The Big Trees (1952)

Such a frustrating disappointment

If you don't like this, we can't be friends.

if their story seems completely bonkers, almost like a feverish work of fiction, you ain't heard nothing yet.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Legendary star Kirk Douglas now nears his 100th birthday, and he has left a legacy of great performances in both classic and routine movies over his long career. Douglas was skillful at playing the dastardly villain, who could convincingly convert into a stalwart hero after some life-altering event. His broad toothy grin and dimpled chin were enigmatic enough to suggest either the dark side or the light. Jim Fallon, the greedy lumber baron turned tree hugger, is one of those Douglas roles that shift from the darkness to enlightenment. Set around 1900 in California, "The Big Trees" follows Fallon from his pursuit of government land, where he wants to cut down giant Sequoias and profit from their lumber, to his unlikely romance with a Quaker widow, played by Eve Miller, who wants to save the sacred trees. Of course, love casts out greed in this routine, predictable, but entertaining film that feels like a western, although set too late in the 19th century to fully qualify for the genre.Douglas dominates the movie, and he is fun to watch. Douglas is ably supported by colorful veteran Edgar Buchanan as his gun-slinging sidekick and by such other familiar players as Ellen Corby and Alan Hale. Trees fall, babies are born, and tragedies strike, which alter the course of events and character motivations. Director Felix E. Feist maintains a decent pace, and a climactic runaway train generates some suspense and excitement. "The Big Trees" may not be among Douglas's timeless films, but this tale of logging days in California is better than average, and Douglas is in fine form and always engaging to watch.

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.First off Mike Douglas now looks and acts exactly like his father Kirk, who in this movie had his hair dyed Gold.Yes, gold.The film is in Technicolor and the color still pops.The movie is very typical of the year and the genre. It's not bad.

Sprawling drama is uneven because you wouldn't expect some of the characters and the story line to go down the path it does.Kirk Douglas is in fine form as the unscrupulous lumber barren smitten by a Quaker-like woman in California. Her father winds up dead after a tree from the Douglas lumber company comes down on the house and crushes him. He knew the tree was coming. Douglas gets blamed for his death thanks in part to two of his vicious partners.In addition, what makes this uneven is the part taken by Edgar Buchanan. Buchanan, as a gunslinger, come on. What gives here? When Buchanan goes with Douglas to Indiana, he is taken with that religion and becomes sheriff of the town.This is just too hard to fathom and the ending is as predictable as they come.

The movie talks about a greedy lumberman called Jim Fallon (Kirk Douglas) who tries to make himself the owner of a redwood with impressive trees called ¨Sequoias¨ placed on California . A group of religious Quakers care the rousing trees like a holy mission . As a Quaker colony tries to save the giant sequoias from a timber baron . Meanwhile , Kirk falls in love with the leader (Eve Miller) , befriends a kind old man (Edgar Buchanan , a real scene stealer) and confronts enemies . Fallon will have to confront some of his own workers to vanquish the battle . The film deals upon the taking on amongst nasty timbermen and peaceful homesteaders .The picture blends action western , a love story , thrills and stimulating outdoors . The landscapes with the Sequoais's woods are spellbound and breathtaking . There are excellent action sequences , as a train derailing where Kirk Douglas demonstrates his energy as action hero . Acting by main actors is top notch similarly to support cast (Edgar Buchanan , Patrice Wymore , Alan Hale and John Archer) in which everybody is awesome . Cinematography by Bert Glennon is glamorous and colorful but is quite worn-out ; in fact , in 2002 the rights to this film became public domain . This film compellingly directed by Felix Feist results to be a remake from ¨Valley of giants (1938)¨ by William Keighley with stock footage taken from this film and was starred by Wayne Morris , Claire Trevor and Alan Hale . The flick will appeal to landscape lovers and Kirk Douglas fans . Rating: Good . Well worth watching .