Charlton Heston on "The Big Country"

[@TheCrossroads533]

A magnificent actor.

[@Nighthawk-8050]

Big Country was one of my personal favorite western movies of all time. Burt ives won best supporting actor well deserved he gave a powerful performance nearly stole the movie.

[@scottwilliams8334]

I saw it in the theater when it came out and it's still one of my favorite movies. Have you seen "3 Violent People "?

[@RileyRampant]

It had so many interesting psychological sides - truly a classic - definitely in my top five westerns.

[@PathfinderHistory]

It’s so refreshing to listen to an articulate person. No “so yeah” or “I mean” or “right?” or “sort of”. No vocal fry or up talk either.

[@halcyon289]

A M E N

[@equine2020]

Intelligrant people know how to speak. They learn proper English, & speaking.

[@jamescrawford9883]

Not one “Like” !

[@robertdavidson8028]

@@equine2020 and spelling too.

[@billkramer2994]

What? No - "you know, right, where are you at, yr take!" Garbage Eng of today!!!!

[@mickeymousebiker1]

Chuck Heston and Gregory Peck - two of the best character actors -- ever. God keep them both.

[@Baskerville22]

I would not describe them as "character actors". Walter Brennan, Chill Wills, Edgar Buchanan, were "character actors". Peck & Heston were 'leading men'

[@thefantasyreview8709]

Yeah, not character actors. Gregory Peck is pretty much Gregory Peck in most movies.

[@Celluloidwatcher]

The guys who get top billing on marquees are guys like Peck and Heston and Lancaster and Douglas. Your supporting actors are the character performers. It makes a world of difference.

[@AuntieMamie]

They were great Hollywood stars indeed.

[@claudettedelphis6476]

Totally agree with you 🌺

[@timmccaffrey1326]

Charlton Heston was a very dignified man and unlike many actors he very rarely had a bad word to say about his co-stars. It appears what you saw on screen was what you got, a sincere man with an old fashioned set of values..and a fine actor too.

Tim, You are correct. Heston was a class act and a regular guy full of decency.

[@thefantasyreview8709]

Same with Gregory Peck - vast majority of his roles were upstanding and decent.

[@shanecomeback8296]

@@thefantasyreview8709 I didn't know who to root for in the fight scene. Loved them both

[@thomast8539]

@@shanecomeback8296 I always side with Greg Peck's character in that fight scene...he had a compass and was never lost...Steve called him a liar...just like riding Old Thunder, he stood his ground when it mattered to himself.

[@TheCrossroads533]

America's best actor.

[@brianbaumgarn5795]

I will sit up through the night to watch this movie........................just greatness

[@DominiqueCurtis-p8i]

Buy a copy, big guy.

[@juancarlosl4133]

One of my very fav actors. Admire him.

[@daryljay7057]

I just watched this movie again last night. One of THE Greatest westerns ever made! The BEST actors, The GREATEST Soundtrack & a terrific story! I read that General Eisenhower screened this at the White House in 1958. It was his favorite western as well! I liked Ike too!

[@scottwilliams8334]

I'm watching right this second !!!

[@jakespoon5549]

Screened it 4 times in a row.

[@commonsense7539]

I remember vividly going to see this with my best friend, as we left one of our schoolmasters was coming in to the theatre, we stopped and spoke to him. He was a young man a Physics teacher with a PhD from Cambridge, he smiled and asked “how was Jean” we replied in unison “she was TERRIFIC”. This is certainly the finest Western ever made and with The Lion in Winter, one of the two best movies of all time.

[@jazzfusionary]

Charlton Heston was the best actor ever! I love all his work.

[@lbroderick783]

I found the interview to be very interesting. It was a wise decision on his part that he changed his mind about appearing in the movie. One of the best westerns ever made!

[@Kinopanorama1]

One of Willie Wyler's best films. Excellent cast, superb music by Jerome Moross.

