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It's a Big Country

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Not to be confused with The Big Country.
It's a Big Country
Theatrical release poster
Directed by
Written by
Story byDore Schary
(story for picture)
Produced byRobert Sisk
Starring
Narrated byLouis Calhern
(uncredited)
Cinematography
Edited by
Music by
Production
company
Distributed byLoew's Inc.
Release date
  • November 20, 1951 (1951-11-20)
Running time
89 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Budget$1,013,000[1][2]
Box office$655,000[1]

It's a Big Country: An American Anthology is a 1951 American anthology film consisting of eight segments by seven directors: Richard Thorpe, John Sturges, Charles Vidor, Don Weis, Clarence Brown, William A. Wellman and Don Hartman.

Plot

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In episode 1, "Interruptions, Interruptions", directed by Richard Thorpe, a professor traveling on a train is asked by a talkative fellow passenger if he too loves "America". The professor then asks, "Which America?" After listening to the professor explain the different aspects of America, the exhausted passenger goes to the dining car and, upon hearing an older woman comment how wonderful America is, he asks, "Lady, which America?"

In episode 2, "The Lady and the Census Taker", directed by John Sturges, Mrs. Brian Riordan, an elderly Irish immigrant living in Boston, is upset about not being counted in the 1950 census. She visits newspaper editor Callaghan and asks him to intervene on her behalf. He sends reporter Michael Fisher to interview her by pretending to be a census taker, but she recognizes Fisher, having seen him at the newspaper. Callaghan gets on the phone and calls every government office, right up to the White House. A census taker arrives; she insists on seeing his identification.

Episode 3, "The Negro Story", with no director credit, is a five-minute narrated documentary featuring Black Americans, starting with their military service in the Navy. There are clips of a Black midshipman becoming an ensign upon graduating from Annapolis, Black sailors, WACs, and paratroopers are shown, followed by scenes in London of the first Black general Benjamin O. Davis Sr. and his son Benjamin O. Davis Jr. The newsreel footage then moves on to sports figures Jackie Robinson, Jesse Owens, Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson and Levi Jackson. Entertainers Marian Anderson (performing in front of the Lincoln Memorial after the DAR refused her the use of Constitution Hall), Lena Horne, Ethel Waters, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson and the Berry Brothers are also shown. Those who have contributed to public service are then featured — New York City judges Francis Rivers and Jane Bolin, radiologist Benjamin W. Anthony, New York Congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr., the Right Reverend Bravid Harris, Federal judge Irvin Mollison, California Deputy Attorney General Pauli Murray, architect Paul Williams, 1946 American Mother of the Year Mrs. Emma Clement and Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Ralph Bunche. Finally, there is newsreel footage of George Washington Carver, who died in 1943, "and in New York University's American Hall of Fame are the figures of many great Americans of the past and among them is the immortal Booker T. Washington", who died in 1915.

In episode 4, "Rosika the Rose", directed by Charles Vidor, Hungarian immigrant Stefan Szabo is in the business of selling paprika. He claims that Hungarians and Greeks have hated each other for thousands of years. One of his six daughters, Rosa, secretly falls in love with—and marries—Icarus Xenophon, who is Greek. When the truth comes out, Icarus offers a consoling cup of coffee to Szabo, who rejects “Greek coffee”. Icarus produces a can of Washington Post coffee, with Washington's picture on it.

In episode 5, "Letter from Korea", directed by Don Weis, Maxie Klein, a young Jewish soldier who was wounded during the Korean War, is on his way home. He stops along the way to look up the now-widowed mother of an Army buddy who was killed in action. The mother is suspicious because her son did not mentioned a “Maxie,” but softens when she learns that he is the “JoJo.” of the letters. Maxie reads her a letter he received from her son, and she asks for his mother's address so she can write to her.

In episode 6, "Texas", directed by Clarence Brown, a tall Texan takes it upon himself to separate the fact from the myth.

In episode 7, "Minister in Washington", directed by William A. Wellman, Adam Burch is a summer minister in 1944 Washington, D.C. His parishioners include the President of the United States, and he tailors his erudite sermons specifically for the President, who is unable to attend. After a few weeks, the sexton tells him he is failing by ministering only to one person. Rev. Burch gives a sermon apologizing for his neglect and promising to do better. The President, who wad at the back, congratulates him.

In episode 8, "Four Eyes", directed by Don Hartman, Miss Coleman, a school teacher in San Francisco, discovers that her pupil Joey needs glasses. Joey's father, Mr. Esposito, believes they are not necessary and will only bring Joey ridicule from his peers. In the end, the father learns the danger of this attitude.

Cast

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WITH THE FOLLOWING CITIZENS:

Uncredited (in order of appearance)
Louis Calhern unseen narrator
Elisabeth Risdon Train passenger in dining car who extols America (episode 1)
Ned Glass Newspaper office receptionist who greets Mrs. Riordan (episode 2)
Fred Santley Census Bureau supervisor who receives a call from Editor Callaghan (episode 2)
Bill Welsh Census Bureau official who receives a call from Editor Callaghan (episode 2)
John Ericson Ensign kissing girl upon graduating from Annapolis (film clip within documentary footage in episode 3)
Hal Hatfield Greek athlete who is romantically interested in one of Papa Szabo's daughters (episode 4)
Carol Nugent Girl in Miss Coleman's classroom sitting in front of Joey Esposito (episode 8)
Rhea Mitchell Schoolteacher colleague of Miss Coleman (episode 8)
Don Gordon Mervin (episode 8)

Reception

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According to MGM records the film earned $526,000 in the US and Canada and $129,000 elsewhere, resulting in a loss to the studio of $677,000.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles, CA: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study, OCLC 801258228.
  2. ^ Glenn Lovell, Escape Artist: The Life and Films of John Sturges, University of Wisconsin Press, 2008, p. 60 ISBN 978-0-299-22834-7
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