This is Big News, folks. The Big Country (1958) has been listed as an upcoming (as in May 24th) Blu-ray release — exclusively at Walmart. Walmart’s really stingy with the details and there’s no artwork to be found (someone placed a nice suggestion, above, on a forum).
If ever a picture cried out for the high-definition treatment, it’s this one. William Wyler made maximum use of the Technirama process, with stunning vistas that live up to the film’s title. The scenery is as much a character as the cast, which is a good one, by the way: Gregory Peck, Charlton Heston, Jean Simmons, Chuck Connors and Burl Ives (who won an Oscar for his incredible, and incredibly mean, performance). The opening credits were created by Saul Bass and the score by Jerome Moross is one of the best to ever grace a Western.
For years, The Big Country did nothing for me — it was a disaster in Sunday-afternoon TV showings. Many of you out there in Blogsylvania talked this one up, and I gave it a second chance. I was wrong, y’all were right. This is a great film — one of the few instances where “epic” isn’t a four-letter word. Quite an accomplishment.
The standard DVD is only OK. The picture’s undergone a restoration in recent years (on film, no less), and there are rumors of the stereo tracks being located. The old laserdisc featured a lot of extras — interviews, commentary, isolated score and more. Let’s hope those new elements and old supplements make up The Big Country we’ll be treated to — a Big Improvement rather than a Big Gyp.
Moral of the story: It’s getting harder and harder to put off buying a Blu-ray machine.
Update (6/1/2011): The Blu-ray of The Big Country, seen at left, turns out to be mono. The stereo tracks still haven’t turned up, but the non-compressed mono has plenty of punch to it. The score sounds like a million bucks.
Video-wise, this is a huge improvement over the old standard DVD, and from what I’ve heard, it’s the same gorgeous transfer that’s been turning up on TCM of late. It’s sharp as a tack.
The Big Country on Blu-ray is exclusive to Walmart. Which means there’s probably a copy within five minutes of your home. My copy was a birthday gift from my wife and daughter.
WOO-HOO!!! Finally! Ever since I saw the gorgeous print of this film TCM presented (saw it last year), I was really hoping it would show up soon in BD. Looks like I’ll have a trip to Wal-mart come Tuesday. Thanks for the heads-up, Toby.
I’m really stoked about this one. And a bit concerned about what we’re all in for.
I’ve heard the TCM transfer is terrific. If that’s what they used, we’re all in luck.
Let me/us know what it looks like once you’ve cracked it open.
Just pre-ordered this as it’s only available via their website (not in stores they say). I was also shocked by the price: $9.86 ($16.99 list). I’ll let you know how it looks. Thanks.
Wow, that’s a lot of movie for nine bucks. I assume it’ll be available in stores tomorrow, when its release date hits.
I’m really stoked about this one — and by the fact that so many other people are stoked about it.
But I feel kinda icky encouraging people to shop at Walmart.
Wow. That’ll be the first classic movie Walmart ever carried!
One movie that certainly deserves the HD upgrade.
Awesome HD picture with the new Blu-ray Disc of The Big Country! And there are some extras (especially true since the previous DVD release was barebones). Huge price difference between the early Walmart BD release and Amazon’s at present. Whoa.