[@larky368]

Heston's character was secondary however it was essential. His was the only character who changed and grew. He used to be the Major's yes-man and he emulated him and despised McKay for being what he thought was a coward. He finally learned what it meant to be a real man and that is to be true to yourself and not care what others thought of you. He showed this when he refused to do the Major's bidding despite being called a coward. He knew it was untrue and he also knew what was right.

[@mphrdldn]

Agreed. I always wondered how he related to Major's daughter after the end of the film. He had changed; she hadn't. Did he break the news about her father's death to her? Could he help her grief? For how long?

[@devilsden2283]

Very well said....

[@dr.detroit1514]

@@mphrdldn Yea, that's one piece that left me hanging, what happened with her, she must have been totally lost.

[@KrystylSummers]

Don't make me ask why imaginary object are dropping out of the sky?

[@adjohns6468]

The Big Country was actually about Leach and how McKay changed him!!

[@brikfiend]

No doubt one of the finest movies ever made . . .

[@badwolf7367]

Charlton Heston was an incredible actor, what impressed me the most was the range of his movies; he started in period pieces, to contemporary drama, to sci-fi movies, to horror. He played a Roman, a knight, a gambler, an explorer (William Clark of Lewis and Clark fame), a president, a solider, a submarine captain, an astronaut, a football quarterback, a detective, and so many others.

[@jackprescott9652]

When i was a kid, and i saw in TV a lot of Charlton Heston classic films like The Ten Commandments, 55 days at Peking, The Big Country, The Agony and the Extassis, etc, i thought he was a very respected actor with at least 4 or 5 academy awards nods. It blew my mind that he was just nominated once for the Oscar, the one he got for Ben Hur. Incredible.

[@Baskerville22]

El Cid & Khartoum were not bad

[@jackprescott9652]

@@Baskerville22 Sure. Heston starred in a lot of good films.

[@Paul-lm5gv]

Loved him in 'The Big Country.' Charlton Heston is in my top 5 actors of all time! Sure, movies like 'The Ten Commandments' and 'Ben Hur.' But also look, for example, at his portrayal of Mark Antony and his soliloquy in 'Julius Caesar' (1970). Magnificent! Powerful!

[@waterbourne9282]

One of my favourite films. Wonderful.

[@stevenhaff3332]

Great stories by Charles. Very funny stuff! RIP Mr. Heston

[@shizaunilicious]

The awesome thing about Heston is how he can use a curse word. His "damn" and "hell" sound better than any other actor in history.

[@joeblow2069]

What a great film. I enjoy it more every time I watch it.

[@jefbretschneider1607]

just watched this film on the Criterion Channel, it was the restored version (a flawless must see) IMHO: It is the perfect storm of all the film arts coming together to create A SPECTACULAR WESTERN CLASSIC!

[@jaywilson4520]

I love listening to Heston talk about his career and making movies. His insights were really profound and he had a great understanding and articulation of the business and the various thing that went into making a film. It's fascinating stuff.

[@mphrdldn]

His autobiography, In the Arena, was full of this type of information.

[@dragi2163]

These days I belong to the outgoing generation. My favorite genre is the Western, and I've watched several thousand of them, many more than once. I like High Noon, Shane, Rio Bravo, The big country, Warlock, Duel in the sun, Man who shot Liberty Valance, One-eyed jacks; The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly; Man from the West, Unforgiven, My Darling Clementine, Lonesome dowe, The Searchers True Grit, The nacked spur, Vera Cruz, and thousands other...

[@mauricioduron3193]

dragi2163 Are you sure you're not me, writing here under an assumed monicker?

[@Baskerville22]

Agree with most of those, though not so keen on Duel in the Sun , One-Eyed Jacks and any 'spaghetti Western'. It's Man OF the West (Cooper. Lee J. Cobb & Julie London), not "Man from the West". Unforgiven is a tad too dark & violent for me. Glad to see someone other than myself rates Warlock - it's almost one of the greatest Westerns. Jimmie Stewart's Man from Laramie is a particular favourite of mine.

