Ronald Albury

I just watched Gregory Peck in the movie, The Big Country. I saw it as a child, and something made me want to watch it again. It is a western, and it does have some gunplay and fistfights. But unlike many westerns, that is not what the movie is about. Watching it today I remembered just how much impact it had on me when I saw it the first time. I remember that after watching it I told myself I wanted to be like Gregory Peck. Seeing it again today I think he was a good choice for a role model. (my hat is also off to Burl Ives, who gave a spectacular performance) It is definitely in my Top Five List. Given its influence in my life, maybe it should score even higher than that.

Because a lot of the movie is highly stylized corny, it is difficult to know when the director is trying to be corny and when he is just directing badly. An interesting movie to watch - everyone has to watch it once. But not high on my 'repeat' list.