It's a Big Country (1951)

Comprised of eight unrelated episodes of inconsistent quality, this anthology piece of American propaganda features some of MGM Studios' best directors, screenwriters and actors; it is narrated by Louis Calhern. Stories are framed by the lecture of a university professor. In one tale a Boston resident becomes angry when the census forgets to record her presence. Another sketch chronicles the achievements of African Americans while still another pays tongue-in-cheek tribute to Texas.

Directed by: John Sturges, Don Weis, William A. Wellman, Charles Vidor, Richard Thorpe, Clarence Brown, Don Hartman

Starring: Ethel Barrymore, Keefe Brasselle, Gary Cooper, Nancy Reagan, Van Johnson, Gene Kelly

Links: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, IMDb, Movie posters, Movie stills