keeping you in the dark:
the Looniverse



THE BIG COUNTRY
director William Wyler, 1958





















There is much I'd like to, but can not, show you. Especially, one misses the music and motion anyway. Those rapid and slow dissolves. I'm pretty much satisfied that the close shots of horses' heads and hoofs have been shot on a regular 35mm (B/W) camera sans scope. They do look elongated to me. The same goes for that splendidly strobing, smoking wheel: Who could even guess what that might have looked like? And mark how William Wyler is printed right over the stagecoach, instead of leaving it free as in the preceding titles.



The Big Country

A sea captain retires to what he thinks will be a quiet life on the frontier and a happy marriage, only to find himself in the middle of a range war in this Western classic. Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston, Jean Simmons and, in an Oscar-winning role, Burl Ives star; William Wyler directs.

168 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby mono, French mono; Subtitles: French, Spanish; theatrical trailer.
What I like
about this movie besides script and music is the marvelous cinematography by Franz Planer, who also shot Breakfast at Tiffany's, 20,000 Leagues under the Sea, and The Unforgiven. Snappy comebacks abound. The music was such a hit, Otto Preminger used composer Moross for his next film The Cardinal. Great art direction. Marvelous pacing and very solidly directed. Watch out for the unique entrance of Burl Ives.

Back to




SEARCH this site or the Web

back



copyright notice
all material on this site, except where noted
copyright © by , curaçao
reproduction in any form for any purpose is prohibited
without prior consent in writing