THE BIG COUNTRY (1958) Movie REACTION!

[@scottmiller6495]

The Big Country is the greatest Western Motion picture of all time, it should have won Best Picture of 1958, PERIOD!!!!!

[@susanliltz3875]

“To Kill A Mocking Bird” with Gregory Peck is a classic and a cameo of a young Robert Duval!!!

[@JeffreyCantelope]

Agreed. Another great Peck movie. I also think "The Keysof the Kingdom" (1944),as well.

[@scottmiller6495]

@@JeffreyCantelope How about The Yearling from 1946, terrific film 📽️ !!!!!

[@JeffreyCantelope]

@@scottmiller6495 great film but The Big Country just hits me differently.

[@scottmiller6495]

@@JeffreyCantelope Same here I see The Big Country several times a year, it's got everything, how in the world could the academy give the award for Best Picture to Gigi? It's still a mystery even now.

[@gl2996]

Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston, Chuck Connors, Jean Simmons ...and Burl Ives, who won an Academy Award for his performance in this. One of my favorite films. And one of the best theme songs in film.

[@itt23r]

One of the most spectacular westerns ever made. And a score for the ages. Hard to believe it has never been reacted to. So congrats on being the first. And if you are now a Jean Simmons fan, she was in another spactacular movie made only 1 year later. It is not a western but it is every bit as good as this one, if not better. Talkin' bout Stanley Kubrik's epic masterpiece, SPARTACUS. This movie is loved by millions out here and as of now you'd be the first to my knowledge to react to this one too if ou did.

[@jesusfernandezgarcia9449]

Ben Hur and now The Big Country, the channel is reaching a high level.

[@richardscanlan3419]

I have both movies in my collection - so,you must be right:))

[@jesusfernandezgarcia9449]

@@richardscanlan3419 Unfortunately I fear that these channels do not react to the great movies because they do not get many views and they want to have visitors and subscribers, that is their right, and we wander through those channels looking for those great movies and because the majority are nice people and it is always better to see the movies accompanied...

[@joshlight6892]

Its always been a fun channel.

[@scottmiller6495]

@@richardscanlan3419 Ben Hur from 1959 won 11 Academy Awards and it was deserved, however Titanic from 1997 also received 11, and wasn't nearly as good!!!!!

[@richardscanlan3419]

@@scottmiller6495 can't judge Titanic as I have never seen it. Saw a british version made in the fifties - that was pretty good.

[@roastedcauliflower4146]

You’re picking winners Madison. This one’s in my all-time top 10.

[@richardwestmoreland6]

John McKay is a very ethical character. A character of rare and great integrity, which is what really distinguishes this movie. Moral clarity. Determined to do what's best for all.

[@robertchristiansen5169]

I'm 74, I saw this movie at a drive in with my mom and little brother when I was 8. I still believe it is the best western movie ever made, the story of a man with impeccable character.

[@StephenRansom47]

This 55 year old tips his hat, sir. For I feel closer to your generation than the one equally younger. The simple message of mature manhood is rare, but even these kids can see the value of it when on display. 🍻

[@thomastimlin1724]

That's a man with Gregory ImPECKable character, lol

[@scottmiller6495]

@@robertchristiansen5169 It is, There were 10 great westerns of all time and The Big Country could certainly be No. 1, it has everything, Superb Acting, Incredible Scenery and Expert Directing(William Wyler), Fabulous Music Score (Jerome Moross), and Burl Ives who stole the film With his surprise role of Ruffus Hannessy for which he won the only award for Best Supporting Actor!!!!!

[@GeneralDissent]

I’m of a similar age and saw it on the big screen with my parents. A very impressive film and Madison’s critique was excellent 😊

[@larky368]

This is definitely one of the best westerns ever. Another one you must watch is Shane. It's about a gunfighter trying to put the past behind him but circumstances won't permit it. Another Gregory Peck movie with a similar theme to Shane is The Gunfighter.

[@larrycork49]

Chuck Conners, who portrayed Buck, played The Rifleman, a popular TV character. He also played major league baseball with the Chicago Cubs.

