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The Big Country Overview:

The Big Country (1958) was a Drama - Romance Film directed by William Wyler and produced by William Wyler, Gregory Peck and Robert Wyler.

The film was based on the novel Ambush at Blanco Canyon and also Saturday Evening Post Serial written by Donald Hamilton published in 1958 (novel); Feb 1957 (magazine).

SYNOPSIS

Wyler's powerful Western covers a lot of territory with Peck a fish out of water as a sea captain who travels west to marry and settle, but finds himself in the middle of a bitter dispute over water rights and a jealous clash with the ranch foreman (Heston). He also discovers his fiancee isn't who he imagined and finds true romance with the local schoolmistress (Simmons).

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

Academy Awards 1958 --- Ceremony Number 31 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best Supporting ActorBurl IvesWon
Best Music - ScoringJerome MorossNominated
See More Oscar Winners

The Big Country BlogHub Articles:

The Big Country 60th Anniversary Blu-Ray Giveaway (now-Aug 4)

By Annmarie Gatti on Jun 24, 2018 From Classic Movie Hub Blog

The Big Country 60th Anniversary Special Edition Blu-Ray Giveaway “Kino Lorber’s majestic Blu-ray presentation of The Big Country is nearly an essential presentation of William Wyler’s masterpiece, on a disc loaded with enough extras to satisfy casual and rabid collectors alike.&... Read full article

FAVORITE DIRECTOR BLOGATHON: William Wyler - Hell's Heroes (1929) and The Big Country (1958)

on May 26, 2017 From Caftan Woman

William Wyler (1902 - 1981) Phyllis Loves Classic Movies and The Midnite Drive-In are hosting The Favorite Director Blogathon running from May 26th to 29th. Click here or here for contributions. For me, William Wyler is a director who rarely puts a foot wrong. His dramas from These Three to D... Read full article

FAVORITE DIRECTOR BLOGATHON: William Wyler - Hell's Heroes (1929) and The Big Country (1958)

By Caftan Woman on May 26, 2017 From Caftan Woman

William Wyler (1902 - 1981) Phyllis Loves Classic Movies and The Midnite Drive-In are hosting The Favorite Director Blogathon running from May 26th to 29th. Click here or here for contributions. For me, William Wyler is a director who rarely puts a foot wrong. His dramas from These Three to D... Read full article

The Big Country (1958)

By Beatrice on Sep 12, 2016 From Flickers in Time

The Big Country (1958) Directed by William Wyler Written by James R. Webb, Sy Bartlett, and Robert Wyler from a novel by Donald Hamilton 1958/USA United Artists/Anthony Productions/Worldwide Productions Repeat viewing/Netflix rental William Wyler directed in more genres than just about any direct... Read full article

James Webb's babies: Raton Pass (1951) and The Big Country (1958)

By Caftan Woman on Aug 20, 2015 From Caftan Woman

Screenwriter James R. Webb was twice awarded the Bronze Wrangler by the Western Heritage Awards, in 1964 for How the West Was Won (also Oscar nominated) and 1965 for Cheyenne Autumn. The Writer's Guild of America honoured him three times with the Valentine Davies Award in 1965, the Morgan Cox Award... Read full article

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The Big Country Quotes:

Rufus Hannassey: He's going to be the most surprised dead man you ever saw!
James McKay: [attempting to ride "Old Thunder"] Any advice?
Ramón Guiteras: Yes! Don't do it.
[Buck Hannassey is about to shoot the weaponless James McKay until Buck's father intercedes]
Rufus Hannassey: You don't shoot an unarmed man... not while I'm around.
Rufus Hannassey: [forced to shoot his own son] I told you! I told you I'd do it. I told you, but you wouldn't believe me! Damn your soul, I told you!
Steve Leech: All I can say, McKay, is you take a helluva long time to say good-bye.
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The Big Country Facts
The character played by Charles Bickford was supposed to represent then US President Dwight D. Eisenhower.
According to Gregory Peck, director William Wyler intended the film to be a left-wing allegory for the Cold War.
The film is credited with starting the trend for pacifist westerns.
Charlton Heston initially turned down the role of ranch foreman Steve Leech because he didn't think the part was big enough. His agent convinced him that it would be worth it just for the opportunity to work with Gregory Peck and William Wyler.
Alfonso Bedoya's last film. A longtime alcoholic, he died before it was released.
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