[@stevedandy973]

Charlton Heston graced us with many characters but, I think his BEST role was as Moses in "The Ten Commandments."

[@shanecomeback8296]

Also Will Penny and The President's Wife.

[@xtbum3339]

I prefer his Judah Ben Hur.

[@DavidNefelimSlayer]

@@shanecomeback8296 I believe he said Will Penny was his favorite performance. I’m gonna go with Sam Peckinpah’s Major Dundee, the directors cut.

[@jackprescott9652]

It was an iconic charachater ideed, but, from acting perspective, i think his best performance was in Will Penny.

[@mrlaw711]

Think I like Heston better than any perception of the reality of a "Moses."

[@tonyrollman3991]

What a thrill it was to shake chuck Heston's hand when he came aboard the uss coral sea in Halifax Nova Scotia in 1988

[@gargantuaism]

Even if you didn't include "Ten Commandments" and "Ben Hur" and all the other films he made during all those years, he still made the best SyFy horror films of the late 60's and early 70's. A versatile career that just went on and on.....

[@pennymalvern8689]

In the late 1960s in my late teens, I kept a photo of Charlton on the wall of my small office. He and Gregory Peck are my most favourite he-men of all time, wonderful actors and both seemed such nice men in real life, also well spoken - and modest too I believe. The strength of their characters showed in their wonderful strong features imo.

[@garrettdavis6500]

I never knew this movie existed until I was in my late 40's. About 2010 or so. Blew me the Hell away !!!!! BRI-LL-A-N-T !!!!!

[@michaelhartshorn8574]

What a absolutely fantastic movie I'd watch it over and over again ❤

[@1952mrpdc]

I watched this film yesterday evening. Its quite long. But well worth watching. Its beautifully filmed as is the music which is very famous. This film is a must watch for anyone who likes this type of film. PC. 12. 05. 2021.

[@mauricioduron3193]

Quite long. Too many unnecessary scenes, maybe? 😊

[@janejohnstone5795]

Two...handsome mature...men...good well known actors....strong characters...

[@2ifbysea]

This is the most brilliant film ever made!!

[@tralala827727]

Legend!

[@davidsouthall965]

and yet you nailed it Chuck! thank you

[@johnnyllooddte3415]

great movie, great men... great message

[@peace-yv4qd]

I grew up watching these two men act in various films. The last heyday of Hollywood.

[@Paul-lm5gv]

Loved him in 'The Big Country.' The Blanco Canyon scene with Charles Bickford was classic Heston! Charlton Heston is in my top 5 actors of all time! Sure, movies like 'The Ten Commandments' and 'Ben Hur.' But also look, for example, at his portrayal of Mark Antony and his soliloquy in 'Julius Caesar' (1970). Magnificent! Powerful!

[@joycegibbs5267]

the film is just starting on BBC2, (in the UK). Brilliant films, legendary actors including this wonderful man. All the best have gone though !!

[@elrjames7799]

"All I can say Mckay, is that you take a helluva long time to say goodbye. I've just about finished, if it's all right with you. It's all right with me. Now tell me Leech, what did we prove?"

[@rickbrowning7059]

Belongs in the top ten of all time best Western ever made William Tyler was a perfectionist.and all his films are magnificent to watch.

[@elrjames7799]

@@rickbrowning7059 That's William Wyler, not Tyler.

[@DavidNefelimSlayer]

The Omega Man. From my cold dead hands. A great movie. Steve and the Major at the Blanco Canyon. One of many wonderful memorable scenes.

[@robertwaid3579]

What a great actor Charlton Heston was. Any role he portrayed he made you believe, he was that character. As for William Wyler, I mentioned before how actors/actresses sought work with him. Due to the admiration the industry held for him. Great interview/video. Thank you. 🇨🇦🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇸👍👍😍😍

[@moviecowboy2012]

One of the best movies of all time...William wyler was one of the greats

[@DollyPocket]

It’s just a brilliant movie. In my top 50

[@gterrymed]

Willy's like a sculptor in a sense, digging away till be gets it. ❤

[@patrickcrockett3982]

One of my top ten favorite movies. My favorite scene takes place in Heston's bunkhouse room where he tells Peck to go outside and pick out any piece of the thousands of acres that suits him to finally have their fight. Also, the Jerome Moross score is one of the best.

