The Big Sky
Seen it?1952 | 133 min | Adventure, Western, Romance
Sunday Safe Betearly ratingWhy it’s a Sunday Safe Bet
It earned strong reviews (89% on Rotten Tomatoes), though it had a box office loss and little lasting buzz. A safe bet when you want something reliable.
Based on critics, audiences, awards, box office and buzz. Details below.Is it for you?
- Who'll love it
- Made for romantics and adventure fans. Critics rate it higher than audiences do, so it rewards patience more than it chases thrills.
- The mood
- Warm and romantic.
- The pace
- Moves along nicely, at 2 hr 13 min.
- What might put you off
- Made in 1952: an older pace and style.
- Audiences were cooler on it than critics.
Two tough Kentucky mountaineers join a trading expedition from St. Louis up the Missouri River to trade whisky for furs with the Blackfoot Indians. They soon discover that there is much more than the elements to contend with.
How it earned its rating
- CriticsStrong
89% on Rotten Tomatoes
- AudiencesSolid
6.6 out of 10
- AwardsSolid
Nominated for 2 Oscars and 1 DGA Award.
- Box office & staying powerBelow par
$2 million worldwide on a $2 million budget; still draws a steady audience long after release
- Buzz & cultural impactBelow par
About 28K people sought it out in the past year
Trailer
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Cast & crew
Directed by Howard Hawks
- Kirk DouglasJim Deakins
- Dewey MartinBoone Caudill
- Elizabeth ThreattTeal Eye
- Arthur HunnicuttZeb Calloway
- Buddy BaerRomaine
- Steven Geray"Frenchy" Jourdonnais
- Henri LetondalLa Badie
- Hank WordenPoordevil
- Jim DavisStreak
- Thol SimonsonBoatman