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The Big Country

Director: William Wyler (Dir) Release Date: Aug 1958 Production Date: 30 Jul--18 Nov 1957 at Samuel Goldwyn Studios Duration (in mins): 166			Print this page Display Movie Summary

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	(Ramon Gutierrez)
	Chuck Connors	(Buck Hannassey)
	Chuck Hayward	(Rafe)
	Buff Brady	(Dude)
	Jim Burk	(Cracker)
	Dorothy Adams	(Hannassey woman)
	Chuck Roberson	(Terrill cowboy)
	Bob Morgan	(Terrill cowboy)
	John McKee	(Terrill cowboy)
	Jay Slim Talbot	(Terrill cowboy)

Summary:

Upon arriving in the small Western town of San Rafael, Maryland shipping magnate and former sea captain Jim McKay is met by his fiancée, the vibrant Patricia Terrill, daughter of cattle baron Maj. Henry Terrill. The foreman of Terrill’s Ladder Ranch, Steve Leech, accompanies Pat and mildly pokes fun of Jim’s formal Eastern attire, but Jim is not offended. Pat then drives Jim out of town to Ladder, but stops at the ranch of her best friend, schoolteacher Julie Maragon, to introduce her to Jim. On the long ride to the ranch, Pat and Jim are harassed by the Ladder’s neighbor, Buck Hannassey, and some of his Blanco Canyon ranchhands. When Buck playfully shoots off Jim’s bowler hat, Pat pulls her rifle, but Jim prevents her from firing. Although Jim is then roped and pulled off the wagon by Buck and his men, Jim refuses to resist and, believing that he is a coward, Buck and the men soon withdraw. Pat expresses amazement that Jim prevented her from using her gun and his response is delight at finding his hat unscathed. Returning home, Buck visits Julie to suggest that he and his father would like to join their land with her ranch, the Big Muddy, named after the valuable river that runs through it. Julie declines Buck’s blunt offer. The next morning, Jim refuses Steve’s attempt to goad him into riding the ranch’s wild stallion, Old Thunder, disappointing the ranchhands. At breakfast, Jim presents Henry with a gift of dueling pistols that belonged to his father, but when Jim expresses a distaste for violence, Henry advises him that violence is the way of life in the West. After admitting what happened with the Hannasseys, Jim is taken aback by Henry’s fury and refuses to participate or sanction Henry and Steve’s plan for a retaliatory raid. Overhearing the discussion, Pat is puzzled, then irritated by what she assumes is Jim’s cowardly behavior. Later, while Henry and the Ladder men wreck havoc on the Blanco Canyon ranch, Jim remains with long-time ranchhand Ramon Gutierrez and gains his respect as he struggles to ride Old Thunder. Meanwhile, Henry, Steve and the Ladder men trap three of Buck’s men in town while Buck hides in a nearby trough as his men are tortured in front of the townspeople. That evening at the Terrill’s party to announce Pat and Jim’s engagement, Henry assures Jim that the raid on the Hannasseys was necessary. Pat continues to sulk over Jim’s behavior, but reluctantly joins the party. The festivities are interrupted by Buck’s father Rufus, who breaks in to berate Henry for the raid and persistent antagonism against him, which disturbs Jim. The following day, Buck pleases Rufus by confiding that he believes that Julie will accept his marriage proposal. Late that afternoon, Jim, disturbed by the rivalry between the Terrills and the Hannasseys, departs Ladder for an overnight camping trip on the range. Learning of Jim’s plans from Ramon, the Terrills and Steve are certain that Jim will get lost, and so go in search of him. Before leaving, Steve assails Pat for wanting to marry such a weak man. Although Pat tells Steve off for insulting Jim, in private she weeps in bitter confusion over Jim’s behavior. Out on the range, Jim passes the night without incident and in the morning rides onto the Big Muddy, surprising Julie. After showing Jim around, Julie relates that her ranch is the area’s sole water source and was deeded to her grandfather by the King of Spain. Julie admits that she wants to sell the property, but is dedicated to maintaining her grandfather’s policy of allowing both the Terrills and Hannasseys access to the water, knowing that should she sell to either