The Big Country (Widescreen Edition) [VHS]

The Big Country (Widescreen Edition) [VHS]
by William Wyler

List Price: ~~$24.98~~
Our Price: $23.35
You Save: $1.63 (7%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $2.58 (click here)
Category: VHS Video
See more movie releases

Buy this VHS video movie at online store in your country
Canada

Product details

Actor: Burl Ives, Carroll Baker, Charlton Heston, Gregory Peck, Jean Simmons
Director: William Wyler
Edition: VHS Tape
Audio: English (Original Language), Analog; Spanish (Original Language)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, Letterboxed, NTSC, Widescreen
Running Time: 167 minutes
Release Date: 1998-09-01
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Publisher: MGM (Video & DVD)
Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)

VHS Movie Reviews of The Big Country (Widescreen Edition) [VHS]

Movie Review: Character Development
Summary: 5 Stars

One of the finest examples of character development in any film, of any genre.
Woefully under-rated western.

MGM should restore this classic western. The DVD transfer is poor, and splices in the master are evident.

Movie Review: Clasic
Summary: 5 Stars

I enjoyed it verry much the end was long and drug out but over all a joy to watch

Movie Review: EXCELLENT WESTERN MIRRORING THE COLD WAR ERA
Summary: 5 Stars

The Big Country is a 1958 American Western film directed by William Wyler. It stars Gregory Peck, Jean Simmons, Carroll Baker, Charlton Heston, Burl Ives, Charles Bickford, and Chuck Connors. Based on the novel by Donald Hamilton.

Ives won the Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor as well as the Golden Globe Award. The film was also nominated for an Academy Award for the musical score by Jerome Moross.
Wealthy, newly-retired sea captain and ship-owner James McKay (Gregory Peck) travels to the American west to rejoin his fianc?e Patricia (Carroll Baker), whom he had met back East, at the enormous ranch of her father, Major Terrill (Charles Bickford). Terrill is a powerful rancher who is feuding with the equally tough patriarch of a poorer, uncouth, and less refined clan, Rufus Hannassey (Burl Ives). Patricia's best friend, schoolteacher Julie Maragon (Jean Simmons), is caught between the two, as she is the owner of the "Big Muddy", a (smaller) big ranch with a vital source of water desired by both men; Hannassey desperately needs it for his cattle, while Terrill wants to gain control of it to bring his rival down.

McKay is a puzzle to Major Terrill, his foreman Steve Leech (Charlton Heston) and even his fiancee; he refuses to be provoked into proving his manhood, even when harassed. We learn that McKay's father died in a duel, and -- as McKay explains to Terrill -- no one could remember what the duel was about. One morning, McKay rides out alone, goes to the Big Muddy, and persuades Julie to sell him the ranch, promising her that both the Terrills and the Hannesseys will always have access to the river, hoping that this will defuse the conflict. She agrees to the sale.

Back at the Terrill ranch, everyone believes McKay is lost. A search party is organized and spends two days looking for him. When McKay shows up, and says he knew where he was all the time, Leech -- who is himself in love with Patricia -- calls him a liar in front of Patricia and the Major. McKay refuses to be goaded into a fight. In private, Patricia expresses her shame at what she sees as McKay's cowardice. McKay tells her he'll be moving into town in the morning, to give them both time to think things over. Early the next morning, McKay goes out to the bunkhouse to settle things with Leech. They fight away from the house, without witnesses, to an exhausted draw - which, as McKay points out, has solved precisely nothing. Leech gains a new respect for McKay.

Later, Patricia discovers from Julie that McKay has bought the Big Muddy, and goes into town to try to make up with him. However, when she mentions her father's plans for the Big Muddy, McKay tells her it's over, as he will have no part in continuing the feud. Patricia explodes with rage, telling him that he'll never be half the man her father is.

