The Big Trees
Encyclopedia
The Big Trees is a 1952
film starring Kirk Douglas
and directed by Felix E. Feist
. It was Kirk Douglas's final film for Warner Brothers, a film he did for free in exchange for the studio agreeing to release him from his long-term contract
.
The film has fallen into the public domain.
) greedily eyes the big trees in the virgin region of northern California
. The land is already settled by, among others, a religious group led by Elder Bixby (Charles Meredith
). Jim becomes infatuated with Bixby's daughter, Alicia (Eve Miller
), though that does not change his plan to cheat the homesteaders. When Jim's right-hand man, Yukon Burns (Edgar Buchanan
) finds out, he changes sides and leads the locals in resisting Jim.
Elder Bixby is killed when a big sequoia tree is chopped down by Jim's men and accidentally falls on his cabin. Jim's desperate attempt to rescue Alicia's father saves him from being convicted of murder. Meanwhile, timber rival Cleve Gregg (Harry Cording
) appears on the scene, making it a three-way fight. Gregg and his partner Frenchy LeCroix (John Archer
) try to assassinate Jim, but end up killing Yukon instead. Jim has a dramatic change of heart and leads the settlers in defeating Gregg and Frenchy. Afterwards, Jim marries Alicia and settles down.
Students from Humboldt State University
played members of the Quaker congregation and members of its choir.
s featuring Wayne Morris that were taken from the 1938 film Valley of the Giants
. The film was made with the cooperation of the Hammond and Carlotta Lumber companies.
"; its "plot and emoting seem to be as old as the giant redwoods with which they are concerned."
1952 in film
The year 1952 in film involved some significant events.-Events:* January 10 - Cecil B. DeMille's circus epic, The Greatest Show on Earth, premieres at Radio City Music Hall in New York City....
film starring Kirk Douglas
Kirk Douglas
Kirk Douglas is an American stage and film actor, film producer and author. His popular films include Out of the Past , Champion , Ace in the Hole , The Bad and the Beautiful , Lust for Life , Paths of Glory , Gunfight at the O.K...
and directed by Felix E. Feist
Felix E. Feist
Felix Ellison Feist was a film and television director born in New York City.Feist was the son of MGM sales executive, Felix F. Fiest , and nephew of publishing house magnate, Leo Feist. He was educated at Columbia University...
. It was Kirk Douglas's final film for Warner Brothers, a film he did for free in exchange for the studio agreeing to release him from his long-term contract
Studio system
The studio system was a means of film production and distribution dominant in Hollywood from the early 1920s through the early 1960s. The term studio system refers to the practice of large motion picture studios producing movies primarily on their own filmmaking lots with creative personnel under...
.
The film has fallen into the public domain.
Plot
In 1900, lumberman Jim Fallon (Kirk DouglasKirk Douglas
Kirk Douglas is an American stage and film actor, film producer and author. His popular films include Out of the Past , Champion , Ace in the Hole , The Bad and the Beautiful , Lust for Life , Paths of Glory , Gunfight at the O.K...
) greedily eyes the big trees in the virgin region of northern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The land is already settled by, among others, a religious group led by Elder Bixby (Charles Meredith
Charles Meredith (actor)
Charles Meredith was an American film and television actor. When Meredith died, The Incredible Mr. Limpet was said to be his last film.-Selected filmography:...
). Jim becomes infatuated with Bixby's daughter, Alicia (Eve Miller
Eve Miller
Eve Miller , was an American actress who appeared in 41 films between 1945 and 1961. She was born in Los Angeles, California, USA and died in Van Nuys, California by suicide aged 50.-Early life:...
), though that does not change his plan to cheat the homesteaders. When Jim's right-hand man, Yukon Burns (Edgar Buchanan
Edgar Buchanan
Edgar Buchanan was an American actor with a long career in both film and television, most familiar today as Uncle Joe Carson from the Petticoat Junction, Green Acres and The Beverly Hillbillies television sitcoms of the 1960s...
) finds out, he changes sides and leads the locals in resisting Jim.
Elder Bixby is killed when a big sequoia tree is chopped down by Jim's men and accidentally falls on his cabin. Jim's desperate attempt to rescue Alicia's father saves him from being convicted of murder. Meanwhile, timber rival Cleve Gregg (Harry Cording
Harry Cording
Harry Cording was a British character actor who appeared in many Hollywood films from the 1920s to the 1950s. Due to his stocky build and imposing 6'0 height, he usually portrayed thugs and henchman to the main villain....