family, they would ruin the other. Jim then offers to buy the Big Muddy, promising to continue Julie’s peace-keeping plan. Later, when Steve returns to the house after an unsuccessful search for Jim, a worried Pat encourages Henry to begin a new search. That evening, Jim rides into Henry and Steve’s range camp and once back home insists that he was never lost. Steve calls Jim a liar and challenges him to a fight in front of Henry, Pat and several hands, but Jim refuses to be baited into an argument. In private, Pat and Jim have a bitter argument when she demands to know why he continues to humiliate her by his cowardly behavior. When Jim asserts that he has nothing to prove, and offers to move into town, Pat agrees that they should rethink their engagement. Just before dawn, Jim awakens Steve and the men go far from the main house for a drawn-out fistfight. Afterward, Jim confounds Steve by commenting on the futility of their act. That afternoon Steve leads the Terrill men on a drive to force the Hannessey cattle away from drinking at the Big Muddy. When Rufus learns that several of his cattle have died due to lack of water, he orders Buck to bring Julie to Blanco forcibly to make a decision on Big Muddy. Meanwhile, when Julie visits Ladder and learns that Jim has moved into town, she confronts Pat, who angrily insists that Jim has behaved incomprehensively. Julie is incredulous, and insists that if Pat loved Jim she could never believe him a coward. When Pat declares that Jim’s behavior has shamed her, Julie reveals that Jim purchased the Big Muddy to give to Pat as a wedding present. Upon returning to the Big Muddy, Julie finds Jim and encourages him to return to Pat. Jim maintains that the relationship is irreparably broken, but that he intends to remain to work the Big Muddy. Just after Jim departs for town, Buck and his men arrive to take Julie to Blanco Canyon. Pat then meets Jim at his hotel, hoping to make amends, observing that Henry will be pleased to join the Big Muddy to Ladder. When Jim informs Pat that he will manage the Big Muddy his own way, however, she is outraged and walks out. At Blanco Canyon, Rufus tells Julie that he will hold her captive to lure Henry to the ranch to settle accounts. Rufus then suggests Julie can prevent the conflict by agreeing to marry Buck, but Julie is appalled, then reveals that she has sold the Big Muddy to Jim. That night, Buck attempts to force himself on Julie, but she is rescued by Rufus. When Buck turns on Rufus, he manages to fight off his son, but warns him that one day he will have to kill him. Meanwhile back at Ladder, Henry and Steve learn of Julie’s kidnapping and set off for Blanco Canyon. Alarmed, Ramon tells Jim, who intercepts the men, insisting that he can rescue Julie without resorting to violence. The men ride to the Canyon the next morning, but allow Jim to meet the Hannasseys alone. When Jim approaches, Buck tells Julie that he will kill Jim if she departs with him. When Julie implores Jim to leave, Rufus realizes that she is lying and that she cares for Jim. Rufus then intercedes when Buck attacks Jim, who is unarmed. Meanwhile, in the canyon below, Steve refuses Henry’s order to storm Blanco. When Henry determinedly sets off toward the Hannasseys’ alone, however, Steve and the other men eventually follow. At Blanco, Rufus is disgusted by Buck’s behavior and forces him to participate in a formal duel with Jim. During the duel, Buck cheats and shoots early, but only grazes Jim. Rufus is further humiliated when Buck then cowers in fear of Jim’s clear return shot. After Jim fires into the ground and turns to escort Julie away, Buck tries to shoot Jim in the back, but Rufus kills him. When Henry leads the men unknowingly into an ambush by the Hannassey men, Steve is wounded and a number of men killed. As the fighting intensifies, Jim leads Julie away, but Rufus stops him to declare that the battle should be only between him and Henry. When Jim informs Henry, he agrees to the challenge. With the Ladder and Hannassey men watching, Henry and Rufus square off in the canyon and kill one another. Steve weeps bitterly over the futility of the fight as Jim, Julie and Ramon ride off together.

