The Big Trees

1952

The Big Trees

Critics Consensus

No consensus yet.

Tomatometer
Not Yet Available

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: N/A

33%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 296
User image

The Big Trees Photos

View All Photos

Movie Info

Ever since slipping into Public Domain, The Big Trees has become one of the most accessible and oft-televised of Kirk Douglas' pictures. Douglas plays an unscrupulous lumberjack who covets the land owned by a religious sect. All that's saving him from being the film's main villain is the fact that there's an even nastier contingent out to claim the sect's territory. His greed tempered by the love of pious Eve Miller, Douglas turns out to be a good guy after all in the film's climax. Watch for Alan Hale Jr. as "Tiny," doubling for his own father, who appears in long-shot in the stock footage.

Watch it now

Cast

Kirk Douglas
as Jim Fallon
Eve Miller
as Alicia Chadwick
Patrice Wymore
as Daisy Fisher / Dora Figg
Edgar Buchanan
as Walter 'Yukon' Burns
John Archer
as Frenchy LeCroix
Alan Hale Jr.
as Tiny
Roy Roberts
as Judge Crenshaw
Charles Meredith
as Elder Bixby
Harry Cording
as Cleve Gregg
Ellen Corby
as Mrs. Blackburn
Iris Adrian
as Girl at bar
Mel Archer
as Ole
Sue Casey
as Young lady
William Challee
as Brother Williams
Michael McHale
as Accountant
Bill McLean
as Ivan
Lester Sharpe
as Gray
Elizabeth Slifer
as Sister Wallace
Duke Watson
as Murdock
Lillian Bond
as Daisy's girl
View All

Critic Reviews for The Big Trees

All Critics (2)

View All Critic Reviews (2)

Audience Reviews for The Big Trees

  • Sep 05, 2010
    I found this movie predictable, and it has some bad attempts at humor too. I really wasn't impressed with this story, although I am glad that there were some people who were thinking about the environment back then.
    Aj V Super Reviewer
  • Aug 01, 2010
    <div style="width:300px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com/photos/the-big-trees-13710558"><img src="http://content8.flixster.com/photo/13/71/05/13710558_ori.jpg" border="0"/></a><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com"></a> </div></div> <div style="width:300px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com/photos/the-big-trees-13710552"><img src="http://content6.flixster.com/photo/13/71/05/13710552_ori.jpg" border="0"/></a><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com"></a></div></div> <div style="width:300px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com/photos/the-big-trees-13710564"><img src="http://content6.flixster.com/photo/13/71/05/13710564_ori.jpg" border="0"/></a><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com"></a> </div></div> <div style="width:300px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com/photos/the-big-trees-13710553"><img src="http://content7.flixster.com/photo/13/71/05/13710553_ori.jpg" border="0"/></a><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com"></a> </div></div> <div style="width:300px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com/photos/the-big-trees-13710549"><img src="http://content7.flixster.com/photo/13/71/05/13710549_ori.jpg" border="0"/></a><div style="text-align:center;font-size:10px;"><a href="http://www.flixster.com"><I>The Big Trees</I></a> </div></div> <I>THE BIG TREES</I> (1952) WRITTEN BY: John Twist and James R. Webb DIRECTED BY: Felix E. Fiest FEATURING: Kirk Douglas, Eve Miller, Patrice Wymore, Edgar Buchanan John Archer, Alan Hale Jr., Roy Roberts, Charles Meredith, and Harry Cording GENRE: Western PLOT: A conniving land developer entangles himself in action and intrigue while plotting a multiple land claim swindle to log Redwoods. COMMENTS: Kirk Douglas plays a likable but scoundrelous lumberman turned resource speculator. Big Jim Fallon (Douglas) has his sights set on the massive sequoias and he wants to saw every last one of them down for profit, <I>especially</I> the most beautiful 4000 year old giants. Playing fast and loose with loopholes in a new land claim law, Fallon attempts to hoodwink a colony of Quakers out of their land so he can chop away at the grandest specimens in the pursuit of a buck. But has Fallon underestimated the wily Quakers' low cunning? When the righteous ones turn the tables and sap his stake cash, Fallon has to take on a shady logging company as partner, but the owners have plans of their own. Scheming his way though the machinations of unethical dealings, Fallon soon finds he has his hands full with a give and take of dirty tricks, and two conniving women. The buxom, unethical Eve (Wymore) and the righteous, chaste Patrice, have opposing business interests and a rivalry over Fallon. Can Fallon change his leopard spots, by abandoning reams of riches in the name of conservation and true love? Or will greed lead him astray to wallow in profit and avarice? Technicolor brings out some stunning hues of green in the lush coniferous woods of sequoia country in Orick, California. Impressive location shots capture the grandeur of the great forest. Several tense, well staged action scenes interlace a convoluted but engaging plot. Solid character acting and good dialogue bring the story to life. <I>The Big Trees</I> features some surprisingly convincing special effects. I had feared I might be in for a period melodrama, but delightfully, I found instead a well scripted, entertaining western.
    Pamela D Super Reviewer
  • Apr 24, 2010
    Conventional western set in Northern California with Kirk the ruthless swindler amidst colorful settings and a good supporting cast. If you like westerns this one isn't bad but it's not particularly memorable either.
    jay n Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

The Big Trees Quotes

There are no approved quotes yet for this movie.

News & Features