Softwing Most undeservingly overhyped movie of all time??

BroadcastChic Excellent, a Must See

Spidersecu Don't Believe the Hype

Philippa All of these films share one commonality, that being a kind of emotional center that humanizes a cast of monsters.

gavin6942 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.Kirk Douglas says this was a "bad movie" he made simply to get out of a contract. Well, I have to disagree with him. While not a great movie, or one that stands out as the best of his career (like "Ace in the Hole"), it is far from a bad movie. At the very least, it is on par with any other western of its time (though this is not a "western" in the strict sense).I don't know enough about Quakers to know if they were in California in 1900 or had some special attachment to old trees. I suppose at least some had to be there, but the tree part seems odd. But I really don't know much about modern Quakers.

dglink 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.

wes-connors In 1900, lumber mill owner Kirk Douglas (as James "Jim" B. Fallon) moves from Wisconsin west, where he hopes to make a fortune chopping down California's giant sequoia trees. After surveying the timber, Mr. Douglas learns religious homesteaders consider the 4,000 year old redwood trees to be a sacred, historical testament of God. Douglas is attracted to what he calls "wonderfully proportioned" widow Eve Miller (as Alicia Chadwick). She's a hugger, but Douglas thinks, "A tree's a tree." Arriving later, blonde showgirl Patrice Wymore (as Dora "Daisy Fisher" Figg) carries a torch for Douglas. His former goodwill ambassador Edgar Buchanan (as Walter "Yukon Lucky" Burns) decides to do the Lord's work. "Tom" the cat gets tossed on screen. While anything's possible, "The Big Trees" is apparently the last re-make of Wallace Reid's "The Valley of the Giants" (1919). This well was definitely dry.*** The Big Trees (2/5/52) Felix Feist ~ Kirk Douglas, Eve Miller, Patrice Wymore, Edgar Buchanan

alexandre michel liberman (tmwest) Kirk Douglas works with wood and wants to make money quick by grabbing land in California and cutting the giant and very old trees. He ends up getting involved with religious people who live there and only want him to cut the newer and smaller trees. Patrice Wymore is the woman who is in love with him but he starts falling for the religious Eve Miller. The unusual and interesting scenery makes this western worth seeing. Also Douglas here is at his best. It is a shame that the colors in the DVD, were very inferior to what I remember from the film when it was first released in 1952.