It's a Big Country (1951)

"It's a Big Country" (1951) unfurls a grand tapestry of the American spirit, weaving eight distinct yet interconnected stories that scrutinize the country's vast diversity. This panoramic narrative journey commences on a New York cross-country train, where a seemingly innocuous conversation between two passengers triggers a profound reflection on what it truly means to laud America. The narrative then shifts to Boston, where an elderly Irish-American woman, Mrs. Brian Patrick Riordan, feels marginalized by a story in The Morning Post. Her outcry reaches the managing editor, Mr. Callaghan, whose attempts to mollify her instead become an unintentional yet sincere address to her concerns. The third episode heralds a roll call of distinguished Black Americans, while the fourth captures a touching love story amidst racial tensions. Rosa Szabo, a Hungarian-American secretarial student, falls for Icarus Xenophon, a Greco-American ice cream parlor owner. Their desire to marry is clouded by Rosa's father's narrow-minded views on suitable suitors for his daughters. The following episode sees a newly decommissioned Korean War veteran, Sergeant Maxie Klein, delivering the final letter from his fallen comrade to the bereaved mother. Their brief encounter leads to a significant shift in her perception of him. The sixth episode humorously interrupts a narration about Texas with a cowboy's unabashed, Texas-centric perspective. The seventh episode centers on the young Reverend Adam Burch, who, blinded by the allure of preaching to the President, forgets to tend to the spiritual needs of his congregation. The final episode spotlights a young boy's need for glasses, and his father's stubborn refusal rooted in outdated stigmas, threatening to lead to dire consequences. Thus, "It's a Big Country" presents a sweeping exploration of the American spirit. It explores the dangers of egotism and narrow-mindedness while celebrating racial and religious tolerance, revealing a broad cross-section of the American experience in all its glory and complexity.

It's a Big Country is a comedy movie directed by John Sturges.

It's a Big Country is currently streaming on TCM.