Production Company:	Anthony-Worldwide Productions
Production Text:	A William Wyler Production
Distribution Company:	United Artists Corp.
Director:	William Wyler	(Dir)
	John Waters	(Dir 2d unit)
	Robert Swink	(Dir 2d unit)
	Ivan Volkman	(Asst dir)
	Henry Hartman	(Asst dir 2d unit)
	Ray Gosnell	(2d asst dir)
	Bob Templeton	(2d asst dir)
Producer:	William Wyler	(Prod)
	Gregory Peck	(Prod)
	Robert Wyler	(Assoc prod)
Writer:	James R. Webb	(Scr)
	Sy Bartlett	(Scr)
	Robert Wilder	(Scr)
	Jessamyn West	(Adpt)
	Robert Wyler	(Adpt)
Photography:	Franz F. Planer	(Dir of photog)
	Wallace Chewning	(Dir of photog 2d unit)
	Fred Mandl	(Cam op)
	Ed Gavin	(Cam op)
	Dick Johnson	(Asst cam)
	Sid Zipser	(Asst cam)
	John Livesley	(Key grip)
	Harry Sundby	(Gaffer)
	Don Christie	(Stills)
Art Direction:	Frank Hotaling	(Art dir)
Film Editor:	Robert Swink	(Supv ed)
	Robert Belcher	(Ed)
	John Faure	(Ed)
	Tony Friedman	(Asst ed)
	William Sands	(Asst ed)
	William Ashby	(Asst ed)
Set Decoration:	Edward G. Boyle	(Set dec)
	H. M. Waller	(Draftsman)
	Steven Pridgeon	(Draftsman)
	William Peck	(Draftsman)
	Charles Gay	(Leadman)
	Harry Spurgan	(Checker)
	Arnold F. "Bud" Pine	(Const foreman)
	Tom Plews	(Prop master)
	Pat Delaney	(2d prop man)
	Ted Berkeley	(Greensman)
Costumes:	Emile Santiago	(Cost des)
	Yvonne Wood	(Cost des)
	Eddie Armand	(Cost)
	Neva Rames	(Cost)
	John C. Lucas	(2d ward)
	Agnes Koschin	(Ward cutter and fitter)
Music:	Jerome Moross	(Mus)
	Lloyd Young	(Mus ed)
Sound:	Del Harris	(Sd eff ed)
	Don Hall Jr.	(Sd eff ed)
	John Kean	(Sd rec)
	Roger Heman	(Sd rec)
	Harry Alphin	(Sd rec)
Special Effects:	Alfonso Gonzalez	(Spec eff)
Dance:	Carey Leverette	(Choreog)
Make Up:	Joan St. Oegger	(Hairstylist)
	Gale McGarry	(Hairdresser)
	Dan Greenway	(Makeup artist)
	Harry Maret Jr.	(Makeup artist)
	Nick Volpe	(Makeup sketches)
Production Misc:	Tom Andre	(Prod mgr)
	Clarence Marks	(Asst to William Wyler)
	Sam Freedle	(Scr supv)
	Robert Gary	(Scr supv)
	Carl P. Benoit	(Loc mgr)
	Saul Bass	(Titles des)
	Dorothy Whitney	(Casting)
	Harry Mines	(Unit pub)
	Monty W. "Red" Kennedy	(Loc auditor)
	Harold Hourihan	(Office accountant)
	Kenneth Gilmore	(First aid)
	Chuck Hammond	(Transportation gaffer)
	Al Jank	(Ramrod)
Country:	United States
Language:	English

Music:
Songs:
Source Text:	Based on the novel Ambush at Blanco Canyon by Donald Hamilton, serialized in The Saturday Evening Post (Feb 1957).
Authors:	Donald Hamilton

Copyright Claimant	Copyright Date	Copyright Number
Anthony-Worldwide Productions	13/8/1958 dd/mm/yyyy	LP12202

PCA NO:	18972
Physical Properties:	Sd:	Western Electric Recording
	col:	Technicolor
	Widescreen/ratio:	Technirama


Genre:	Western

Subjects (Major):	Family relationships
	Feuds
	Land claims
	Pacifism and pacifists
	Pride and vanity
	Ranchers

Subjects (Minor):	Canyons
	Dancing
	Duels
	Easterners
	Engagements
	Fathers and daughters
	Fathers and sons
	Firearms
	Fistfights
	Friendship
	Hazing
	Horses
	Jealousy
	Kidnapping
	Murder
	Parties
	Romance
	Rope
	Schoolteachers
	Wagons
	Water-rights