[@Shadowman4710]

He'd appear a number of years later opposite Charleton Heston in "Soylent Green" (1973. Slightly different genre but still enjoyable.

[@chuckg3818]

He also played for the Boston Celtics their first season. One of only a few men who played multiple pro sports. He is also credited as the first pro basketball player to shatter a backboard.

[@WiBad83]

He also broke his little finger when filming that opening scene of the Rifleman. He said if you could see it there was a little tear running down his face.@Vlasko60

[@pete3397]

Old Man Hennessy is actually a fairly honorable guy. He's just overcome with his hatred for the Major.

[@zulby09]

This movie was also directed by the late William Wyler who afterwards directed Ben Hur. Love Charlton Heston, Gregory Peck and Jean Simmons in this 🍿 movie

[@Divamarja_CA]

William Wyler had such a diverse filmography. Definitely worth a deeper dive!

[@marieoleary527]

Great Choice! Burl Ives was such an underrated Character Actor, but he did earn an Oscar for this role. Chuck Conners was a revelation. Loved, Loved , Loved her gown at the engagement ball. Before HD, I always thought her dress was black, but it’s actually a beautiful Navy blue. The score is just beautiful. This movie is such a gem!

[@Madbandit77]

Burl was great as Big Daddy in the film version of "Cat On A Hot Tin Roof" with Paul Newman and Liz Taylor.

[@gawainethefirst]

I always loved Chuck Conners in The Rifleman.

[@samuraiwarriorsunite]

One of the best TV westerns ever. With an iconic opening.

[@raymeedc]

~ My first exposure to Burl Ives was as a toddler in the early 50s when hearing his recording of Little White Duck on one of the folk music albums that first brought him to fame in another genre ~

[@Madbandit77]

@@samuraiwarriorsunite Sam Peckinpah created the show before leaving to create the short-lived adult Western series, "The Westerner", starring Brian Keith, and having an illustrious film career.

[@joepowell7025]

The older classics are the best. No need for CGI just great locations and great actors.

[@JohnBullard]

Charleton Heston starred in a really good western titled WILL PENNY.

[@nealrepetti2396]

Im 65 YEARS OLD now and I love 💕 to see you young people watching these classic older movies and appreciating them . Keep it up Maddy!

[@_blueskies]

"Crawl. You act like a dog. Crawl like one." Pop Hennessy was driven by his vendetta but there was decency in him.

[@bmriverrat11]

I totally agree with you, I found him way more Honorable than Charles Bickfords character felt the Terrills where very snobby and Gaslighted the Hennessys doesn't excuse them Buck was a bad egg but they he definitely has a better character in my opinion.

[@mystery10man]

The paint that Charlton Heston rode was named Domino, was also the horse in the TV show The Texan staring Rory Calhoun.

[@arthurrubiera8029]

Madison, one movie you much watch which stars Gregory Peck is “ To Kill a Mockingbird.” It is one of Pecks greatest role.

[@susanpeters5392]

A Flippin must ...my fav

[@lindaosika7648]

Moby Dick is a good movie.

[@markcreemore4915]

One of the greatest Westerns ever made, with absolutely EPIC characters and the perfect actors to play them. And one of the best scores ever.

[@MrGadfly772]

Yes, I quite agree. Definitely a western epic. I was surprised that she didn't mention the musical score, but then maybe she did in the extended version on Patreon.

[@xbubblehead]

Movie trivia: The actor who played Ramon was Alfonso Bedoya, who years earlier spoke the line usually misquoted as "Badges? We don't need any stinkin' badges!"

[@stephenmonk8787]

For years I've remembered that as being Eli Wallach. Thanks for correcting me.

