# It's a Big Country

It's a Big Country: An American Anthology is a 1951 American anthology film consisting of eight segments by seven directors: Richard Thorpe, John Sturges, Charles Vidor, Don Weis, Clarence Brown, William A. Wellman and Don Hartman.

## Plot

In episode 1, "Interruptions, Interruptions", directed by Richard Thorpe, a professor traveling on a train is asked by a talkative fellow passenger if he too loves "America". The professor then asks, "Which America?" After listening to the professor explain the different aspects of America, the exhausted passenger goes to the dining car and, upon hearing an older woman comment how wonderful America is, he asks, "Lady, which America?"
In episode 2, "The Lady and the Census Taker", directed by John Sturges, Mrs. Brian Riordan, an elderly Irish immigrant living in Boston, is upset about not being counted in the 1950 census. She visits newspaper editor Callaghan and asks him to intervene on her behalf. He sends reporter Michael Fisher to interview her by pretending to be a census taker, but she recognizes Fisher, having seen him at the newspaper. Callaghan gets on the phone and calls every government office, right up to the White House. A census taker arrives; she insists on seeing his identification.
Episode 3, "The Negro Story", with no director credit, is a five-minute narrated documentary featuring Black Americans, starting with their military service in the Navy. There are clips of a Black midshipman becoming an ensign upon graduating from Annapolis, Black sailors, WACs, and paratroopers are shown, followed by scenes in London of the first Black general Benjamin O. Davis Sr. and his son Benjamin O. Davis Jr. The newsreel footage then moves on to sports figures Jackie Robinson, Jesse Owens, Joe Louis, Sugar Ray Robinson and Levi Jackson. Entertainers Marian Anderson (performing in front of the Lincoln Memorial after the DAR refused her the use of Constitution Hall), Lena Horne, Ethel Waters, Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Eddie "Rochester" Anderson and the Berry Brothers are also shown. Those who have contributed to public service are then featured — New York City judges Francis Rivers and Jane Bolin, radiologist Benjamin W. Anthony, New York Congressman Adam Clayton Powell Jr., the Right Reverend Bravid Harris, Federal judge Irvin Mollison, California Deputy Attorney General Pauli Murray, architect Paul Williams, 1946 American Mother of the Year Mrs. Emma Clement and Nobel Peace Prize winner Dr. Ralph Bunche. Finally, there is newsreel footage of George Washington Carver, who died in 1943, "and in New York University's American Hall of Fame are the figures of many great Americans of the past and among them is the immortal Booker T. Washington", who died in 1915.
In episode 4, "Rosika the Rose", directed by Charles Vidor, Hungarian immigrant Stefan Szabo is in the business of selling paprika. He claims that Hungarians and Greeks have hated each other for thousands of years. One of his six daughters, Rosa, secretly falls in love with—and marries—Icarus Xenophon, who is Greek. When the truth comes out, Icarus offers a consoling cup of coffee to Szabo, who rejects “Greek coffee”. Icarus produces a can of Washington Post coffee, with Washington's picture on it.
In episode 5, "Letter from Korea", directed by Don Weis, Maxie Klein, a young Jewish soldier who was wounded during the Korean War, is on his way home. He stops along the way to look up the now-widowed mother of an Army buddy who was killed in action. The mother is suspicious because her son did not mentioned a “Maxie,” but softens when she learns that he is the “JoJo.” of the letters. Maxie reads her a letter he received from her son, and she asks for his mother's address so she can write to her.
In episode 6, "Texas", directed by Clarence Brown, a tall Texan takes it upon himself to separate the fact from the myth.
In episode 7, "Minister in Washington", directed by William A. Wellman, Adam Burch is a summer minister in 1944 Washington, D.C. His parishioners include the President of the United States, and he tailors his erudite sermons specifically for the President, who is unable to attend. After a few weeks, the sexton tells him he is failing by ministering only to one person. Rev. Burch gives a sermon apologizing for his neglect and promising to do better. The President, who wad at the back, congratulates him.
In episode 8, "Four Eyes", directed by Don Hartman, Miss Coleman, a school teacher in San Francisco, discovers that her pupil Joey needs glasses. Joey's father, Mr. Esposito, believes they are not necessary and will only bring Joey ridicule from his peers. In the end, the father learns the danger of this attitude.

## Cast

WITH THE FOLLOWING CITIZENS:
* Ethel Barrymore as Mrs. Riordan (episode 2)
* Keefe Brasselle as Maxie Klein (episode 5)
* Gary Cooper as the Texan (episode 6)
* Nancy Davis as Miss Coleman (episode 8)
* Van Johnson as Reverend Burch (episode 7)
* Gene Kelly as Icarus Xenophon (episode 4)
* Janet Leigh as Rosa Szabo (episode 4)
* Marjorie Main as Mrs. Wrenley (episode 5)
* Fredric March as Papa Esposito (episode 8)
* George Murphy as Editor Callaghan (episode 2)
* William Powell as the Professor (episode 1)
* S. Z. Sakall as Papa Szabo (episode 4)
* Lewis Stone as Sexton advising Rev. Burch (episode 7)
* James Whitmore as the Train Traveler (episode 1)
* Keenan Wynn as Michael Fisher (episode 2)
* and Leon Ames as Secret Service agent (episode 7)
* Angela Clarke as Mama Esposito (episode 8)
* Bobby Hyatt as Joey Esposito (episode 8)
* Sharon McManus as Sam Szabo (episode 4)

## Reception

According to MGM records the film earned $526,000 in the US and Canada and $129,000 elsewhere, resulting in a loss to the studio of $677,000.