The Big Country backdrop
The Big Country logo
1958·Drama·2h 47m
7.2
Retired wealthy sea captain Jim McKay arrives in the Old West, where he becomes embroiled in a feud between his future father-in-law, Major Terrill, and the rough and lawless Hannasseys over a valuable patch of land.
Directed by William Wyler
love triangle
parent child relationship
ranch
honor
cattle
cowboy
family feud
pistol duel
sea captain
damsel in distress
water conflict
american west
water rights
gun fight
neighbor feud
domineering father
retired army man
cattlemen
cattle stampede
father daughter relationship
land rights
daughter of the boss
beautiful landscapes
fist fight

Cast

Gregory Peck
Gregory Peck
James McKay
Jean Simmons
Jean Simmons
Julie Maragon
Carroll Baker
Carroll Baker
Patricia Terrill
Charlton Heston
Charlton Heston
Steve Leech
Burl Ives
Burl Ives
Rufus Hannassey
Charles Bickford
Charles Bickford
Major Henry Terrill
Alfonso Bedoya
Alfonso Bedoya
Ramón Guiteras
Chuck Connors
Chuck Connors
Buck Hannassey
Chuck Hayward
Chuck Hayward
Rafe Hannassey
Dorothy Adams
Dorothy Adams
Hannassey Woman
Chuck Roberson
Chuck Roberson
Terrill Cowboy
Bob Morgan
Bob Morgan
Terrill Cowboy

Crew

William Wyler
William Wyler
Director
William Wyler
William Wyler
Producer
Gregory Peck
Gregory Peck
Producer
Dorothy Whitney
Dorothy Whitney
Casting
Yvonne Wood
Yvonne Wood
Costume Design
Robert Wyler
Robert Wyler
Adaptation
Alexander Courage
Alexander Courage
Orchestrator
Hal Ashby
Hal Ashby
Assistant Editor
Chuck Hayward
Chuck Hayward
Stunts
John McKee
John McKee
Stunts
Chuck Roberson
Chuck Roberson
Stunts
Robert Wyler
Robert Wyler
Associate Producer

Popular Reviews

69 reviews
Lucas
Lucas
The Big Country
Sure was a big country. Wyler hints and the epicness to come with his next movie with this epic western. He captures amazing and beautiful shots of the American West, really showing the vastness of size of it all. It's lovely and something big westerns fans like me are sure to appreciate. However while the movie is and looks big, the story itself is actually rather small and intimate. There's only a few central characters and the driving force of the story is just a single relationship. I think this is were Wyler is able to shine, as he's most often worked with smaller dramas. The characters and relationship they all have is some of Wylers best, in my opinion, and I absolutely loved Gregory Pecks character.

A small well told story, made big with epic shots of the American West. Wyler undoubtedly knows his stuff and even if this story isn't as epic as it appears, Wyler shoes us in his next movie that he without a doubt is also able to handle a story of Epic proportions
Sure was a big country. Wyler hints and the epicness to come with his next movie with this epic western. He captures amazing and beautiful shots of the American West, really showing the vastness of size of it all. It's lovely and something big westerns fans like me are sure to appreciate. However while the movie is and looks big, the story itself is actually rather small and intimate. There's only a few central characters and the driving force of the story is just a single relationship. I think this is were Wyler is able to shine, as he's most often worked with smaller dramas. The characters and relationship they all have is some of Wylers best, in my opinion, and I absolutely loved Gregory Pecks character.

A small well told story, made big with epic shots of the American West. Wyler undoubtedly knows his stuff and even if this story isn't as epic as it appears, Wyler shoes us in his next movie that he without a doubt is also able to handle a story of Epic proportions
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Key Yorke
Key Yorke
The Big Country
vibesnya kaya liatin bapak gua lagi nonton film malem malem pas masih kecil
vibesnya kaya liatin bapak gua lagi nonton film malem malem pas masih kecil
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Kamila Frąckiewicz
Kamila Frąckiewicz
The Big Country
jak duże może być jedno państwo
jak duże może być jedno państwo
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Robin
Robin
The Big Country
My grandad was right this is brilliant
My grandad was right this is brilliant
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Stockton Davis
Stockton DavisPRO
The Big Country
A great movie. The film did a great job contrasting the two families. I thought it was really neat how the film had us change and have our mind on the families. Towards the very beginning of the film we think it is the Hannassey that are “savage” and the “bad guys. And then we get exposed to the ruthless Colonel Tarill and we begin to sympathize with the Hannassey and view them as victim. But in the eve we find out they were both wrong, it was simply a feud between Colonel Tarill and Mr. Hannassey who just simply wanted to kill each other. Such a fascinating plot development. I loved the character of McKay. Very interesting and unique. I did find the character of Steve Leech confusing and I was wondering what caused him to want to fight at the end was it the fight with McKay that opened his eyes or what. I will also say I was disappointed to find out this was supposed to be an allegory for the Cold War. If you do your history you will know this is an inaccurate depiction. The Cold War was not illogical like this feud. It was a battle to maintain capitalism and US hegemony. Overall a interesting and deep movie.
A great movie. The film did a great job contrasting the two families. I thought it was really neat how the film had us change and have our mind on the families. Towards the very beginning of the film we think it is the Hannassey that are “savage” and the “bad guys. And then we get exposed to the ruthless Colonel Tarill and we begin to sympathize with the Hannassey and view them as victim. But in the eve we find out they were both wrong, it was simply a feud between Colonel Tarill and Mr. Hannassey who just simply wanted to kill each other. Such a fascinating plot development. I loved the character of McKay. Very interesting and unique. I did find the character of Steve Leech confusing and I was wondering what caused him to want to fight at the end was it the fight with McKay that opened his eyes or what. I will also say I was disappointed to find out this was supposed to be an allegory for the Cold War. If you do your history you will know this is an inaccurate depiction. The Cold War was not illogical like this feud. It was a battle to maintain capitalism and US hegemony. Overall a interesting and deep movie.
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