MovieChat Forums > The Big Country Discussion > What now for Jim McKay?

What now for Jim McKay?

posted 13 years ago by vinidici
13 replies | jump to latest

"The Big Country" is one of my favorite motion pictures in two categories, Westerns and movies in general. It's always interesting and nice to come to these boards and compare notes with other posters, whether we all agree with one another or not. We have analyzed the characters of McKay, the Terrills and Hannesseys, Leach, et al, as well as the plot, narrative, and technical aspects of this picture and will continue having a good time doing so. But today, I began wondering what will be in store for Jim McKay, as the proud new owner of the Big Muddy ranch and as the likely future husband of Julie Maragon?

There are many possible answers that could be given to such a question (and go right ahead and throw your two cents in!) but let me narrow it down some and ask, Will Jim McKay continue being the nice and easy-going gentleman he's been throughout the narrative of the movie? Or will he harden somewhat, as time progresses, being saddled with a new ranch and working endless hours day and night to build that ranch into a profitable enterprise? In short, will McKay eventually turn into the Major? Or into Rufus Hannassey? Or will he remain more like Ben Cartwright (from the TV Western, Bonanza), owner of the Ponderosa ranch?

I fancy there was once a time when the Major wasn't quite as austere and ruthless as he had become by the time we meet and get to know him in the movie. Rufus, too, though surely always rough around the edges his entire life, was likely a much more tender man when he was younger; after all, he did manage to get a wife and become a family man! But the cares, toils, hardships and constant dangers in the life of a rancher are legion; and many predators, both animal and human, both renegade Indian and degenerate criminal among those humans, have a way of hardening a man who's trying to survive, protect his family and property, and to prosper. Will McKay find himself, in due time, struggling with these circumstances and could the added burden of his self-appointed role as peacemaker between the Terrill and Hannesey clans become such an arduous burden that he may begin to manifest the same signs and characteristics of the kind of men that the Major and Rufus had become? Or, perhaps, more along the lines of James Cagney's hard-but-fair rancher character in "Tribute to a Bad Man?"

The floor is now YOURS.

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[–] DarthBill 13 years ago

I only just watched the film for a 2nd time. My initial impression was that McKay, finding the West distasteful, would head back East with Julie. I'd forgotten that he mentioned an interest in working the Muddy after he bought it, but after everything that had happened I'm not sure he'd want to stay there.

[–] vinidici 13 years ago

That's an interesting take. But it makes me wonder if Julie would want to leave Texas and the family ranch for an entirely different lifestyle and culture back East.

Also, McKay can't say he didn't bring some progress to the warring provincials; the tacit look shared between himself and Steve Leech implies that Leech (and, by extension, the ranch hands under his command) was now coming around to McKay's way of thinking, after the bitter lessons learned by Leech and company.

You could be right, perhaps McKay had now his fill of Texas life and the narrow mindedness and aggression of the Terrill bunch; though it might be difficult to explain why, in the end, Ramon has elected to leave the Terrills in favor of returning to his previous employers, the Maragons, as represented in Julie's person.

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[–] sul-4 12 years ago

first, he wants to still buy Big Muddy at a time when the tensions between Hanasseys and Terrills were at their highest, AND he either hadn't admitted to himself or hadn't figured out that he loved Julie, nor he him.

Why wouldn't he stay and work the ranch after the two sources of the civil war had killed each other, and he'd won respect among the rest?

McKay was a mature man when he came to The Big Country, if he'd managed not to lose that strength of character at sea, there's no greater hardship on a ranch to change him. Ramon said it best, "a man like that .. is very rare".

the exercise I like to think of is Pat and Leech. Does Leech stay where he is, and fester with the embittered Pat? Does Pat sell and go back East? Does Leech come to work for McKay to show him the ropes?

[–] turtletommy 12 years ago

Yes, the more interesting speculation is what now for Leech, and Pat- individually or as a couple. Leech obviously had a hankering for her but she didn't seem to be very enthralled with him- although you'd think his type of manliness would appeal to her. By the end it's pretty much spelled out in puffy white clouds over the big country that Leech is candidate #1 for lead foreman at McKay's Big Muddy Ranch, and he'll bring along most if not all of the Terrill ranch hands to help get that new operation going. Unless Pat does some serious growing up soon I'd hate to see the newly reformed Leech paired with her but then again with the Major gone and Pat available there's a vacuum waiting to be filled on the Terrill Ranch. I can't see Pat just up and running away. At any rate with the magnanimous McKay controlling the big water source there should be a lot less tension in the area.

