The Big Country: How my idea of honour comes from a Hollywood cowboy movie

Posted on China Writers Blog (April 14, 2026)

When I was young, I loved Hollywood movies. I got into Ingmar Bergman, Lina Wertmüller, Fellini, Vittorio De Sica, Jean Cocteau, Luis Buñuel and Akira Kurosawa much later. Growing up in Hong Kong, I did not have people in my life to teach me the proper worldview. Hollywood movies were where I searched for answers. In those days, we didn't have money for milk, which contributed to my stunted stature, so Hollywood movies would be out of reach. Luckily, we could watch reruns at awkward time slots, such as 5:30 p.m. on weekdays, which were known as "Spare Time Shows" (公餘場), paying a fraction of the regular admission.

One of my top favourite cowboy movies is The Big Country. It's a mythical story, of course, and one does not get confused by the dishonourable way Americans (European immigrants) acted toward the natives. I learned about it years later, watching Little Big Man. As a music lover, I have to share the theme music of The Big Country, which is simply stunning and left a strong impression on a young, impressionable mind.

​Why do I want to tell the story of The Big Country? First, I haven't contributed an article for a long time because I have been busy with other things. Second, I'm tired of hearing Americans talking about the US's sneak attack on Iran and the assassination of Iran's leaders without a hint of shame. Let me remind them what America was supposed to be, even in a mythical story.

To make a long story short, Gregory Peck is a well-dressed and well-educated gentleman going to the wild West to marry his fiancée (Carol Baker), who is the daughter of a wealthy rancher (Charles Bickford). After being picked up by Baker, Peck is harassed by drunk cowboys (in particular, Chuck Connors) from a neighbouring ranch. Connors is the son of the rancher (Burl Ives). Bickford and Ives have always fought over the use of a river between the two ranches. The land through which the river runs is, however, owned by Jean Simmons, who has no interest in ranching. Thus, bad blood flows between Bickford and Ives, and Simmons holds the key. 

Peck does not want to make a big deal over the harassment, but Baker is angry at being dishonoured. Thereupon, Bickford leads twenty men to beat up Connors, ostensibly to defend Peck's honour. Wanting to defuse the situation, Peck secretly visits Simmons and buys her land, promising both ranches will be allowed to use the river. 

When Peck returns, he is challenged by Charleton Heston, the top cowboy at the ranch, who is in love with Baker, to a fight. Despite being called a liar to his face and with Baker wishing he would stand up for himself, Peck refuses to be goaded into a fight to prove he can fight. Baker is disappointed and wants to reconsider the marriage. After everyone has gone to bed, Peck seeks out Heston to conduct their fisticuffs without an audience. This is a classic fight scene later emulated by Tampopo. 

Peck amply demonstrates his fighting prowess and, at the same time, does so with honour, gaining Heston's respect and friendship. Wanting to take revenge on Bickford, Ives kidnaps Simmons, luring Bickford and his men into an ambush. Peck heads out to Ives' ranch by himself and unarmed to rescue Simmons and forestall the bloodshed. Connors considers Peck the reason for his beating by Bickford's men and wants revenge. Peck suggests a duel to settle the score, accepted by Ives and Connors, thinking Peck wouldn't know how to handle a pistol. The duel is by a single-shot pistol, each walking ten steps in the opposite direction, turning around and firing upon command of the referee, Ives. Connors, however, fires before the order and must stand to receive Peck's shot. Ives demands it for honour's sake. Connors cowardly scurries behind a wagon wheel. Ives spits on Connors while Peck fires his pistol at the ground. As Peck gets Simmons and prepares to leave, Connors wrestles a pistol from a cowboy nearby to shoot Peck unawares. Ives shoots and kills his son on the spot.

Americans don't remember The Big Country nor understand honour anymore. Shooting someone in the back is now normal, if not glorious. Trump was so clueless, talking about Pearl Harbour to Takaichi, when his cowardly assassination of Iranian leaders was not only a war crime, but a dishonour deserving the Connors treatment. February 28, 2026, is to be remembered as a day of infamy. May FDR rise from his grave, mount the pale horse and dispatch without mercy those scoundrels who dare to call themselves Americans and besmirch the name and whatever is left of its honour.