THE BIG COUNTRY
DIRECTED AND PRODUCED BY WILLAM WYLER
ASSOCIATE PRODUCERS GREGORY PECK/ ROBERT WYLER
Information From IMDb
Plot Summary
Retired, wealthy sea Captain Jame McKay (Gregory Peck) arrives in the vast expanse of the West to marry fiancée Pat Terrill (Carroll Baker). McKay is a man whose values & approach to life are a mystery to the ranchers & ranch foreman Steve Leech (Charlton Heston) takes an immediate dislike to him. Pat is spoiled, selfish & controlled by her wealthy father, Major Henry Terrill (Charles Bickford). The Major is involved in a ruthless civil war, over watering rights for cattle, with a rough hewn clan led by Rufus Hannassey (Burl Ives). The land in question is owned by Julie Maragon (Jean Simmons) & both Terrill & Hannassey want it.
Written by E.W. DesMarais
Full Cast
Gregory Peck ... James McKay
Jean Simmons ... Julie Maragon
Carroll Baker ... Patricia Terrill
Charlton Heston ... Steve Leech
Burl Ives ... Rufus Hannassey
Charles Bickford ... Maj. Henry Terrill
Alfonso Bedoya ... Ramón Guiteras
Chuck Connors ... Buck Hannassey
Chuck Hayward ... Rafe Hannassey
Buff Brady ... Dude Hannassey
Jim Burk ... Blackie / Cracker Hannassey
Dorothy Adams ... Hannassey woman
Chuck Roberson ... Terrill cowboy
Bob Morgan ... Terrill cowboy
John McKee ... Terrill cowboy
Slim Talbot ... Terrill cowboy (as Jay Slim Talbot)
Richard Alexander ... Party guest (Oceans) (uncredited)
Harry Cheshire ... Party guest (uncredited)
Jay W. Jensen ... Cowboy (uncredited)
Donald Kerr ... Liveryman (uncredited)
Carey Paul Peck ... Boy (uncredited)
Jonathan Peck ... Boy (uncredited)
Stephen Peck ... Boy (uncredited)
Ralph Sanford ... Party guest (uncredited)
Writing credits
Donald Hamilton (novel)
Jessamyn West (adaptation) &
Robert Wyler (adaptation)
James R. Webb (screenplay) &
Sy Bartlett (screenplay) and
Robert Wilder (screenplay)
Original Music
erome Moross
Trivia
* 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.
* Aged 47 at the time of filming, Burl Ives was only 11 years older than Chuck Connors, who played his son.
* 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.
Goofs
* Crew or equipment visible: When McKay first arrives in town and meets Julie at the gate, some object (boom mike?) is visible above their heads (center screen).
* Continuity: Towards the end of the scene where McKay is learning to ride the bucking horse he is thrown from the horse, lands, removes the straw from his hair and then removes the straw from his hair again when he is helped up.
Filming locations
California, USA (exteriors)
Canyon de Chelly National Monument, Chinle, Arizona, USA
Farmington, California, USA
Marysville, California, USA
Mojave Desert, California, USA
Red Rock Canyon State Park - Highway 14, Cantil, California, USA
Stockton, California, USA