The Big Country - Behind the Scenes

[@Loveoldies50]

Jean Simmons was a wonderful actress! I always enjoy her movies. And, from what I heard, she was liked by everyone who knew her.

[@EricVoegelin]

My favorite is young Simmons in The Actress. Ruth Gordon's own story, Spencer Tracey at his usual more than competent, and Teresa Wright playing the mother role in a way that Simmons would 15 years later. It really is an excellent slice of life in the teens.

[@scottmiller6495]

Jean Simmons got overlooked many times in her fabulous career, also The Big Country should have received atleast two other awards besides Burl Ives oscar, One for Best Picture of 1958 and one for Jerome Moross for his memorable score!!!!!

[@carlosavila8829]

Man. The scene where Leach rides up to the Major followed by rest of the crew is one of the most amazing one shots I've ever seen.

[@devilsden2283]

Agreed!

[@douggillis]

Totally agree!!

[@glynnellis6519]

What an amazing western. Everyone was perfectly cast. Along with spectacular scenery and incredible music. Great horseback stunts too. Never get tired of watching it. Almost forgot, Jean Simmons, beautiful, talented and really very unique.

[@devilsden2283]

Agree 100% on every point!

[@jefbretschneider1607]

I just watched this film on the Criterion Channel. IMHO: It is the perfect storm of all the film arts coming together to create A SPECTACULAR WESTERN CLASSIC!

[@devilsden2283]

100% spot on!

[@kennethschnotala3407]

Jean Simmons was absolutely radiant! Even when she was painting she was beautiful!!

[@SoCalGal1952]

How cool was that? And to be narrated by the lovely Jean Simmons made it even better. Great cast, great movie, beautiful country and the greatest soundtrack ever. Thanks for sharing this.

[@AuntieMamie]

This is a treasure trove. William Wyler is the icon of icons. And Jean Simmons- this is priceless. Gregory Peck, Burl Ives, Charleston Heston and Carol Baker. And let’s not forget Harry Boy - the newest star. This is phenomenal. Thank you so much. The Big Country is one of my favorite films and this is a gift for sure. Burl Ives is adorable!!!!

[@tex148th]

I was an early teenager when I saw "The Big Country" at the Majestic theater in downtown Dallas. It was fantastic.... Who didn't or couldn't fall in love with Jean Simmons ?

[@tom_olofsson]

I always loved these behind the scenes reels.

[@JohnSmith47534]

where can I find more good sir ?

[@petermetcalfe6722]

That was wonderful. One of the best movies ever.

[@ashleyavery840]

Jean Simmons was beautiful, classy and talented.

[@edwardjames50]

I adore the incandescent Jean Simmons!

[@bbtreehaus]

Thanks for posting this short about one of my fave movies! What a treat, and what a delight!!

[@muffassa6739]

This is one of my favorite Actress and I love this movie. Every time it's on cable TV we watch it.

[@ThurbinJulian]

Unbelievable that this woman starred in Big Country, Elmer Gantry and Spartacus in three years and wasn't even nominated for an Oscar, let alone win one, or two. Jean was the best actress of her generation

[@njpaddler]

What's even worse is that she spent her final years and died penniless alcoholic and alone.

[@johnlouis5529]

@@njpaddler what the hell you talking about completely bullcrap !!!!!!

[@rasheedelakhlaqsiz4753]

@@njpaddler Simmons died from lung cancer at her home in Santa Monica on 22 January 2010, nine days shy of her 81st birthday. She is interred in Highgate Cemetery, London.

[@gardensofthegods]

@@johnlouis5529 the documentaries do sort of make it sound like she was living a rather lonely life in the end ... I don't know if that's true though

[@gardensofthegods]

There was a wonderful movie with her and Robert Preston called ALL THE WAY HOME . It was a different kind of movie and Robert Preston was great in it . It's here on the tube but you have to pay for it and that's a shame that it's not for free

[@BudSchnelker]

I also have interviews with Peck and Heston specifically about their experiences during the filming of this movie. Perhaps I should post them too?

[@robertwayne808]

I was thinking the same thing. Chuck played as somewhat of a villain here. He was usually a good guy. But sure was a terrific movie.

[@Phil1stalk]

This was funny-funny as hell. I'm glad they did this. :)))

[@greenwolfegreen6028]

Jean Simmons was one of the most beautiful women who ever lived.

[@6ch6ris6]

oh yeah i just watched the big country for the first time and at the beginning i immediatly thought "why is the hero of the movie not in love with that other woman" cause the blonde was not even that pretty and had a terrible character :D

[@chipps1066]

I concur and was a class act.

