Big Country was one of my personal favorite western movies of all time. Burt ives won best supporting actor well deserved he gave a powerful performance nearly stole the movie.
When i was a kid, and i saw in TV a lot of Charlton Heston classic films like The Ten Commandments, 55 days at Peking, The Big Country, The Agony and the Extassis, etc, i thought he was a very respected actor with at least 4 or 5 academy awards nods. It blew my mind that he was just nominated once for the Oscar, the one he got for Ben Hur. Incredible.
I would not describe them as "character actors". Walter Brennan, Chill Wills, Edgar Buchanan, were "character actors". Peck & Heston were 'leading men'
The guys who get top billing on marquees are guys like Peck and Heston and Lancaster and Douglas. Your supporting actors are the character performers. It makes a world of difference.
Heston's character was secondary however it was essential. His was the only character who changed and grew. He used to be the Major's yes-man and he emulated him and despised McKay for being what he thought was a coward. He finally learned what it meant to be a real man and that is to be true to yourself and not care what others thought of you. He showed this when he refused to do the Major's bidding despite being called a coward. He knew it was untrue and he also knew what was right.
Agreed. I always wondered how he related to Major's daughter after the end of the film. He had changed; she hadn't. Did he break the news about her father's death to her? Could he help her grief? For how long?
Charlton Heston was a very dignified man and unlike many actors he very rarely had a bad word to say about his co-stars. It appears what you saw on screen was what you got, a sincere man with an old fashioned set of values..and a fine actor too.
5 лет назад
Tim, You are correct. Heston was a class act and a regular guy full of decency.
@@shanecomeback8296 I always side with Greg Peck's character in that fight scene...he had a compass and was never lost...Steve called him a liar...just like riding Old Thunder, he stood his ground when it mattered to himself.
I just watched this movie again last night. One of THE Greatest westerns ever made! The BEST actors, The GREATEST Soundtrack & a terrific story! I read that General Eisenhower screened this at the White House in 1958. It was his favorite western as well! I liked Ike too!
I remember vividly going to see this with my best friend, as we left one of our schoolmasters was coming in to the theatre, we stopped and spoke to him. He was a young man a Physics teacher with a PhD from Cambridge, he smiled and asked “how was Jean” we replied in unison “she was TERRIFIC”. This is certainly the finest Western ever made and with The Lion in Winter, one of the two best movies of all time.
Loved him in 'The Big Country.' Charlton Heston is in my top 5 actors of all time! Sure, movies like 'The Ten Commandments' and 'Ben Hur.' But also look, for example, at his portrayal of Mark Antony and his soliloquy in 'Julius Caesar' (1970). Magnificent! Powerful!
I found the interview to be very interesting. It was a wise decision on his part that he changed his mind about appearing in the movie. One of the best westerns ever made!
Charlton Heston was an incredible actor, what impressed me the most was the range of his movies; he started in period pieces, to contemporary drama, to sci-fi movies, to horror. He played a Roman, a knight, a gambler, an explorer (William Clark of Lewis and Clark fame), a president, a solider, a submarine captain, an astronaut, a football quarterback, a detective, and so many others.
Even if you didn't include "Ten Commandments" and "Ben Hur" and all the other films he made during all those years, he still made the best SyFy horror films of the late 60's and early 70's. A versatile career that just went on and on.....
These days I belong to the outgoing generation. My favorite genre is the Western, and I've watched several thousand of them, many more than once. I like High Noon, Shane, Rio Bravo, The big country, Warlock, Duel in the sun, Man who shot Liberty Valance, One-eyed jacks; The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly; Man from the West, Unforgiven, My Darling Clementine, Lonesome dowe, The Searchers True Grit, The nacked spur, Vera Cruz, and thousands other...
just watched this film on the Criterion Channel, it was the restored version (a flawless must see) IMHO: It is the perfect storm of all the film arts coming together to create A SPECTACULAR WESTERN CLASSIC!
"All I can say Mckay, is that you take a helluva long time to say goodbye. I've just about finished, if it's all right with you. It's all right with me. Now tell me Leech, what did we prove?"
I love listening to Heston talk about his career and making movies. His insights were really profound and he had a great understanding and articulation of the business and the various thing that went into making a film. It's fascinating stuff.
