#4 THE BIG COUNTRY (1958)

Studio: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Producer: Co-Produced by William Wyler and first time producer Gregory Peck

Director: William Wyler

Awards: Best Actor in a supporting role Burl Ives including a nomination for the musical score. Three other nominations and two other wins in other award designations.

Interesting Fact: President Dwight Eisenhower called it "simply the best film ever made. My number one favorite film."

Being a huge fan of John Wayne westerns, I watched this movie with a little skepticism. The movie pulled me in and I was a fan from the beginning. Here is a movie where the city dude teaches the cowboys a few things. Rather than quickly give in to the customs of the land, he held to what he learned on sea and resisted any challenge thrown his way that would make him a lesser man.

"Did you ever see anything so big?"

"Well yes."

"You have? What?"

"A couple of oceans."
"Well I declare."

James McKay, (Gregory Peck) now a retired sea captain follows his fiance to the big land of Texas. Soon he finds himself in between a large family fued over a sought after water hole called 'Big Muddy.' On top of this he is not easily provoked to prove his manhood, which causes tension in the engagement with his future wife. Finding no other alternative, but to try and end this war, he seeks to resolve the issues before a final battle occurs between the two family patriarchs.

*The musical score by Jerome Moross

*Charlton Heston interview on "The Big Country"

*I couldn't pass up on this one.