[@heavyhaul8621]

She and Tuesday Weld were so beautiful and had so much class

[@acdragonrider]

6ch6ris6 not a terrible character. They exist and believable. Just not a good match for Jim at all

[@stephenroberts5395]

@@6ch6ris6 1

[@Beagle3561]

This is just superb! Thanks so much for posting this. Maybe it will be included on the Blu-Ray version-- but don't hold your breath for that. How can this American masterpiece NOT be on Blu-Ray?

[@race2run]

Yes it was a great movie. Can you imagine these guys at well over 6 feet tall, like Connors was I think 6'5" or more and cowboy boots? That would be a mighty intimidating character and also Peck was tall. Dressed in all their western attire! I wish I could have been there and seen some of these men on set. I just love westerns!

[@kenrawley9025]

@Just think And Peck wore lifts!

[@crisguia]

This isn't really a behind-the-scenes video. It's a break-in-filming video. Seeing this reminded me that Jean Simmons was director William Wyler's first choice to play the princess in Roman Holiday but she had a scheduling conflict. Too bad. Her chemistry with Peck is as good as his with Audrey Hepburn. Another good chemistry is between Peck and Heston. I wish they had made another film together, maybe even Ben Hur, that had 2 strong male roles. Thank you so much for this upload!

[@peteralainszpiriev4750]

Jean simmons the voice very nice very....beuty together with Gregory Peck perfekt

[@ThurbinJulian]

I think Simmons got sacked from Roman Holiday after she was cast because she wouldn't sleep with Howard Hughes. He owned her contract and said he would destroy her career. That's one of the rumours anyway.

[@crisguia]

@@ThurbinJulian That's awful if it's true. Jean Simmons was too classy for such a guy. He should have courted her if he was so attracted to her.

[@Pendre3]

What a wonderful treat - especially considering there are no extras such as this on the Big Country DVD. Thanks so much for sharing!

[@joetursi9573]

Maybe the most beautiful and, certainly, classiest woman on the screen

[@MrTex72]

Burl Ives had some great lines

[@gary8306]

What a find, thankyou for posting.

[@peterhodel4341]

One of the greatest film scores. Agree, probably 3 more Oscars would have been well deserved. That insurmountable Score. Sound Effects & Cinematograhy. Shame it was overly long and needed 15mins cut...I recall having heard that Wyler lost interest during production, as he was 'focusing' on Ben Hur...

[@kjnest]

Nice!! Enjoyed this!!thanks for sharing!

[@PeterOHalloran-hf2ho]

Burl and two greats what a performance from BURL

[@mickdunn4857]

Simmons went on to Spartacus, Peck went on to To Kill a Mockingbird, Baker went on to be one of the hottest commodities in Hollywood and Heston went on to Ben Hur .I do believe that was 2 out of 3 Oscars there. Do you think Willie had anything to do with that?

[@tracyb64]

True that this is technically not "behind-the-scenes" footage where they usually discuss some aspects of making the film, however it's still nice to see any side highlights of one of my all time favorite movies :-).

[@SoCalGal1952]

@JubalCalif Fabulous music. I've loved the music as long as I can remember. I'm so glad so many other people love it too.

[@robertwayne808]

I know Chuck Connors was a major league baseball player for a couple of years or so during the early '50s. I collect old baseball cards, and I'd like to get one of Chuck when he was playing baseball.

[@michaeldesilvio221]

This was my favorite Western movie.

[@wesmcgee1648]

I'm watching the movie right now. Made the year I was born.

[@SoCalGal1952]

If you want to hear a nice interview with Jean Simmons, go to Icons Radio where she is interviewed my Stephen Bogart, Bacall and Bogie's son. I think it was conducted about a year or so before she died. She still has her pretty voice and very nice stories to tell of her life. I believe she had some hard times in life, and was a recovering alcoholic, but she still sounded fabulous. Check it out!

[@Firebrand55]

Brilliant images...........Ives is as compelling playing chess off-screen as he was haranguing Major Terrill on-screen!

[@mariedewitt5033]

Watching still again now! That fabulous Moross score and intro photography. 🐎🐎 Still trying to figure out what was stunt work with the Hennessy boys and Pat and Jim on the way to the ranch. ❤️this film. Gregory Peck is easy on the eyes

[@jamesdrynan]

Amusing video because Simmons had such a bad memory of the making of this movie that she refused to discuss it in the future. Great music.

[@chriscahill6897]

Jean Simmons fascinating women

[@devilsden2283]

Incredible that only Burl took home the Oscar for this classic film with Jerome Moross and his magnificent score coming in 2nd...this epic should have cleaned house in '59....I call BS!