[@tehawfulestface1337]

My earliest childhood memories. My family moved to Nigeria in 1965 for dad’s job as a surveyor. We lived in a house in the middle of nowhere. No neighbors, no neighborhood kids to play with. Mom was a film buff and brought along her favorite LP of Mantovanni playing the greatest score from classic films. I would wake up in the morning with the exhilarating music of Big Country coming from the kitchen as mom made breakfast. Big Country was my favorite, looking at the album cover with an epic shot of Gregory Peck with open sky behind him. I was obsessed with finding out what Big Country was about. With just that one photo Gregory Peck became my favorite actor without ever seeing him act at all. I was 5 years old. I didn’t see the film until 1970 back in the Philippines. I was so excited when I heard the opening theme. I was traumatized by the violence and the film haunted me in my nightmares. I was only 10 years old. It took a long time before I could make myself see it again. Older, I appreciated it more. It was epic. It lived up to what I imagined it to be back when I was only 5 in Nigeria. I love the film and Gregory Peck was a hero for me. The music is still played by symphony orchestras around the world. Epic! I am an illustrator and sculptor. Horses are my favorite subjects with my artwork. I wonder where that came from….

[@tehawfulestface1337]

@@Dave-hb7lxJerome Moross. Soundtracks of movies from my childhood. Ray Harryhausen’s Cowboys and dinosaurs, The Valley of Gwangi. Charlton Heston in the 1965 medieval film The Warlord.

[@dai701]

The greatness of Burl shines through, what a role to pull off, and a very well deserved Oscar to boot. In case you don't know, he was also a great singer with the sweetest voice, "Rudolph the red nosed Reindeer" just one of his many hits. I miss him so.

[@GioThomas1]

Anything with Mr. Peck is good, but here are four MUST SEE movies of his. Captain Horatio Hornblower (1951) Moby Dick (1956) The Guns of Navarone (1961) Twelve O'Clock High (1949)

[@charlieeckert4321]

7:59 this was Alfonso Bedoya's last film. He died shortly before it was released. He was most famous for playing the bandit Gold Hat in The Treasure of Sierra Madre.

[@larky368]

Gregory Peck always played an honorable man...except in the movie "The Boys From Brazil." Here he went in the totally opposite direction. and played one of the most heinous men in history.

[@meganlutz7150]

He also plays a really bad character in a movie called Duel in the Sun

[@geraldmcboingboing7401]

He plays the leader of a gang of outlaws in Yellow Sky (1948).

[@DanielGarrett0123]

He was also Captain Ahab in "Moby Dick". Looks like some holes are being picked in your theory.

[@larky368]

@@DanielGarrett0123 OK so he did play baddies early on in his career. I never cared much for watching those old black hats versus white hats westerns.Still, but the black hatters don't come close to a Josef Mengele.

[@TD-mg6cd]

I have always thought that Chuck Conners should have won the Oscar for Best Supporting actor that year. He expressed the whole gamit of emotions and his facial expressions made them REAL! He sold his character!

[@custisstandish1961]

The wife and I watched this last evening. The new restored film. Just beautiful, great acting, great dialogue, great locations, and a great film. Just moved into the top 5 of my favorite horse operas.

[@yaimavol]

Burl Ives speech is awesome. He was great in this. A villain who still lived by a code

[@shereewilson6278]

This is a great movie with all wonderful actors Chuck Conners plays a cowardly rogue brilliantly and the stunts done by the horsemen are awesome. Both Jean Simmons and Carroll Baker are beautiful in their parts and the Musical score is the icing on the cake . Love it.

[@susanliltz3875]

The actress playing the part of Julie is Jean Simmons, she was in a ton of movies!! Always gave a great performance!!

[@andreatreese8347]

Heston agreeing to be in this movie is actually what got him the role of Ben Hur. Heston had just come off of "The Ten Commandments", another great Biblical epic, but his portrayal of Moses was, to put it simply, epic to match the style. He wasn't sure he wanted to play in a smaller film right after such a big one, but he went for it anyway--and because the director saw how subtle Heston could play a role, especially with that hate and fury boiling just beneath the surface, he decided he was perfect. EDIT: Also, in the book, it is actually made clear that Steve and Pat were an item before she went off to the East and became "a lady". As such, she decided she was too good for Steve and got with Jim.

