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So Big

Play trailer Poster for So Big 1953 1h 41m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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Tomatometer 3 Reviews 73% Popcornmeter Fewer than 50 Ratings
When her father dies, penniless Selina takes a job teaching in a small Dutch farming community close to Chicago. After marrying Pervis DeJong, the musically inclined Selina encourages the artistic temperament of their son Dirk. Though Dirk grows up with a strong interest in architecture, he pursues a sales career for the money instead. Disappointed, Selina takes comfort in her surrogate son Roelf, who grows up to be a famous composer.

Critics Reviews

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David Nusair Reel Film Reviews Aug 16, 2026
2.5/4
So Big improves slightly once it progresses into a second half that stresses soap-opera-like plot developments and revelations... Go to Full Review Clyde Gilmour Maclean's Magazine Nov 5, 2019
Jane Wyman's intelligent acting helps somewhat in galvanizing Hollywood's third filming of Edna Ferber's mother-love saga Go to Full Review Josephine O'Neill Daily Telegraph (Australia) Mar 26, 2019
It remains engrossing in a film that is often cloying, and that smears realistic scenes with fancy speeches. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Apr 12, 2018 Loved as a 9 year-old. See more ashley h @ashleyhobgood87 Jun 12, 2017 So Big is a remarkable film. It is about Selina who takes a job teaching school in the Dutch community of New Holland after the death of her father. Jane Wyman and Sterling Harding give amazing performances. The screenplay is good but a little slow in places. Robert Wise did a great job directing this move. I enjoyed watching this motion picture because of the drama and romance. So Big is a must see. See more Nov 18, 2013 this is the third version of this story See more May 1, 2013 I've never been a fan of Jane Wyman, with her chimpy face and stern demeanor. But she's way better in this adaptation of the Edna Ferber novel than Barbara Stanwyck, whom I adore. I don't like Sterling Hayden at all, but his role is brief, and he's appropriately wooden and ox-like. This version makes ridiculous changes to the story. I would love to see a proper adaptation of this. See more Apr 3, 2013 Robert Wise directs this Edna Ferber soaper about a schoolteacher-turned-farmer fighting to save her land and her son. It's a soaper for sure, but it's a pretty good one. Jane Wyman is good in the lead, as is Sterling Hayden as her husband. The film also features Nancy Olson in a small role, who I've always liked and thought should have been a bigger star. See more Read all reviews
So Big

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Cast & Crew

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Robert Wise

Director

Jane Wyman

Selina DeJong

Sterling Hayden

Pervis DeJong

Nancy Olson

Dallas O'Mara

Steve Forrest

Dirk DeJong

Elizabeth Fraser

Julie Hempel
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So Big

So Big (1953) So Big (1953) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis When her father dies, penniless Selina takes a job teaching in a small Dutch farming community close to Chicago. After marrying Pervis DeJong, the musically inclined Selina encourages the artistic temperament of their son Dirk. Though Dirk grows up with a strong interest in architecture, he pursues a sales career for the money instead. Disappointed, Selina takes comfort in her surrogate son Roelf, who grows up to be a famous composer.
Director
Robert Wise
Producer
Henry Blanke
Screenwriter
John Twist
Production Co
Warner Brothers/Seven Arts
Genre
Drama
Original Language
English
Runtime
1h 41m
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