Review: Big Jake


Set in the last moments of the Old West, young Jacob McCandles (played by John Ethan Wayne, The Duke’s 8 year-old kid) is kidnapped by Richard Boone’s gang, who demand a hefty $1 million for the boy’s safe return. Grandma Maureen O’Hara reluctantly enlists the help of the boy’s estranged grandfather, the title character played by The Duke himself. Along with two other estranged sons (Christopher Mitchum and Patrick Wayne, the former employs newfangled motor vehicles and an automatic pistol, whilst the latter just hangs shit on the old man whenever he can) and the ransom money, Jake sets off to meet with the captors and get the kid back. But is that really all he has planned? Bruce Cabot is solid as Wayne’s Indian scout buddy who helps out, and John Doucette is similarly fine as the sheriff who, on orders by O’Hara, travels by automobile with his separate posse to try and get to the kidnappers first. Did I mention The Duke comes armed with a vicious (but loyal) Collie? Well, there you go. Just don’t call him Lassie! (No really, don’t. It’s name is ‘Dog’).

 

One of The Duke’s better latter day films (along with “The Shootist”), this 1971 George Sherman (a B-western veteran who also produced “The Comancheros”, an OK Duke film. This was to be his last film) western is tough, violent (that opening shootout is terrific stuff), occasionally amusing, and action-packed stuff. It’s almost never dull, barely stopping to take a breath.

 

Duke is as he always is, if perhaps a bit better, Boone is brilliant as the heavy (When wasn’t he? Easily one of the screen’s most underappreciated talents), and the always taciturn O’Hara is...thankfully not on screen much. Harry Carey Jr, with what looks like shit-stained teeth, steals several scenes as one of Boone’s scummy crew.

 

Definitely a Wayne flick that more modern audiences should get some rowdy entertainment from, even if it isn’t as grand, brilliantly made, or insightful as some of his other, earlier films (“The Searchers”, “Rio Bravo”, “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance”, and “Stagecoach” probably being the best of them). Nice to see The Duke’s son Patrick playing one of his on-screen sons, though Mitchum is pretty awful as another on-screen son (and never looks like anything other than Bob Mitchum’s kid).

 

Very underrated, with Wayne and Boone’s eventual showdown a particular highlight. This one’s worth rediscovering, even if you’re not a Wayne fan (I’m certainly not). The screenplay is by Rita M. Fink and Harry Fink, of the first three “Dirty Harry” flicks.

 

Rating: B-

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