[@joemartino6976]

A great movie that I saw for the first time just a few weeks ago. Gregory Peck was a real presence. His humility and graciousness belies a steely strength and he goes out of his way to hide it. Learning to ride that difficult horse, or, fighting the Charlton Heston character when no one was around, or, ignoring great odds to rescue his love interest.....all evidence of this unique blend of strength and humility that Peck carried so well. Writers should take note....not all heroes have to be all about the flash.

[@MrWCramer]

One other thing, another great western is Shane, staring Alan Ladd, a major star in the 40’s, and 50’s. It’s usually on the top 10 lists.

[@mikehigbee2320]

One of my favorite films, and no one reacts to it. Thanks! I consider it a treatise on how to be a man. I love the fight in the middle of nowhere with no music. I love the line, "How many times does a man have to win you?" I love how Chuck Connors plays such a low down dog here, but plays the epitome of a fine man in "The Rifleman."

[@farmerbill6855]

Always made me chuckle when they thought he was lost. He was a ship's captain, he would've known where he was better than any of them.

[@rh3749]

I'd highly recommend "Red River" as another classic epic underappreciated Western, with John Wayne and Montgomery Clift. A Howard Hawks film.

[@MvrckOkie007]

Another impressive guy in this movie is Chuck Connors, he playsBuck Hannassey. Connors played in both the NBA and the MLB - pro basketball and baseball. He was 6’5”. Also Ramon - played by Alfonso Bedoya is an awesome actor. He also played Gold Hat from Treasure of the Sierra Madre - “Badges?! We don’t need no stinking badges!” Carroll Baker, who plays Pat the spoiled finance, played the evil mother in Kindergarten Cop. Jean Simmons, who plays Julie, not too long before she died as in an episode of Star Trek TNG “The Drumhead.” Burl Ives, who plays Rufus Hannassey, was a singer - check out his song “A Little Bitty Tear.” He was also the narrator snowman from the old claymation movie “Rudolf the Rednosed Reisndeer.”

[@colinglen4505]

So many great performances in this but for me, Chuck Connors and Carol Baker were superb. I hardly noticed Baker's performance when i saw this movie years ago but now i'm impressed with her portrayal of the spoilt daughter of a powerful, wealthy man.

[@MrWCramer]

You must watch, To Kill A Mockingbird, both the picture, and G Peck received the Academy Award. It takes place in the south, during the 1930’s.

[@BarebonesNetwork-w3s]

Excellent reaction. I was a teenager when I first saw this film. It was on television, late at night. I wasn't even sure if I wanted to watch it. Then I heard the score, along with the opening credits. It was such a powerful opening, I was hooked, and watched it all the way through. I agree with Madison about that ending scene, and the unspoken attraction between the two leads. Nothing needed to be said. It was clear with the they looked at each other.

[@charlessheifer2264]

Madison - There is a great underrated western that you will love - "The Professionals". It stars Lee Marvin, Burt Lancaster, Robert Ryan and Jack Palance. It also stars the great African American actor Woody Strode for whom the "Toy Story" character Woody is named.

[@chuckg3818]

Definitely a must watch.

[@stevenhopwood8195]

A sweeping western epic you need to see is “How the West Was Won” (1962 movie). It’s covers several decades of western expansion and has an all star cast. I’m sure you would enjoy it.

[@SteveSgourakes]

Burl Ives won the academy award for this. And, he was snowman in the Christmas special "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer".

[@charlieeckert4321]

19:45 In this scene Wyler told Heston privately not to let Carol get away. He told Carol to get free. Years later Heston said that they were wrapping Carols wrists between takes in shammies to try to keep the swelling and bruising to a minimum.

[@ericasusan9886]

"I'm not responsible for what people think." One of my favorite movie lines ever.

[@gl2996]

Two of mine are both spoken by Alfonso Bedoya's character. When Jim McKay asks, "any advice?" Bedoya says, "Don' do iit..." Later when he's admitting Jim McKay rode 'Ol Thunder, he says, "a man like him is very rare." They're both just perfect lines when they're delivered.

