187 - The Big Country - 3 stars
First thing that struck me about the film was the opening music. It was so familiar and I couldn't figure out where I had heard it before, as I had never seen the film and knew little of it before it arrived in its Lovefilm envelope.
It's a rousing theme tune, but as someone pointed out to me, it does have some similarities with The Magnificent Seven, albeit recorded many years later, but more popular.
Gregory Peck plays the city man who travels to 'the big country' in order to wed his fiancee, but finds himself in the midst of a huge culture clash and a bitter feud between the two main families in the area.
As you would expect for this type of film, it is filled with sweeping shots of the 'big' landscapes and vistas of the setting, but there are more arguments, stolen kisses, break-ups and fistfights than your average episode of Eastenders.
Speaking of fistfights, it features one of the all time greats between Peck and Charlton Heston who duke it out until they are out on their feet, although I expected Peck to punch his fiancee after seeing this clip on Family Guy. It is up there with Rowdy Roddy Piper vs Keith David in They Live and Timmy vs Jimmy in 'Cripple Fight' from South Park, both of which owe a huge debt to The Big Country.
Days remaining - 79 Films remaining - 79
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