Review of The Big Country (1958) by Kevin R — 19 Oct 2015

He's going to be the most surprised dead man you ever saw.

A Navy man heads out west to meet his fiancée he has agreed to marry. He meets her and is excited to start a new life; unfortunately, his fiancée's family is embroiled in a feud. He feels he is neighbors with both and needs to be able to communicate with both sides, while his wife to be feels he needs to join the feud. He refuses and their relationship becomes very intense.

"You wanted me, Pa?".

"Before you were born I did.".

William Wyler, director of Roman Holiday, Ben-Hur, Funny Girl, The Best Years of Our Lives, The Desperate Hours, The Collector, and The Westerner, delivers The Big Country. The storyline for this picture is very well told and fairly epic. I loved Gregory Peck who was stoic and Charlton Heston gives a gritty performance. The cast also includes Jean Simmons, Carroll Baker, Burt Ives, and Chuck Connors.

"We should have stayed in town, got more girls and more liquor.".

I came across this on Turner Classic Movies (TCM) and had to DVR it. The cast delivers remarkable performances and I adored the main character. The plot was fairly straightforward and simple but I enjoyed this gem. This is worth a viewing.

"The Hennessy Boys are in town and have been drinking.".

Grade: B.