[@OcotilloTom]

Back in 1957 Ray and Ruth Pollard bought land near Stockton, California on Hwy 99 and started a family style chicken dinner place. Much like the one at Knotts Berry Farm in Los Angles it was 1800's themed. When the movie The Big Country finished filming the Pollards bought most of the buildings used for the sets and moved them to their new western town called Pollard Ville. They later added steam train and boats rides and live entertainment at their giant opera house/saloon. It became quiet famous in the area and grew to be very large and interesting. It was always busy and for many years was especially popular with families and tourist traveling HWY 99. And, their fried chicken was top notch too! El Mirage Land and cattle Company

[@schroedingers_kotze]

Kudos to Alfonso Bedoya! The likeable ranch hand Ramón Gutierrez was his last film role. Unfortunately, he died shortly before the film was released. Fun fact: he was also the bandit leader "Gold Hat" in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre.

[@harryrabbit2870]

A superior script, superior direction, superior acting by every cast member, superior cinematography, superior set design and costuming..."Big Country" is in my top 5 westerns of all time. Great call, Ms. Madison. Enjoyed your reaction.

[@JeffreyCantelope]

One of the best westerns ever made. The best thing about this movie is that they never did the Hollywood thing and make a disappointing sequel.

[@yaimavol]

Heston did not want to do this movie, because he was not the star, but his agent convinced him to do it. His next role after this was Ben Hur.

[@carlazaz1690]

Burl Ives is so excellent in this. Especially when he shoots Chuck Connors, "I told you I'd do it!"

[@alancranford3398]

I found this movie a few years ago because I was looking for movies based on novels by Donald Hamilton. There are seven. Four are Dean Martin "Matt Helm" movies, a movie starring Sterling Hayden in 1957 called "Five Steps to Danger," there is Glen Ford in the 1954 "'The Violent Men," and this movie. Donald Hamilton wrote 27 Matt Helm novels that were published from 1960 to 1993. If you get the time, watch "The Violent Men." I have these movies on DVD and BluRay and I managed to accumulate the novels that the movies were based on. Hamilton also wrote gun articles for outdoorsmen's magazines. If you liked the protagonist played by Gregory Peck in "The Big Country," you might like Glenn Ford as John Parrish in "The Violent Men." Hamiliton's protagonists are not typical--that's why they are interesting. "The Big Country" was 2 hours and 47 minutes--"The Violent Men" is only 96 minutes. The Violent Men has Barbara Stanwyck and Edward G. Robinson and Brian Keith as costars. Thanks for sharing your reactions. Your comments were like watching a new movie because you see things I miss. Different people, different viewpoints.

[@WilliamTheMovieFan]

One of my favorite lines is when Julie says, “How many times does a man have to win you?” You should check out the 1957 film, A Face in the Crowd. It’s Andy Griffith’s first starring film role, and he is fantastic in it! It’s a great character study of how money and power corrupts. It’s a black and white film though.

[@Britcarjunkie]

THIS is a great - and greatly underrated - film!!! Am very happy that you watched this!

[@thedeltonian3841]

Another Western that doesn't go by the "rules" is "The Bravados" with Gregory Peck. Burl Ives was a very popular singer with such songs as "A Little bitty tear", "Funny way of laughing," and "A holly, jolly Christmas".

[@mystery10man]

Too many rivers to cross is a frontier movie staring Rob Taylor, Eleanor Parker, James Arness with many funny one liners between Taylor and Parker.

[@kschneyer]

Oh! That is possibly the greatest western (I’d call it a meta-western) that I’ve ever seen.

[@APigsEye]

Absolutely my favorite western with an amazing score and cast all of whom were huge in film during the fifties and sixties. You're commentary is right on with the character development and love story of Julie and Jim. The moral goodness and humble traits of Jim make him one of my favorite characters in cinema. Good job!

[@danielkillian1222]

Jim is a perfect male role model. A real man with nothing to prove to anyone but himself.

[@lindajohnson4204]

When I saw The Big Country, and on the radio and TV about that time, I loved the theme music and the unusual rhythms. Later, when I became a Beatle fan, even the adult musicians who didn't even like them, were talking about how they broke all the musical, composition rules, yet with originality, and to great effect. I could imagine the Beatles going to matinees at downtown Liverpool theaters, and being inspired by cool movie music like The Big Country.