[@2vintage68]

Westerns don't get any better than this one. William Wyler was in the top five of all time great directors. Also, Mr. Heston was superb in his role. No one else could have played that part like he did.

[@geoffreybritain8878]

One of my favorite films.

[@windstorm1000]

wonderful interview--underrated actor with a perceptive sense of things. His Actor's Journals (published) are very fascinating to read of an actor's journey.

[@JFF35753]

A great actor and a great movie!

[@davidallen508]

A great interview ; a true vindication of why “The Big Country” remains a cut above most westerns of the 1950’s. On meeting Charlton Heston,at a book signing in Auckland,I found him rather intimidating but I like to put that down to shyness,rather than arrogance.

[@LaDameBlanche0119]

david allen You met him??? Oh my goodness I dreamed of being able to do that. He became my hero about a month before he passed. I saw Ben Hur and it had a big impact on my life, and so did this amazing guy. I am 23 now, and my fascination with him has never ever faded. Please tell me about meeting him!! I would have given anything...

[@davidallen508]

Hi Hannah, I can understand how star-struck you are over Charlton Heston.”Ben-Hur” is one of the greatest movies ever made. I had to stand in a very long line,in order to meet him and obtain his autograph.When it came to my turn,I was frozen on the spot. I thanked him for coming to New Zealand and he told me I might be interested in the photos his wife was selling.It was indeed a thrilling experience.Hannah,you must watch some of his other movies too ; “The Greatest Show On Earth”,”The Big Country” and ‘“Khartoum”,to name a few of his best. Kind Regards, David.

[@LaDameBlanche0119]

david allen That is so neat!! And trust me I have seen all of the ones you named haha and more. I have a picture of him in my room and his autobiography is currently being read. I came across a special video you might appreciate. Let me find it.

[@LaDameBlanche0119]

david allen kzbin.info/www/bejne/pIbdoGNmmbRmpbc

[@rjmcallister1888]

The casting and performances in "The Big Country" are all spot-on. Heston was needed to battle both Peck and Charles Bickford, both master actors on their own. Then there was Burl Ives, who won an Oscar for his role. Wyler was a master as well; he and Heston lit out for Rome after this wrapped for a little sword-and-sandal film called "Ben-Hur".

[@jefbretschneider1607]

Even though he was an A-List Lead Actor at that time (1958) Charlton Heston's ":supporting role" character (as Steve Leech, the Terril Ranch foreman ) his performance was essential to the story telling and just as important as any of the leads. He made a smart move accepting that role. No one ever mentions the great movie stuntman cowboys who were in The Big Country--like Chuck Hayward!! You can see their abilities in the first opening scenes where Chuck Conners (who plays Rafe Hannasey) and his two brothers (Dude Hannasey and Blackie/Cracker Hannasey) chase down Gregory Peck and Dianne Baker in their carriage. The horse riding stunts during that chase are hilarious and phenomena!! Also worthy of mention in that film---Alfonso Bedoya. He played a supporting role as one of the more prominent Terril Ranch hands (he also gave comic relief to the film). Don't underestimate Alfonso Bedoya because he is forever ingrained in Cinema history, as he played the Mexican bandito "Gold Hat" in the film "Treasure of Sierra Madre" His famous line in the Treasure of Sierra Madre film was: "I don't need to show you no stinkin' badge!" Even though Bedoya has passed on, his one line lives on and on. :)

[@thomast8539]

Love the way that he describes how he was going to argue his point with Wyler...and, just as he was preparing to prove his point, Heston was reminded of all the great films that Wyler had crafted...his ego subsided and he tactfully ended the confrontation. Kinda mirrors how Steve argues with the Major near the end of the film, but then Steve relents and joins the Major in the canyon.

