It's a Big Country

Comprised of eight unrelated episodes of inconsistent quality, this anthology piece of American propaganda features some of MGM Studios' best directors, screenwriters and actors; it is narrated by Louis Calhern. Stories are framed by the lecture of a university professor. In one tale a Boston resident becomes angry when the census forgets to record her presence. Another sketch chronicles the achievements of African Americans while still another pays tongue-in-cheek tribute to Texas.

Directed by John Sturges, Charles Vidor, Richard Thorpe, Clarence Brown, Don Weis, William A. Wellman, Don Hartman, It's a Big Country leans on a strong ensemble — Ethel Barrymore, Keefe Brasselle, Gary Cooper — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about comedy titles of 1951.