[–] sul-4 12 years ago

Pat had a good friend in Julie, Julie seemed to see beyond her spoiled nature.
Also, McKay did fall in love with her in Baltimore, so he certainly saw something there.

Julie pointed out to McKay, "once you get her away from her father...", which is a hint that after the mourning and bitterness passes, maybe the bad behavior goes away. We've only seen her under the influence of Henry Terrill.

Also, Leech has only seen the spoiled side of her thus far.

So a happier ending for all might be for Leech to get McKay started at Big Muddy for a couple years while Pat grows up on her own running Latta by herself for a time. I would imagine Ramon and family come to Big Muddy as well.

After a couple years, maybe the changed Leech and Away-from-Daddy Pat see each other in a different light.

[–] huwdj 11 years ago

I think Terrill and Henassey were always rough, tough, ruthless and brutal men fighting to build as big a ranch as a possible. Terrill may now affect a veneer of being a gentleman but if anything he is the most vicious of the two.
I think the epilogue is quite predictable really, James McKay & Julie Maragon would marry, build their ranch up and live happily ever after. Pat Terrill & Steve Leech would marry, fight like cats and dogs but eventually live happily ever after. Not sure about the Henassays so let's leave them as a leaderless clan who after a generation in decline discover oil on their land and become indecently wealthy and self indulgent.

[–] trpdean 11 years ago

Hi, I love the thread. This is the kind of question I ask after I've seen a great movie - and The Big Country is great.

First, I don't see Heston leaving to join Peck. He really doesn't LIKE him. Moreover, I would guess that Bickford's will actually leaves the ranch to Heston - with a large bequest to his daughter. Remember the repeated comments that Heston was like an adopted son?

A sequel would see Baker mature - begin to see Heston as the others at the ranch do - as a superb leader himself - and one whose love for her is undoubted. She needs to look up to her man BECAUSE others do - it's why she broke with Peck. She will with Heston as the owner - the men already saw him more as their leader than they did the Colonel. Their admiration and loyalty will be more obvious now that the Colonel is gone. And over time, Baker will revise history and see her love of Peck as youthful infatuation. Heston will be in clover.

Second, I see - happily - a golden life for Peck and Simmons - at The Big Muddy. He doesn't show a love of ranching - but he loves her - and she loves the ranch - and his personal life will be the primary source of his happiness. Peck and Simmons must be one of the most appealing couples ever shown in the movies. For that alone, I wish there had been a sequel. And Peck's obviously bright and adaptable enough to make the Big Muddy a success. I see him going successfully into politics about 25 years after the movie concludes.

Third, I think the Hennesseys will calm down - with regular guaranteed access to water, with Simmons' marriage removing the possibility of dramatic upward mobility, and without the Colonel as a scornful antagonist in the area. The huge family will gradually disperse - and those who remain will do respectably well.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] vinidici 11 years ago

Buck's regard for McKay has made a 180° turn so I don't think he actually dislikes him anymore -- especially now that he has Pat all to himself.

Your other observations seem spot-on or close, though. I see McKay looking at the ranch life as something not altogether different from his old life at sea; it was his experience as a sailor, remember, that accounted for his ability to navigate and travel alone on the long wilderness path to the Maragon spread.

Okay folks, show's over, nothing to see here!

[–] turtletommy 11 years ago

trpdean, you've made some good analysis but I agree with vinidici that Leech has new-found respect for McKay and I can see a friendship in the future. It still seems possible that Leech could make a good foreman for McKay and Julie's ranch since he seems the logical choice because of his knowledge and leadership skills in operating a ranch. But then again the leadership void at the Terril ranch and his grooming for it may fit his ambition to run that ranch. He may very well end up with Pat but maybe not as quickly as some may think. But many things point to an eventual pairing of the two.

[–] boboko2k1 11 years ago

Jim McKay went back East and became the spokesman for ABC's Wide World of Sports.

[–] vinidici 11 years ago

Okay folks, show's over, nothing to see here!

[–] Flickfan-3 11 years ago

Watching it again for the 5th time maybe--
love this movie--
I would like to think that Jim married Julie and they made their home on Big Muddy--
that he brought some sanity into that part of Texas--but since I know Texas, I know that wouldn't be too likely...

Steve grew up a lot after meeting Jim McKay and learning he was no coward--
his knowledge of McKay's behavior is the reason he at first refused to enter the Hannesey place with Terrill--
he knew violence wouldn't really solve anything...
I think he also realized that he could do better than marry Pat--
maybe she became and absentee owner and went back east and left Steve to manager Latta...

"...That's the beauty of argument, Joey. If you argue correctly, you're never wrong..."