Simmons are enough to set flammable material alight. Again, no words are said but the looks easily tell the story.

Bickford and Ives are like figures from an Old Testament story with their sickening self righteousness almost palpable. Bickford is through and through rotten with hypocrisy but Ives has still maintained a glimmer of self possession and can tell right from wrong. All the parts are well done, with Charlton Heston easily showing the mettle that would win him an Oscar a year hence and Chuck Connors portraying a sniveling excuse for a human being that is among his best performances.

Besides the story and the strong performances, there is the compelling Jerome Moross score that is very suited to the epic themes and size of The Big Country.

The MGM DVD contains a copy of the color 2.35:1 theatrical aspect movie that is in fine condition. The only extras are Spanish and French subtitles, the choice of French audio, and the theatrical trailer.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening