DramaWestern

The Big Trees

- MAMMOTH REDWOOD WILDERNESS -- TREASURE PILED TO THE SKY!

In 1900, unscrupulous timber baron Jim Fallon plans to take advantage of a new law and make millions off California redwood. Much of the land he hopes to grab has been homesteaded by a Quaker colony, who try to persuade him to spare the giant sequoias...but these are the very trees he wants most. Expert at manipulating others, Fallon finds that other sharks are at his own heels, and forms an unlikely alliance.

Release Date : 1952-02-05

Language :English

Adult : false

Status : Released

Production Company : Warner Bros. Pictures

Production Country : United States of America

Alternative Titles :

Cast

Character Name : Jim Fallon

Original Name : Kirk Douglas

Gender : Male

Character Name : Alicia Chadwick

Original Name : Eve Miller

Gender : Female

Character Name : Daisy Fisher / Dora Figg

Original Name : Patrice Wymore

Gender : Female

Character Name : Walter 'Yukon' Burns

Original Name : Edgar Buchanan

Gender : Male

Character Name : Frenchy LeCroix

Original Name : John Archer

Gender : Male

Character Name : Tiny

Original Name : Alan Hale Jr.

Gender : Male

Character Name : Judge Crenshaw

Original Name : Roy Roberts

Gender : Male

Character Name : Elder Bixby

Original Name : Charles Meredith

Gender : Male

Character Name : Cleve Gregg

Original Name : Harry Cording

Gender : Male

Character Name : Sister Blackburn

Original Name : Ellen Corby

Gender : Female

Character Name : Brother Williams (uncredited)

Original Name : William Challee

Gender : Male

Character Name : Brother Dorn (uncredited)

Original Name : Lane Chandler

Gender : Male

Character Name : Glen (uncredited)

Original Name : Frank Hagney

Gender : Male

Character Name : Lumberman (uncredited)

Original Name : Michael Jeffers

Gender : Male

Character Name : Ivan (uncredited)

Original Name : Bill McLean

Gender : Male

Character Name : Gray (uncredited)

Original Name : Lester Sharpe

Gender : Male

Character Name : Murdock (uncredited)

Original Name : Duke Watson

Gender : Male

Character Name : Accountant (uncredited)

Original Name : Michael McHale

Gender : Male

Reviews

Wuchak

@Wuchak

2021-06-23

Old-fashioned atypical Western laden by complex legal/financial talk, but has several highlights RELEASED IN 1952 and directed by Felix Feist, "The Big Trees" stars Kirk Douglas as a conniving lumber baron, Jim Fallon, who schemes to make it rich in Northern California in 1900 when a new law means large tracks of land are up for grabs to whoever can pay the fees. He plans to cut down the mighty redwoods but a colony of homesteading Quaker-like Christians are unwavering in their resolve to save the largest of the sacred trees, which are the ones Fallon wants most. Edgar Buchanan plays Fallon’s sidekick-turned-marshal in the Redwoods, Walter "Yukon Lucky" Burns. This was a remake of Warner Brother's "Valley of the Giants" from fifteen years earlier. While Douglas worked for free to get out of his WB contract it doesn’t seem like it, as he has his usual gusto. The old-fashioned tone will likely turn off modern viewers but the environmental message was certainly ahead of its time. The story lacks drive, however, due to the convoluted dialog about legalities & finance; it's as though you need a doctorate on California land law in order to follow what’s happening. Fallon (Douglas) naturally becomes smitten by religious beauty Alicia Chadwick (Eve Miller) while having dubious links to blonde showgirl Dora "Daisy Fisher" Figg (Patrice Wymore). Speaking of whom, jaw-dropping Wymore has a memorable song & dance sequence that’s worth the price of admission, particularly when she, um, never mind. There are several other highlights, like a scene that shows how ancient the redwoods are (e.g. they were fully grown when William the Conqueror invaded England in 1066). Furthermore, there are fistfights, a falling tree that crushes a cabin, a dynamited dam, a thrilling runaway train sequence, a huge trestle that collapses under the train, a sacrificial death and a good moral(s). I should add that the script perpetuates the myth that “The Lord helps those who help themselves” comes from the Bible. While a worthy proverb, it’s not Scripture. Watch out for Alan Hale Jr. (the Skipper from Gilligan’s Island) playing Tiny. THE MOVIE RUNS 1 hour 29 minutes and was shot in Redwood Groves, Orick and Eureka, California. WRITERS: John Twist and James R. Webb wrote the screenplay from Kenneth Earl’s novel. GRADE: B-/C+