[@schroedingers_kotze]

1:37 Your editor should have also taken this opportunity to inform you that "The Big Country" is not only directed by the same director as "Ben Hur", but also "Roman Holiday" - William Wyler, one of Hollywood's ever greatest directors!

[@charlieeckert4321]

And Oh. My. God, the score! Jerome Moross was robbed of the Oscar. That main title score, Blanco Canyon, and the music for the Hennessys harassing James and Patricia on their ride back to the ranch is classic! (I think it's called "The Wecoming.) And Willie Wyler didn't like the score! Well, he was almost deaf at the time, so ...

[@geraldpierini9010]

So much here. Burl Ives, Hannassey won the Academy Ward for Best supporting actor in this movie. He could play a tough meany or a very gentle man. Also a good singer. Charlton Heston was already a big star and leading man, but, took this part to work with the Director, which led to him being cast as Ben Hur. Chuck Conners, Buck, went on to star in The Rifleman tv series and was one of televisions best dads.

[@xtbum3339]

Heston wasn't Wyler's first choice for Ben Hur.

[@wraithby]

Such great themes in this film. The Terrells are all about pride and outward show-the opinion of the world. Jim is about moral integrity and true dignity. The Hanasseys are vulgar and rough, but the old man is closer to Jim 's values than not. Buck is just a lost soul. And perhaps the most interesting is Leech. He's been formed by old man Terrell, but once he is shown the meaning of true honor his true self comes out. A really fine film and another strong reaction.

[@TD-mg6cd]

I grew up without a father. This was one of my favorite films. Jim McCay became a male role model for me., thank God!

[@AWKnuden]

Thankyou. I always loved this movie. And I love, that you called out the story ending already in the beginning. All the honor that was in play, is what I feel made this movie a "big movie".

[@jsharp3165]

Everyone was sleeping on Jim because they didn’t respect his being a sailor. Anyone who sailed in those days had a life that was as hard as any cowboy’s. Speaking of: You might love watching Peck as a ship’s captain in Captain Horatio Hornblower.

[@tomoneill2973]

William Wyler also directed, "Roman Holiday." So he actually directed all 3 of the movies you mentioned here: "Ben Hur," " The Big Country" & "Roman Holiday." 😉

[@paintedjaguar]

Buck, who you love to hate, was of course well played by The Rifleman himself, Chuck Conners, who wound up as a bad guy opposite Heston again in "Soylent Green" (1973). His famous TV series ran from 1958 to 1963.

[@KayQue-s3r]

Great reaction & discussion! So much fun watching your work! The great Christmas classic, "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas", is sung by Burl Ives, aka Rufus Hannassey. What an underrated talent. Hope someday you watch one of Peck's greatest performances( many) in "To Kill a Mockingbird". It was a tremendous book and movie. Thx Madison!

[@ranger-1214]

So many stars in this, both at the time and later like Chuck Connors. And supporting cast who are recognizable such as the Mexican wrangler, Ramon, who was the bandit leader in Treasure of the Sierra Madre.

[@jamesoliver6625]

The "Big Country" is a 12 county area of Texas (Callahan, Eastland, Fisher, Jones, Kent, Mitchell, Nolan, Scurry, Shackelford, Stephens, Stonewall, and Taylor) north of the Concho river, through the north end of the Colorado River to up around the Brazos River. And yes, that's pretty much what it looks like. I used the "what did we prove" and "I'm not responsible....." lines to raise my kids. You should react to "12 O'clock High"

[@Gort-Marvin0Martian]

Saw it in a drive in theater with my folks and my sister. I was 10yo. Westerns were big where I grew up. El Paso Texas! Great film. And not finalizing all the relations at the end, as you observed, was just brilliant. As we say in Texas; y'all be safe.

[@terenzo50]

Try Gentleman's Agreement (1947) or Elmer Gantry (1960).