[@windflowerhaynes6267]

Oh, I miss this great actor, too.

[@warrenermish1454]

He was the class of the class

[@acblueeagle]

Excellent. Thanks.

[@jerricroft937]

RIP Love you they'll never be another you

[@mikewilliams8713]

Hate to contradict Charlton Heston but it was Gregory Peck who said, "I've finished saying goodbye, if it's all right with you." Great scene though.

[@kk6aw]

I think you misunderstood, I did not get that at all

[@exk6]

You're correct! Leach says " All I can say McKay is you take one hell of a long time to say goodbye!" to which McKay replies " I'm just about done, if that's alright with you?" and Leach ends with "That's alright with me!".

[@DesertRockfall]

Chuck was simply the best.....nuff said.

[@carolgriffith5386]

Charlton Heston was an actor who wasn't afraid to take a subsidiary role -- he took second billing to lead Gary Cooper in "Wreak of the Mary Deare" because he wanted so much to work with Coop (who was getting along in years by then). He took what was definitely a rather small "featured" role in "The Buccaneer" which starred Yul Brynner, Claire Bloom, and Inger Stevens, because he'd played Andrew Jackson once before, in "The President's Lady" (Susan Hayward co-starred) and found the part of Jackson fascinating. No offense to Brynner, but Chuck Heston simply dominated every scene he was in as General Jackson (and he even looked the part)!

[@JackLee-mx9xf]

Carol Griffith Heston took the smaller role in the big country just to work with William Wyler which got him the role of Judah Benhur in his next film. It won only eleven academy awards. Not too bad a choice.

[@cgrscott]

I thought Chuck Heston was broadening his brand as an actor by doing this part in The Big Country. He showed he can play an unsympathetic character and still put on a compelling performance. His character came around "for the right" near the end of the movie. :-)

[@jondeere5638]

One of the best movies ever made, western or not. One of the best casts of the day ever assembled. Acting is superb. The antagonists were caste in the mold of individualism, both good and bad, reminiscent of the characters of Ayn Rand.

[@davidhulse395]

fight scene was one of the greatest if not greatest fight scene. However Chuck's memory must have been fading. Peck said I'm just about done saying goodbye, not heston's character. I remember Chuck saying 'all I can say is you take a long time to say goodbye".

[@davidhumphries9536]

Patrick Saxon n

[@250txc]

What a cool interview! Now I'm gonna go hesr what Peck has to say on the movie!

[@PacRimJim]

Love the theme music. It's by the guy who wrote the theme to the Wagon Train TV series.

[@lelandframe6927]

The theme music for "The Big Valley" TV series seems to be inspired by it.

[@Cavemancompound]

how does this fit in with comments on this wonderful movie

[@janinesenatore3870]

@larky368 I couldn't agree with you more. I thought his acting was impeccable especially after the Major is killed and McKay looks at him...Heston's facial expressions were so many, so subtle, simply superb acting on his part. This movie just stayed with me for days and I also wondered about how Pat's character would cope with the loss.

[@judithkellenberger6372]

What a wonderful gift to people who has been able to see Heston in his films They sure picked the right actor for Moses. WHAT a great guy .No funny business about him .

[@yasminenazarine1629]

Nice movies nice actores Gregory peck Cheleton Heston Jeans simmons & other actores (THE BIG COUNTRY ) 🐤🐥🐣🌝⭐🌙🌵🍄🐇🐦

[@phuclevan5771]

I think The big country is number one in 100 cowboy movies.

[@margowarner8903]

A very perceptive and interesting take on some "big" scenes in The Big Country.

[@marklafayette6948]

One of my favorite movies big country. All the actors did a fantastic job.. Charlton Heston movies are always great movies. He doesn’t have a bad movie if he’s in it it’s worth seeing he’s that good.. if you take Charlton test at a planet of the apes, the movie is worthless for example .