Terrill orders Leech and his men to drive the Hannassey's cattle away from watering at the Big Muddy. Hannassey, desperate, contrives a plot to kidnap Julie Maragon. Rufus offers to buy the Big Muddy in exchange for her freedom. He doesn't know whether to believe her when she tells him she has already sold the Big Muddy to McKay. Hannassey decides to keep her at the ranch, as the bait for an ambush he has prepared for Terrill and his men. To rescue Julie, they must pass through the narrow canyon leading up to the Hannassey homestead, where they can be easily gunned down.

McKay rides in alone, despite Terrill's opposition, to try seek a peaceful solution. Hannessey's eldest son Buck (Chuck Connors), who wants Julie for himself, tells her to lie to McKay about her reason for being there, or he will shoot him. McKay arrives and shows Hannassey the deed to Big Muddy, and promises him access to the water there. When Hannassey says he intends to fight Terrill anyway, McKay confronts him with the truth - that it is all just about a personal vendetta between two ruthless, vicious old men who are willing to get a lot of others killed to settle their feud. Julie, whose feelings for McKay are by now obvious, tries to protect him by saying she is there willingly, but McKay doesn't believe her. McKay and Buck begin to fight, but Rufus stops it when Buck draws on an unarmed McKay. He then decides they will settle it "gentleman style", with the dueling pistols in McKay's saddlebag. He warns the two men that he'll shoot either one of them if they violate the rules.

After walking off ten paces, both men turn and aim. Buck fires before the signal, grazing McKay's forehead. McKay slowly and deliberately takes aim. Defenseless, Buck succumbs to fear and drops to the ground in terror. McKay then fires his shot into the dirt. Hannassey walks over and spits on his son for his humiliating cowardice. As McKay and Julie prepare to leave, Buck grabs a gun from a ranch hand, but Hannassey shoots and kills him.

Meantime, Terrill, Leech and their men have ridden into the ambush and are pinned down in the canyon. Although Leech realized that the risk was too great, he is unable to dissuade Terrill from going into the canyon, and ultimately Leech follows him in out of loyalty. Acknowledging the truth of McKay's accusation, Hannassey orders his men to hold their fire. He then challenges Terrill to come out and face him man to man. The two men walk to a final showdown and kill each other. McKay and Julie ride out together.

[edit] Commentary on the Cold War
The Big Country came out during the Cold War and in the aftermath of the McCarthy hearings. The film depicts the two alternatives of diplomacy (taught by McKay) and brinkmanship and personal grudges leading to mutually assured destruction (Terrill and Hannessey). Moreover, The Big Country depicts McKay grudgingly earning the respect of others and of the audience. It is said that President Dwight D. Eisenhower showed the movie several times in the White House during his second administration.

Movie Review: A Big Movie
Summary: 5 Stars

The film that Wyler did just before BEN-HUR is a remarkable western epic in the true tradition. What else can you expect from a movie that boasts the star power of Gregory Peck, Jean Simmons, Charlton Heston, Charles Bickford, Burl Ives (in probably the finest performance in his much under-rated career), Caroll Baker and Chuck Connors. Shot on a wide panorama with one of the most recognized pieces of theme music in the history of movies. A clash of civilizations on several levels. First there is the east versus west as portrayed in the Peck and Heston characters. Then there is the clash between the Terrells and the Hennesseys. Infact, crude and uneducated, we come to see that both men are wrong but you feel alot more sympathy for Burl Ives' character than you ever feel for Charles Bickford's Terrell. You gotta love Chuck Connors -- forget Lucas McCain, this is his best role. He is such an utter cur with absolutely no redeeming traits: a bully, liar, coward -- and those are his good qualities! Unfortunately, MGM issued this pretty lean, no extras. Pity, a documentary on the film of this magnitude is demanded.

Movie Review: The Big Country
Summary: 4 Stars

The picture was great- good quality. My husband was disapointed because the picture was not full screen.

