The Big Country (1958)

A New Englander arrives in the Old West, where he becomes embroiled in a feud between two families over a valuable patch of land.

Big-scale epic Western with great scenic cinematography and some memorable performances and scenes, although the proto-pacifist message is quite dated by now.

Halliwell***: "Big-scale Western with a few pretensions to say something about the Cold War. All very fluent, star-laden and easy to watch."

Maltin***: "Overblown Western...Heston as quick-tempered ranch foreman and Ives...as burly patriarch stand out in energetic cast."

White Dog (1982)

 

 

A trainer attempts to retrain a vicious dog that's been raised to kill Black people.

 

Unusual drama with a strong but pessimistic anti-racist message; cheaply made, but effectively so.

 

Halliwell*: "Oddball thriller that attracted unjustified criticism as a racist work, which prevented it from obtaining a proper release."

 

Maltin**1/2: "Interesting but downbeat drama, undeserving of the controversy and preposterous charges of racism that kept it from being released." 

Michael Weldon/Psychotronic: "After finally finding somebody to direct this controversial project, Paramount chickened out and decided not to release it. White Dog has played to good reviews in Europe..."