) appears on the scene, making it a three-way fight. Gregg and his partner Frenchy LeCroix (John Archer
John Archer (actor)
John Archer was an American movie and television actor.-Biography:Born Ralph Bowman in Osceola, Nebraska, Archer moved to California at the age of five...
) try to assassinate Jim, but end up killing Yukon instead. Jim has a dramatic change of heart and leads the settlers in defeating Gregg and Frenchy. Afterwards, Jim marries Alicia and settles down.
Cast
- Kirk DouglasKirk DouglasKirk Douglas is an American stage and film actor, film producer and author. His popular films include Out of the Past , Champion , Ace in the Hole , The Bad and the Beautiful , Lust for Life , Paths of Glory , Gunfight at the O.K...
as Jim Fallon - Eve MillerEve MillerEve Miller , was an American actress who appeared in 41 films between 1945 and 1961. She was born in Los Angeles, California, USA and died in Van Nuys, California by suicide aged 50.-Early life:...
as Alicia Chadwick - Patrice WymorePatrice WymorePatrice Wymore is an American television, film, and stage actress of the 1950s and 1960s.-Early life and stage career:...
as Daisy Fisher - Edgar BuchananEdgar BuchananEdgar Buchanan was an American actor with a long career in both film and television, most familiar today as Uncle Joe Carson from the Petticoat Junction, Green Acres and The Beverly Hillbillies television sitcoms of the 1960s...
as Yukon Burns - John ArcherJohn Archer (actor)John Archer was an American movie and television actor.-Biography:Born Ralph Bowman in Osceola, Nebraska, Archer moved to California at the age of five...
as "Frenchy" LeCroix - Alan Hale, Jr.Alan Hale, Jr.Alan Hale, Jr. was an American film and television actor, best known for his role as Skipper on the popular sitcom Gilligan's Island. Hale was the lookalike son of popular supporting film actor Alan Hale, Sr....
as "Tiny" - Roy RobertsRoy RobertsRoy Roberts was an American character actor. Over his more than 40-year career, he appeared in more than nine hundred productions on stage and screen.-Biography:...
as Judge Crenshaw - Charles MeredithCharles Meredith (actor)Charles Meredith was an American film and television actor. When Meredith died, The Incredible Mr. Limpet was said to be his last film.-Selected filmography:...
as Elder Bixby - Harry CordingHarry CordingHarry Cording was a British character actor who appeared in many Hollywood films from the 1920s to the 1950s. Due to his stocky build and imposing 6'0 height, he usually portrayed thugs and henchman to the main villain....
as Cleve Gregg - Ellen CorbyEllen CorbyEllen Corby was an American actress. She is most widely remembered for the role of "Grandma Esther Walton" on the CBS television series The Waltons, for which she won three Emmy Awards...
as Mrs. Blackburn
Students from Humboldt State University
Humboldt State University
Humboldt State University is the northernmost campus of the California State University system, located in Arcata within Humboldt County, California, USA. The main campus, nestled at the edge of a coast redwood forest, is situated on Preston hill overlooking Arcata and with commanding views of...
played members of the Quaker congregation and members of its choir.
Production
The film includes establishing shotEstablishing shot
An establishing shot in filmmaking and television production sets up, or establishes the context for a scene by showing the relationship between its important figures and objects...
s featuring Wayne Morris that were taken from the 1938 film Valley of the Giants
Valley of the Giants
Valley of the Giants is a Canadian post-rock supergroup formed in Lanark Highlands, Ontario, Canada, in early 2002. The group is composed of members from Broken Social Scene, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Silver Mt. Zion, Do Make Say Think, Shalabi Effect and Strawberry...
. The film was made with the cooperation of the Hammond and Carlotta Lumber companies.
Reception
The New York Times called it a "stormy and sometimes silly saga" based on a script "not terribly far removed from the Warners Valley of the GiantsValley of the Giants
Valley of the Giants is a Canadian post-rock supergroup formed in Lanark Highlands, Ontario, Canada, in early 2002. The group is composed of members from Broken Social Scene, Godspeed You! Black Emperor, Silver Mt. Zion, Do Make Say Think, Shalabi Effect and Strawberry...
"; its "plot and emoting seem to be as old as the giant redwoods with which they are concerned."