[@stevewhitaker1705]

One of the Hollywood greatest

[@phuclevan5771]

The big country I like it so much.

[@grumpysorc3744]

Always liked him, not only as an actor - Mr. Heston was a friend of Andrew Wyeth ( arguably the greatest American painter ), and admirer/collector of his art.

[@joseassuncao5598]

magnifica video grande artista Charlton Heston on " the big country"

[@snarflatful]

Nice rug, Chuck.

[@worrywart1311]

Just to toss in a curve ball, I liked Heston in Soylent Green. But I agree with him that my favorite of his was as Will Penny. I feel much the same about the Duke in The Shootist.

[@jephrokimbo9050]

must agree with you regarding Will Penny as Chuck Heston's BEST PERFORMANCE but as for The Duke, John Wayne, I liked him best in The War Wagon with Kirk Douglas. sadly, ALL THREE, are gone now!

[@worrywart1311]

@@jephrokimbo9050 Michael Douglas, about to turn 78, is looking more and more like his father Kirk. Well, except for that giant dimple.

[@jephrokimbo9050]

@@worrywart1311 yes, michael douglas is still around and has portrayed some good characters but not one of my favorites.

[@markangus3252]

What a big country

[@alanhope1190]

Heston reputedly suggested Wyler to direct Ben Hur. If true it was a golden moment.

[@nigelmartin1770]

The greatest western ever? Close call between The Big Country, The Magnificent Seven(brynner), Shane, The Searchers and Giant. Giant just does it for me with The Big Country just pipped at the post. Love both movies though..... and Carroll Baker!

[@shayne3650]

Charlton played Steve Leitch, my favourite character in the film!!

[@RileyRampant]

Its interesting to ponder if Peck & Heston had reversed roles. I LOVE this film, but I could see it the other way, too. What WW almost certainly saw was the need for a worthy adversary. And he wanted the best.

[@anitaellenmcgee7430]

He did a very fine job in this movie William Wyler was his Director

[@WintersWar]

you're nucking futs. burl ives and charles bickford alone made it worth a watch.

[@moorlock2003]

Heston was great in Soylent Green

[@mrlaw711]

What an interesting man he was.

[@MOGGS1942]

I'm not a fan of Heston,but he was wise to change his mind and appear in the great movie that was The Big Country.

[@jameshudson169]

having chuck heston in the 2nd spot gives you that tension: maybe he's really the star. maybe he'll turn out to be the hero.

[@jcolson19]

Yes

[@tryarunm]

Why so quiet? This is almost a silent movie.

[@genesis1765]

The Big Country is a proper Western.

[@44032]

When was this interview? Looks like the 70s?

[@exk6]

Anyone else assume that we're supposed to think that he (Leach) ended up with Pat Tyrell? Or did he become McKay's 'top foreman to run things while you learn the ropes' for McKay and Julie?

[@ThePersian61]

Strange that Charlton Heston didn't seem particular bothered by Willy Wyler's mode of directing. Numerous takes and apparently a lot of re-writes to the script during filming. It actually drove Jean Simmons nuts, and she wouldn't talk about it for years afterward.

[@NakedTongues]

actually blanco canyon was used a little later in Man of the West, a much much much finer wester, but then Mann simply, for me was the better director. And yes, I know Wyler has his fans. Compared to the dross these days, he was a genius.

[@exk6]

He didn't say " Now tell me Mr Leach... what did we prove?" he said "Now tell me Leach...what did we prove?"

[@peternagy-im4be]

Yawn

[@catirerubio]

A long fight scene, not a particularly exciting one. It makes a good point about the waste of energy most fights are, and nothing much is proven or changed.

[@schroedingers_kotze]

I respect Charlton Heston as one of the great actors of his generation, no question about it. But what I still don't understand: How can you admire William Wyler, whose main theme (according to Heston himself) was the futility of violence, and on the other hand be the president of the NRA for years?