[@duanelavely5481]

My mother bought a beautiful all black gelding from our next door neighbor. He was named "Trouble". He was being kept in a corral as a colt. The rancher turned loose a couple of dozen chicks for free range eggs in his barn. The next morning he found every chick that had ventured into the corral had been stomped into the ground. My mother's theory was that Trouble just wasn't ridden enough. She tried to get my little brother to ride him but that didn't last long. When I returned from Viet., I got the job. Just like Old Thunder, you could saddle him in the corral without any problem. You could mount him without any trouble. However, as soon as Trouble felt you relax in the saddle that was his clue to start bucking. Or as soon as you road him out of the corral & he saw room to run. My mother hired a rodeo calf roper who was working on another ranch to break him. Trouble took the bit in his teeth & took off with him as well. Some horses are just too smart to be ridden! We had to chain the corral gate shut as Trouble learned to slide the gate latch over & let himself out. He wound up being our largest pet. He would follow us everywhere on our ranch as long as we didn't try to ride him.

[@gregpearson9644]

There was definite pacifist thing going on in the postwar films of William Wyler, George Stevens & some other filmmakers. Not coincidentally, Wyler & Stevens had been WWII documentary filmmakers and had seen combat and the horrors of war up close. Not just strictly pacifist, but just ways of dealing with life than was typically shown in Hollywood films. This film shows Pecks character as being proud and only fighting when being forced too. Wyler further explored this in Friendly Persuasion with Gary Cooper. Stevens, mostly did screwball comedies before the war. His film crew was there when some of the concentration camps were freed. It really changed his outlook. His movies became more serious. He tackled some of the same themes as WW did in this film with another great western, Shane. It portrayed another reluctant hero, only fighting when forced too. He later made the Diary of Anne Frank. This was a brief, very unique, take on film making. These great directors were trying to show that you could be tough and self reliant while trying to solve problems without immediately resorting to violence.

[@markdodson6453]

The director, William Wyler, directed both Ben Hur AND Roman Holiday!

[@patricknix5975]

One of the best top 2 or top 3 westerns. Period.

[@itt23r]

Charlton Heston was also the narrator in the movie ARMAGEDDON. So you had two exposures prior.

[@davidmacias741]

You mentioned that you didn't realize Charleston Heston was on tombstone, we'll at the end of that movie another great actor Robert Mitcham was the voice narration at the end of that movie.

[@MrBDB001]

This is one of my personal favorites in westerns. The acting is fenominal and it is a great character study. the scenery and story are great. I just love it.

[@larksmom]

it was great hearing something about the horses from someone who actually knows something about them. Burl Ives was a folk singer. My parents had several of his albums and they were beloved in our house. He dabbled in acting later in life and it got him an Oscar for this role. I just discovered this movie about a year ago, and was drawn in by the fabulous score.

[@user-mg5mv2tn8q]

High time somebody reacted to this great movie. I'm pretty sure you're the first on KZbin. The script, the plot, the directing, the acting, the incredible scenery, the fantastic music score, everything is just perfect. My mother could take or leave most Westerns, but The Big Country was one of her favorite movies of all times.

[@MichaelAndrews-uy1gl]

Burl Ives and Chuck Connors played epic roles in the duel scene...it was done so well. I saw this picture years ago, and always remember the acting. Absolutely stunning performances.

[@MrGadfly772]

At last! I'd give you more thumbs up if I could. Next, you'll have to see Gregory Peck in "To Kill a Mockingbird" which is perhaps his best-known role.

[@bmriverrat11]

I love this movie so much, first and foremost my first horse I actually owned was a cheeky appy that bucked me a few times, second I was a Northern Navy Sailor who ended up on a Mississippi horse ranch and kinda was treated kinda the same way. Gregory Peaks character is the type of Man I strive to be. This is the type of stories we need in modern cinema.

[@JesseOaks-ef9xn]

Chuck Connors played the son that the old man shot, the old man I think was Burl Ives. Chuck Connors played Lucas McCain in the Rifleman tv series. I think the horse that Gregory Peck rode was Slim Pickens' horse. There wasn't any closeup of the rider because it was Slim.

