IT'S A BIG COUNTRY

US, 1952, 88 minutes, Black and white.
Ethel Barrymore, Keefe Brasselle, Nancy Davis, Van Johnson, Gene Kelly, Janet Leigh, Marjorie Main, Fredric March, George Murphy, William Powell, S.Z. Sakall, Lewis Stone,
James Whitmore.
Directed by Richard Thorpe, Don Weis, John Sturges, Don Hartman, William Wellman, Charles Vidor.

It's a Big Country is an American flag-waver of the early '50s. Conceived by MGM president, Dory Schary, it employed the talents of seven directors and eight writers, prominent at MGM at the time. It also has a very strong cast.

However, the overall impact is not as exciting as intended. Many of the stories seem trite. Others are worthy tributes. The framework, with William Powell discussing America with James Whitmore, seems highly contrived. However, it is an opportunity to see some of the stars of the period as well as see the work of some of the prominent directors.

1. Overall impact? MGM production values? The flag-waving exercise at the beginning of the '50s?

2. The writers, directors, stars? Black and white photography? Louis Calhern's optimistic commentary?

3. The voyage on the train, James Whitmore and his chatter, William Powell and his reading - and the comment about the variety of Americas?

4. The Boston story: Ethel Barrymore as the old Irish woman, the musical background of `The Wearing of the Green' and other Irish songs? The place of the census? Mrs Riordan, the paper, going to see Callahan, Fisher interviewing her, her seeing through them? Her being insulted? The memory of her husband? The genuine census man? The value of the individual?

5. The tribute to black Americans? The visual collage of significant Americans up to 1950 - in sport (Jesse Owens), in war, in entertainment (Lena Horne, Marion Anderson)? A worthy glimpse of the contribution of black Americans and their talent?

6. The story of the farmlands: S.Z. Sakall as the cuddly old Hungarian, his wife and all the daughters, home life? The prejudice against the Greeks? The eldest daughter, her hitching the ride, meeting Xenophon, falling in love, their talk, offering her the job? The marriage? (And everything going so fast?) The spying of the other sisters, the word to their father? The attack on the shop: Greeks vs Hungarians? The reconciliation? The comment on the many racial origins in the United States, many cultures? Reconciliation?

7. The war effort, the atmosphere of the Korean war, Maxie and his visiting Jack's mother? The mother and her group, wariness of Maxie? The reading of the letter, the experience of war, comradeship?

8. The tribute to Texas: Gary Cooper and his presence, tongue in cheek commentary, the open spaces, the broad Texas style?

9. Washington: Van Johnson as the clergyman, Lewis Stone as his adviser? Preaching in the Presidential church, the heady sermons, the disappointment of the adviser and the congregation? His speaking plainly to the minister? The scrapping of the sermon, the humble acknowledgment by the minister? The irony of the president coming in and meeting the minister?

10. The emphasis on the school and the family, the migrants? Nancy Davis as the schoolteacher, concern about the students, Joey and his need for glasses, confronting the parents? Becoming friendly with them? Mr Esposito and Fredric March's tour de force as the Italian father? Ruling the family? His work, not wanting his son to wear glasses? Testing him out about his hearing, the visit to the teacher? Joey and his not being able to see, being bright? The kids in the glasses? His mother getting them for him, taking them off when his father was present, falling and injuring himself, the hospital? The father and his relenting - and his getting his own glasses?

11. The overall effect of the stories, a cross-section of America, 1950?