What a great actor Charlton Heston was. Any role he portrayed he made you believe, he was that character. As for William Wyler, I mentioned before how actors/actresses sought work with him. Due to the admiration the industry held for him. Great interview/video. Thank you. 🇨🇦🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇸🇨🇦🇺🇸👍👍😍😍
I watched this film yesterday evening. Its quite long. But well worth watching. Its beautifully filmed as is the music which is very famous. This film is a must watch for anyone who likes this type of film. PC. 12. 05. 2021.
Westerns don't get any better than this one. William Wyler was in the top five of all time great directors. Also, Mr. Heston was superb in his role. No one else could have played that part like he did.
Love the way that he describes how he was going to argue his point with Wyler...and, just as he was preparing to prove his point, Heston was reminded of all the great films that Wyler had crafted...his ego subsided and he tactfully ended the confrontation. Kinda mirrors how Steve argues with the Major near the end of the film, but then Steve relents and joins the Major in the canyon.
Loved him in 'The Big Country.' The Blanco Canyon scene with Charles Bickford was classic Heston! Charlton Heston is in my top 5 actors of all time! Sure, movies like 'The Ten Commandments' and 'Ben Hur.' But also look, for example, at his portrayal of Mark Antony and his soliloquy in 'Julius Caesar' (1970). Magnificent! Powerful!
Even though he was an A-List Lead Actor at that time (1958) Charlton Heston's ":supporting role" character (as Steve Leech, the Terril Ranch foreman ) his performance was essential to the story telling and just as important as any of the leads. He made a smart move accepting that role. No one ever mentions the great movie stuntman cowboys who were in The Big Country--like Chuck Hayward!! You can see their abilities in the first opening scenes where Chuck Conners (who plays Rafe Hannasey) and his two brothers (Dude Hannasey and Blackie/Cracker Hannasey) chase down Gregory Peck and Dianne Baker in their carriage. The horse riding stunts during that chase are hilarious and phenomena!! Also worthy of mention in that film---Alfonso Bedoya. He played a supporting role as one of the more prominent Terril Ranch hands (he also gave comic relief to the film). Don't underestimate Alfonso Bedoya because he is forever ingrained in Cinema history, as he played the Mexican bandito "Gold Hat" in the film "Treasure of Sierra Madre" His famous line in the Treasure of Sierra Madre film was: "I don't need to show you no stinkin' badge!" Even though Bedoya has passed on, his one line lives on and on. :)
I thought Chuck Heston was broadening his brand as an actor by doing this part in The Big Country. He showed he can play an unsympathetic character and still put on a compelling performance. His character came around "for the right" near the end of the movie. :-)
fight scene was one of the greatest if not greatest fight scene. However Chuck's memory must have been fading. Peck said I'm just about done saying goodbye, not heston's character. I remember Chuck saying 'all I can say is you take a long time to say goodbye".
One of the best movies ever made, western or not. One of the best casts of the day ever assembled. Acting is superb. The antagonists were caste in the mold of individualism, both good and bad, reminiscent of the characters of Ayn Rand.
A great interview ; a true vindication of why “The Big Country” remains a cut above most westerns of the 1950’s. On meeting Charlton Heston,at a book signing in Auckland,I found him rather intimidating but I like to put that down to shyness,rather than arrogance.
david allen You met him??? Oh my goodness I dreamed of being able to do that. He became my hero about a month before he passed. I saw Ben Hur and it had a big impact on my life, and so did this amazing guy. I am 23 now, and my fascination with him has never ever faded. Please tell me about meeting him!! I would have given anything...
Hi Hannah, I can understand how star-struck you are over Charlton Heston.”Ben-Hur” is one of the greatest movies ever made. I had to stand in a very long line,in order to meet him and obtain his autograph.When it came to my turn,I was frozen on the spot. I thanked him for coming to New Zealand and he told me I might be interested in the photos his wife was selling.It was indeed a thrilling experience.Hannah,you must watch some of his other movies too ; “The Greatest Show On Earth”,”The Big Country” and ‘“Khartoum”,to name a few of his best. Kind Regards, David.
david allen That is so neat!! And trust me I have seen all of the ones you named haha and more. I have a picture of him in my room and his autobiography is currently being read. I came across a special video you might appreciate. Let me find it.
The casting and performances in "The Big Country" are all spot-on. Heston was needed to battle both Peck and Charles Bickford, both master actors on their own. Then there was Burl Ives, who won an Oscar for his role. Wyler was a master as well; he and Heston lit out for Rome after this wrapped for a little sword-and-sandal film called "Ben-Hur".
