Watched it on afternoon TV, a version with around 20 minutes cut.

Captain Jame McKay (Gregory Peck)gives up life at sea to become a rancher. He finds himself in the middle of a battle over the water rights for the surrounding ranches. No matter how tough the battle McKay will not compromise his values.

Epic-length Western about a feud between two families, which comes to a head over the rights to a valuable watering hole. It's rumored that the film was meant as a Cold War allegory, and viewing the film as such gives it extra dimensions; without the allegory, it's compelling if a bit on the soapy side. It could have used some tightening, especially early on, but the climax is brilliant enough to compensate. Fine acting (Burl Ives solidly earned his Oscar); the wonderful score really sells it.

This movie is long, but you don't mind because of the beautiful scenery. The Gregory Peck/Charlton Heston fight is definitely worth watching.

Peck is very good indeed, as a stubborn man determined to prove that he has nothing to prove . . . in other words, exactly the kind of "pacifist" hero you can really root for in a Western. The movie is perhaps too long, and the photography too self-consciously beautiful in a Sierra Club calendar kind of way--but it is, after all, "big country." Ives and Bickford are very good as two ancient antagonists, and Chuck Connors makes a surprisingly good baddie.

Pretty decent flick with a strong cast and good performances. At nearly 3 hours, though, this movie could've been great if they had trimmed some of the fat.

I remember this film as a favorite film of my youth, when I was still a kyd. Recently, I saw it again. It ain't that great, but the score still is. And I can still see (clearly) how it shaped my love of Westerns.

A little long, but it doesn't feel it with Peck making a very compelling lead, a steady pace and some real stand out moments. I like where it goes with things, although its predilection towards showing off Peck's credentials to the audience runs counter to what the film is trying to say.

A big expansive Western that could have been trimmed down a bit and been more effective for it.The entire cast give good performances and the cinematography is great.

The casting, oh-so-beautiful photography, & wonderful script make this epic go by in what feels like half the time.

It runs a little long for how predictable it is, but most of the individual scenes are enjoyable. Gregory Peck is a cool cat

Comes across as a by-the-numbers pacifist Western until the balance is unraveled and revealed. This is challenging, but important. A gutsy film, and quietly shocking. The photography is a luxury.

Wonderful epic western; showcases Wyler's versatile directorial skills in shooting exciting action scenes, expansive landscapes, and intimate human relations. Entire cast is flawless; Oscar winner Ives is the standout in his Big Daddy-ish performance, and Heston is very good (if unusally cast) as a sullen rival for Peck. Staggeringly beautiful scenery and score, matched by an intelligent and witty script which has interesting things to say about masculinity, and the codes and mores of the west.