[@peteralainszpiriev4750]

Jean so beuty and Mr Gregory Peck gentleman

[@joycegibbs5267]

the film is just starting on BBC2, (in the UK), so I thought I'd have a look to see what's on YT regarding this brilliant film. All these legendary actors & crew. Jean was gorgeous and so full of class and grace. So sad most have gone and we have morons as actors now !!

[@redskindan78]

Contrived situations, but, yes, funny!

[@bailey9r]

Anyone have any idea what happened to Ms Simmons on the set of Big Country? After the movie was done she would never again speak of it or respond to questions or join in the reunions they had celebrating aspects of it. Just wondering cause WW had a bad rep for bullying actors on the set (like the famous spat between he and Peck) but I heard none of that with JS.

[@race2run]

I would like to see some behind the scenes with Chuck Connors. Do you have any that you could post of him in all his western attire from this movie?

[@jacksugden8190]

Screen beauty was the late Jean.

[@Celluloidwatcher]

Interesting featurette. Nice leisurely view of The Big Country cast, but the volume was too low...:-(

[@peteralainszpiriev4750]

The opening was 1.c3 (Zaragozza,Spain) 1....e5 2.d4

[@russellcampbell9198]

That voice.

[@kalikrates71]

Interesante ver a estos grandes actores al natural , aún así no dejan de ser Leyendas de la pantalla.

[@rtcastleberry]

The bare-chested man who's turtle won the race is legendary stunt man Chuck Roberson. He doubled for John Wayne, among others, and became part of Wayne's stock company of actors.

[@SoCalGal1952]

I just re-watched this. I'm enthralled by Jean Simmons and she has such a beautiful speaking voice. So lilting and feminine. I was really sad when she passed away. Anyway this was fun to watch again. Now I want to see the movie and hear the magnificent music.

[@norb1937]

@Pendre3 I love this movie. I watch it every time its on tv.

[@patrick4662]

This is funny! Just seems like a big laugh

[@MsMaxibom]

Ohh Greg !!

[@GA-1st]

"Having a ball," huh? Interesting to see Jean Simmons playing gin rummy with Wyler. She refused to ever speak about her experience while shooting this movie. Even almost 30 years later, when Wyler's daughter, Catherine, produced the documentary "Directed by William Wyler" (1986), she refused to participate. I wonder what happened?

[@chipps1066]

I didn;'t know she was married to Stewart Granger,what a lucky man.

[@gjpopper3863]

A different time in our nations history

[@alel3544]

Such a cute video :)

[@peteralainszpiriev4750]

grregory should move was probably e5-e4 but its not difficult decision

[@Pendre3]

@mwoelfle Oh, yes, please!!! I admit to being a Jean Simmons fan first, but I love behind-the-scenes info about classic films. There isn't always information about them available the way it is on contemporary films. Thanks again!

[@sokamori28]

Charlton Heston was such a hunk

[@kenrawley9025]

An amazing movie, period. With an amazing score (that the director hated).

[@shawns9902]

Disappointed that this behind-the-scenes is all staged, but man what a great movie.

[@DRush76]

Light hearted? On a William Wyler set?

[@peteralainszpiriev4750]

The best move is 1.e4!

[@deborahingle2301]

I wonder who did win that chess game, anyways?

This woman was so beautiful and classy

[@rubberman72000]

dont know if ill make it to heaven but if god gave me a woman to spend eternity with id want a woman who looked and talked exactly like jean simmons

[@tomcooper6108]

Too bad this is all "acted". I guess back then they even had a storyboard for the "on location" shorts. Simmons is gorgeous!!!

[@rogergreen9861]

This is what happens when actors direct themselves. Ham and cheese.

[@BohemianAndy]

Jean was a cutie

[@mckavitt]

BohemianAsh She was mostly talented, lost on Hollywood.

[@peteralainszpiriev4750]

I could tell you how to play on chess I know this from beginning to the end really

[@race2run]

I have a relative that either use to or still does collect BBcards. He wanted to play pro but couldn't because of a shoulder injury. I will ask him about that. I doubt he has any of Connors but I will see. Baseball is his life. Don't get your hopes up but I will check on that.

[@deborahingle2301]

Poor Gregory Peck! He'll never win at this rate! :)

[@robertopoveda7876]

Carroll Baker...what a woman

[@johnthorpe8930]

Stewart Granger had a feud with Richard Burton,who seduced his wife,and in The Wild Geese you can almost feel the dislike between them even after all those years.

[@drakiebacon123]

She reminds me of Belle

[@davidriggs1470]

Burl Ives’ film

[@stepaushi]

the idiots are finding desert tortoises and picking them up. That'll kill them. I'm not impressed.

[@44032]

What an incredibly silly short. Do you really want to advertise your film by showing actors goofing off?