Charlton Heston was an actor who wasn't afraid to take a subsidiary role -- he took second billing to lead Gary Cooper in "Wreak of the Mary Deare" because he wanted so much to work with Coop (who was getting along in years by then). He took what was definitely a rather small "featured" role in "The Buccaneer" which starred Yul Brynner, Claire Bloom, and Inger Stevens, because he'd played Andrew Jackson once before, in "The President's Lady" (Susan Hayward co-starred) and found the part of Jackson fascinating. No offense to Brynner, but Chuck Heston simply dominated every scene he was in as General Jackson (and he even looked the part)!
Carol Griffith Heston took the smaller role in the big country just to work with William Wyler which got him the role of Judah Benhur in his next film. It won only eleven academy awards. Not too bad a choice.
What a wonderful gift to people who has been able to see Heston in his films They sure picked the right actor for Moses. WHAT a great guy .No funny business about him .
wonderful interview--underrated actor with a perceptive sense of things. His Actor's Journals (published) are very fascinating to read of an actor's journey.
@larky368 I couldn't agree with you more. I thought his acting was impeccable especially after the Major is killed and McKay looks at him...Heston's facial expressions were so many, so subtle, simply superb acting on his part. This movie just stayed with me for days and I also wondered about how Pat's character would cope with the loss.
Always liked him, not only as an actor - Mr. Heston was a friend of Andrew Wyeth ( arguably the greatest American painter ), and admirer/collector of his art.
The greatest western ever? Close call between The Big Country, The Magnificent Seven(brynner), Shane, The Searchers and Giant. Giant just does it for me with The Big Country just pipped at the post. Love both movies though..... and Carroll Baker!
Just to toss in a curve ball, I liked Heston in Soylent Green. But I agree with him that my favorite of his was as Will Penny. I feel much the same about the Duke in The Shootist.
must agree with you regarding Will Penny as Chuck Heston's BEST PERFORMANCE but as for The Duke, John Wayne, I liked him best in The War Wagon with Kirk Douglas. sadly, ALL THREE, are gone now!
actually blanco canyon was used a little later in Man of the West, a much much much finer wester, but then Mann simply, for me was the better director. And yes, I know Wyler has his fans. Compared to the dross these days, he was a genius.
Strange that Charlton Heston didn't seem particular bothered by Willy Wyler's mode of directing. Numerous takes and apparently a lot of re-writes to the script during filming. It actually drove Jean Simmons nuts, and she wouldn't talk about it for years afterward.
All I can say, McKay, is you take a hell of a long time to say goodbye. Uh just about finished if it's alright with you. It's alright with me. Now tell me leech. What did we prove? Huh?
His character Steve Leech started out as a bit of a jerk, fawning over the Major, hating McKay because he secretly was in love with Pat and also because Peck’s character was clearly his own man. After the fist fight his character changed, realising he’d been a patsy to the Major & Pat in their squabble with the Hennessy’s and finally stood up against Major Terrell.
Please remember the NRA wasn't always what it is now. But yes, Heston is much more than his NRA support or the Towering Inferno and Planet of the Apes.
In a way, she's right. I mean, Heston, by virtue of not being in "The Towering Inferno," is easily much more than his role in it. Come to think of it, he's also much more than his work in "Plan 9 from Outer Space," "A Clockwork Orange," "Prometheus," Chaplin's silent masterpiece, "City Lights," and "Beverly Hills Chihuahua."
People who hate the NRA almost always live within about a mile from a police station, or where a patrol car is only a couple of minutes from their home. They should try living 50 miles away from any help, and give up protection of any kind.
A long fight scene, not a particularly exciting one. It makes a good point about the waste of energy most fights are, and nothing much is proven or changed.
The Big Country is a great movie, but I always have a problem when I watch it, with the Peck character being attracted to a girl as shallow, selfish and childish as the Carrol Baker character. Sure, he eventually calls off the wedding, but if the relationship had got to the 'affianced' stage, his character should have seen her much earlier for what she was.
Charlton Heston had some enormous lucky breaks. One year he was in soylent green, planet of the apes and omega man. One lucky man!!! Always surprises me how many of these 'stars' seem to think it was all down to them not luck. Probably not a great thinker either really if you look at his approach to gun availability in the us
He was basically a nice person. Cecil B. DeMille cast Heston in The Greatest Show on Earth after he waved to the director as he drove off the studio lot.