[@Oppeldeldoc1]

There's a pretty underrated comedy called DESIGNING WOMAN, with Lauren Bacall and Gregory Peck. Oddly enough, it also has him being terrorized by Chuck Connors.

[@titanman8302]

One of my favorite westerns every.

[@JosephMiller-f4q]

Love the fact you love westerns, I grew up watching them with my dad. Recommendation Will Penny which was Charlton Hestons favorite role. Also Ride the High Country with 2 western greats Randolph Scott and Joel McCrae, my personal favorite.

[@lindaosika7648]

I love the .Tall T with Randolph Scott.

[@darkjedi447]

Omg I'm so glad you listened to our recommendation to watch this movie! So glad you enjoyed it too! I grew up watching Gregory Peck movies and this is one of my favorites! His next best movie would probably be THE GUNS OF NAVARONE! it's not a western, but a was movie, but my late father told me it was epic for the time that it came out. It doesn't really have the romance of BIG COUNTRY, but is still a movie you will enjoy. He also stars in one of the greatest adaptations of a book...ever....TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD, for which he won an academy award. The book is fantastic too. Either movie will likely impress you I think. Thanks again for watching these wonderful movies. It's a load of fun to see it through your eyes! Keep smiling👍🙂

[@carlazaz1690]

There are a few more Gregory Peck westerns, and a couple of westernesque movies, given that Jim was a sea captain - Moby Dick, and Captain Horatio Hornblowers.

[@jeffreycody5217]

I might add "The World in His Arms"

[@mikeduplessis8069]

Burl Ives was famous for playing much older than he was. He was only 48 years old when he he did this film. The same year he played Elizabeth Taylor's father-in-law 'Cat On A Hot Tin Roof'.

[@williambowman1660]

Excellent reaction and your enjoyment is contagious. What is sad is that you can not experience this movie or the epics like Ben Hur like we did when it was new The Big Country….. oh my goodness on a giant screen in a dark theater with a music system that was alive. One thing I remember is how insignificant the people and civilization appeared on the screen . I don’t remember seeing any Western that made the land an important character like this great film. My most vivid memory was the fist fight between Peck and Heston. It seemed so brutal and real… longer than any Cowboy fight… but it was the cutaway shots that made these 2 appear to be small and insignificant. You have to remember that these 2 were men of great stature. Peck has been a major star… not only was he Horatio Hornblower he was also King David. And Charlton Heston was Moses and he parted the Red Sea. Just imagine if Harrison Ford and Mel Gibson had an onscreen fight in their prime… that was this fight but with an incredibly staged Western backdrop. Thank you for your reaction and very glad you discovered this overlooked classic.

[@paintedjaguar]

💫Maybe someone should mention that Charlton Heston's personal favorite of his movie roles happens to be another Western called "Will Penny" (1967). A good movie too, although for sheer entertainment value I would go with another of Heston's epics myself - "El Cid" (1961). And for his best performance, I like his turn as Cardinal Richelieu in "The Three Musketeers/The Four Musketeers" (1973). Gregory Peck also did a bunch of other good Westerns, the best known of which might be "The Stalking Moon" (1968) with Eva Marie Saint from "North by Northwest. And don't forget, Madison... it's a Biiiig Country! 🤠

[@caldwellkelley3084]

Yes! I agree with Madison Posse! Great Choice! Loved this movie! Super Thanks and I know you enjoyed this! Note: The opening theme is so well known! The boys that are trouble are led by Chuck Connors way back he did a very famous western TV show ... "The Rifleman"!

[@JC-ke7mj]

Great choice! Thank you Madison!

[@tgchism]

If you want to see another perfect Gregory Peck movie, you need to see The Yearling. I think you would really love it.

[@marvinsarracino116]

You picked a good movie! Executive decision approved! Keep these great movies coming! You were spot on with the characters and their actions! That horse knowledge is also great!!🐴 Thanks for sharing Madison ❤️💛

[@user-jb8qq9fk6m]

Excellent! Glad to see you introduced to more actors who should be in your repertoire, especially Charles Bickford!