Note:	According to a Sep 1957 HR news item, The Big Country featured one of the largest sets ever built on the Samuel Goldwyn Studios lot, a reproduction of the enormous “Terrill” mansion which covered two continuous stages. An undated press release in co-producer-director William Wyler’s papers located in the UCLA Arts—Special Collections, indicates that author Jessamyn West was to write the screenplay for The Big Country . West, who had written the stories and script for Wyler’s 1956 Allied Artist production The Friendly Persuasion (see below) was credited with co-adapting Donald Hamilton’s novel Ambush at Blanco Canyon . A May 1957 HR news item indicates that author Leon Uris was signed by Wyler and co-producer-star Gregory Peck to work on the script, but his contribution, if any, has not been determined. Ambush at Blanco Canyon was serialized in Saturday Evening Post but was never published separately in book form. Hamilton also wrote a novelization of the film which was published in 1957 under the title The Big Country . In a modern interview, Peck stated that after using seven writers, he and Wyler remained dissatisfied with the script, but financial commitments forced them to proceed with the production. A mid-Sep 1957 HR news item notes that Wyler contracted severe laryngitis during production and was hospitalized, closing the film down for several days. HR news items list the following as cast in The Big Country although their appearances in the final film has not been confirmed: Don Kennedy, Donald Kerr, Timothy Carey, Helen Wallace, Robert B. Williams, Harry Cheshire, Ralph Sanford, Sally Winn, Raoul Lechuga, Dorothy Whitney, Minta Durfee and Snub Pollard. A modern source lists Chuck Roberson as Peck’s stunt double. The film was shot on location outside of Stockton, CA at the nearby Drais Ranch, Red Rock Canyon, Jawbone Canyon and the Mojave Desert. The Big Country marked the final screen appearance of character actor Alfonso Bedoya (“Ramon”), who died a month after principal photography was completed. Burl Ives won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as “Rufus Hannassey.” Jerome Moross’ score, one of the most recognizable Western themes of all time, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Musical Score.

Bibliographic Sources:	Date	Page
Box Office	Sep 1958.
Daily Variety	8 Aug 58	p. 3.
Film Daily	8 Aug 58	p. 7.
Hollywood Reporter	18 Jan 1957.
Hollywood Reporter	9 May 1957	p. 2.
Hollywood Reporter	25 Jul 1957	p. 14.
Hollywood Reporter	26 Jul 1957	p. 13.
Hollywood Reporter	29 Jul 1957	p. 5.
Hollywood Reporter	27 Aug 1957	p. 5.
Hollywood Reporter	28 Aug 1957	p. 2.
Hollywood Reporter	6 Sep 1957	p. 9.
Hollywood Reporter	9 Sep 1957	p. 4.
Hollywood Reporter	11 Sep 1957	p. 2.
Hollywood Reporter	16 Sep 1957	p. 4.
Hollywood Reporter	19 Sep 1957	p. 3, 9.
Hollywood Reporter	14 Oct 1957	p. 3.
Hollywood Reporter	18 Oct 1957	p. 5.
Hollywood Reporter	4 Nov 1957	p. 3.
Hollywood Reporter	11 Nov 1957	p. 4.
Hollywood Reporter	15 Nov 1957	p. 12.
Hollywood Reporter	19 Nov 1957	p. 3.
Hollywood Reporter	17 Dec 1957	p. 6.
Hollywood Reporter	6 Feb 1958	p. 10.
Hollywood Reporter	8 Aug 58	p. 3.
Los Angeles Examiner	11 Aug 1958.
Los Angeles Times	10 Aug 1958	p. 1.
Motion Picture Herald Product Digest	16 Aug 58	p. 945.
New York Times	8 Sep 1957.
New York Times	2 Oct 58	p. 44.
Variety	13 Aug 58	p. 6.

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The American Film Institute is grateful to Sir Paul Getty KBE and the Sir Paul Getty KBE Estate for their dedication to the art of the moving image and their support for the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and without whose support AFI would not have been able to achieve this historical landmark in this epic scholarly endeavor.



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