The Best Burl Ives Movies

Ranker Film
Updated June 23, 2023 388 votes 184 voters
Over 100 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of The Best Burl Ives Movies
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List of the best Burl Ives movies, ranked best to worst with movie trailers when available. Burl Ives's highest grossing movies have received a lot of accolades over the years, earning millions upon millions around the world. The order of these top Burl Ives movies is decided by how many votes they receive, so only highly rated Burl Ives movies will be at the top of the list. Burl Ives has been in a lot of films, so people often debate each other over what the greatest Burl Ives movie of all time is. If you and a friend are arguing about this then use this list of the most entertaining Burl Ives films to end the squabble once and for all.

If you think the best Burl Ives role isn't at the top, then upvote it so it has the chance to become number one. The greatest Burl Ives performances didn't necessarily come from the best movies, but in most cases they go hand in hand.

List includes The Spiral Road, So Dear to My Heart, more.

"This list answers the questions, "What are the best Burl Ives movies?" and "What are the greatest Burl Ives roles of all time?"
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  • The Big Country
    1

    The Big Country

    Gregory Peck, Jean Simmons, Carroll Baker
    43 votes
    • Released: 1958
    • Directed by: William Wyler
    Retiring to the American West to marry his fiancée, Patricia Terrill (Carroll Baker), Captain James McKay (Gregory Peck) enters a land-and-water feud between his future father-in-law, Major Terrill (Charles Bickford), and the rough and lawless Hannassey family, led by Rufus (Burl Ives). McKay prefers peace between himself and the Hannasseys, who repeatedly attempt to provoke violence. But his steadfast demeanor only angers his fiancé and Major Terrill, who won't settle for truces.

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  • Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
    2

    Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

    Elizabeth Taylor, Paul Newman, Burl Ives
    32 votes
    • Released: 1958
    • Directed by: Richard Brooks
    After Brick Pollitt (Paul Newman) injures himself while drunkenly revisiting his high school sports-star days, he and his tempestuous wife, Maggie (Elizabeth Taylor), visit his family's Mississippi plantation for the 65th birthday of his hot-tempered father, Big Daddy (Burl Ives). Cantankerous even with declining health, Big Daddy demands to know why Brick and Maggie haven't yet given him a grandchild, unlike Brick's brother Gooper (Jack Carson) and his fecund wife, Mae (Madeleine Sherwood).

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  • Ensign Pulver
    3

    Ensign Pulver

    Jack Nicholson, Walter Matthau, Larry Hagman
    14 votes
    • Released: 1964
    • Directed by: Joshua Logan
    Ensign Pulver is a 1964 American Technicolor film in Panavision and a sequel to the 1955 film Mister Roberts. The movie stars Robert Walker, Jr., Burl Ives, Walter Matthau and Tommy Sands and features Millie Perkins, Larry Hagman, Kay Medford, Peter Marshall, Jack Nicholson, Richard Gautier, George Lindsey, James Farentino, and James Coco. The film was directed and co-written by Joshua Logan, who had directed and co-written the Mister Roberts stage play on Broadway, and also shot scenes for the 1955 film after director John Ford fell ill. The story concerns the U.S.S. Reluctant, which is at anchor beside a tropical island. The ship's captain is as much of a "Captain Bligh" as ever. Several of the film's events – such as attacking the Captain while he is watching a film, and one the sailors trying to obtain compassionate leave to deal with a dying child – are taken from Thomas Heggen's original novel Mister Roberts. The characters of Pulver, Doc and several crewmen return from the first film, but played by different actors.
  • The New Adventures of Heidi
    4

    The New Adventures of Heidi

    Katy Kurtzman, Burl Ives, John Gavin
    5 votes
    • Released: 1978
    • Directed by: Ralph Senensky
    A sunny young girl, Heidi (Katy Kurtzman), lives with her grandfather (Burl Ives) in the scenic Swiss Alps. Heidi's relaxed and bucolic existence is shaken, however, when her beloved grandfather begins to lose his vision, and he decides to find others who can care for her. Later her grandfather goes missing, and she accompanies her friend Elizabeth (Sherrie Wills) on a visit to New York City, where she marvels at all of her unfamiliar surroundings.
  • East of Eden
    5

    East of Eden

    James Dean, Julie Harris, Raymond Massey
    19 votes
    • Released: 1955
    • Directed by: Elia Kazan
    In this film based on John Steinbeck's epic novel, Cal Trask (James Dean), the son of a California farmer (Raymond Massey), feels that his father cares only about his brother, Aron (Richard Davalos). When Cal embarks on a business venture to gain the favor of his dad, he finds himself dealing with his estranged mother (Jo Van Fleet), now the owner of a brothel, and tensions in the family rise even further when he begins to fall for Aron's girlfriend, Abra (Julie Harris).

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  • Wind Across the Everglades
    6

    Wind Across the Everglades

    Christopher Plummer, Burl Ives, Gypsy Rose Lee
    12 votes
    • Released: 1958
    • Directed by: Nicholas Ray
    Wind Across the Everglades is a 1958 film directed by Nicholas Ray. Ray was fired from the film before production was finished, and several scenes were completed by screenwriter Budd Schulberg, who also supervised the editing. The film features Christopher Plummer in his first lead role and, in a minor role, Peter Falk in his film debut. Former stripper Gypsy Rose Lee and circus clown Emmett Kelly also are among those in an unusual cast. It was filmed on location in Everglades National Park in Technicolor.

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