Synopsis: Burt Lancaster both directed and starred in this tale of a Kentucky woodsman who dreams of settling in the west. Big Eli sets off for Texas along with his son and dog, but along the way he finds more adventure, danger and romance than he imagined possible. Among the people he encounters are an... Burt Lancaster both directed and starred in this tale of a Kentucky woodsman who dreams of settling in the west. Big Eli sets off for Texas along with his son and dog, but along the way he finds more adventure, danger and romance than he imagined possible. Among the people he encounters are an indentured servant girl trying to free herself from the nasty barman who "owns" her; an attractive small-town schoolteacher who temporarily diverts Eli from his journey; and several backwoods villains. [More]