The Big Country

The Big Country
Theatrical release poster by Saul Bass
Directed byWilliam Wyler
Screenplay by
Story by
Based onAmbush at Blanco Canyon
by Donald Hamilton
Produced by
Starring
CinematographyFranz F. Planer, ASC
Edited by
Music byJerome Moross
Production
company
Anthony-Worldwide Productions
Distributed byUnited Artists
Release date
  • August 13, 1958 (1958-08-13) (Atlantic City)
Running time
166 minutes
CountryUnited States
Languages
  • English
  • Spanish
Box office$3.5 million (US and Canada rentals)

The Big Country is a 1958 American epic Western film directed by William Wyler, and starring Gregory Peck, Jean Simmons, Carroll Baker, Charlton Heston, and Charles Bickford. The supporting cast features Burl Ives and Chuck Connors. Filmed in Technicolor and Technirama, the picture was based on the serialized magazine novel Ambush at Blanco Canyon by Donald Hamilton and was co-produced by Wyler and Peck. The opening title sequence was created by Saul Bass.

Ives won the Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor for his performance, as well as the Golden Globe Award. The film was also nominated for an Academy Award for the musical score, composed by Jerome Moross. The film is one of the few in which Heston plays a major supporting role rather than the lead.