Write your own review

Summary of The Big Country (Widescreen Edition) [VHS]

One of Hollywood's greatest directors teams with a cast of incredible screen legends for this bold,sweeping tale of a ship's captain who ventures west to find a hotbed of jealousy, hatred and dangerous rivalries. As the reluctant hero is thrust into the maelstrom, he must summon all of his resolveto save not only his own life, but also the life of the woman he loves. Four-time Academy Award(r) winner* William Wyler directs this action-packed adventure that triumphs as "a work of art" (Motion Picture Herald). Starring Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston, Jean Simmons, Chuck Connors and Burl Ives (in an Oscar(r)-winning** performance), this magnificently entertaining epic will take your breath away with unbridled suspense, exhilarating excitement and explosive drama on a grand scale.

William Wyler directed this epic Western, about the clash of East and West, intellect and action. Gregory Peck stars as a sea captain who moves way out West to marry Carroll Baker and become part of the ranch owned by her father (Charles Bickford). But he discovers that daddy's top hand (Charlton Heston) carries a torch for Baker and doesn't particularly like Peck stepping into his place. Peck also finds himself caught in the midst of a power struggle between Bickford and his surly neighbor, Burl Ives (and his reprehensibly bullying son, Chuck Connors). This long, sprawling tale works because its characters are played by movie stars who know how to command the big screen in a big story. --Marshall Fine

Epic Video

Video Genres

Movies most talked about in Epic Video

The Alamo: Original Uncut Version [VHS]
MGM (Video & DVD); Release date: 1995-09-26; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $2.99
Price in other shops: ~~$24.98~~

The Big Country [VHS]
MGM (Video & DVD); Release date: 2000-05-02; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops: ~~$14.95~~

Lone Star (1951) [VHS]
MGM (Warner); Release date: 1998-09-01; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $62.67

The Good, the Bad and the Ugly [VHS]
MGM (Video & DVD); Release date: 2000-06-06; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $2.69
Price in other shops: ~~$9.94~~

The Alamo [Restored Original Director's Cut] [VHS]
MGM (Video & DVD); Release date: 1993-12-23; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $7.85
Price in other shops: ~~$29.98~~

Cheyenne Autumn [VHS]
Warner Home Video; Release date: 1994-07-22; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $8.86
Price in other shops: ~~$19.98~~

Union Pacific [VHS]
Universal Studios; Release date: 1995-03-28; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $25.94

Two for Texas [VHS]
Turner Home Ent; Release date: 1999-10-05; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Price in other shops: ~~$14.98~~

The Searchers [VHS]
Warner Home Video; Release date: 1998-09-22; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $6.84
Price in other shops: ~~$12.98~~

Little Big Man [VHS]
20th Century Fox; Release date: 1996-01-10; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $3.99
Price in other shops: ~~$9.98~~

Similar Video, DVDs, Audio CDs

Fox Western Classics (Rawhide / The Gunfighter / Garden of Evil)
Fox; Release date: 2008-05-13; DVD
Best price: $11.23
Price in other shops: ~~$19.98~~

Giant (Two-Disc Special Edition) (Keepcase)
Warner Brothers; Release date: 2005-05-31; DVD
Best price: $18.99
Price in other shops: ~~$26.98~~

Shane
Paramount; Release date: 2000-08-15; DVD
Best price: $4.49
Price in other shops: ~~$9.98~~

The Far Country
Universal; Release date: 2003-05-06; DVD
Best price: $2.34
Price in other shops: ~~$9.99~~

Red River
WAYNE,JOHN; Release date: 1997-11-19; DVD
Best price: $7.53
Price in other shops: ~~$14.98~~

Broken Arrow
TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX HOME ENT; Release date: 2007-05-22; DVD
Best price: $7.55
Price in other shops: ~~$14.98~~

High Noon (Two-Disc Ultimate Collector's Edition)
Lions Gate; Release date: 2008-06-10; DVD
Best price: $10.50
Price in other shops: ~~$19.98~~