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Big Jake Details

1971 Certificate 15
  • Rated:
  • 70
  • from 1100 members

John Wayne is Jacob McCandles, an aging cowboy in an Old West that is on the verge of modernization. When his eight-year-old grandson is kidnapped by a violent gang led by the evil John Fain (Richard Boone), Jacob's estranged wife (Maureen O' Hara) enlists his help to rescue the boy. Jacob and his three sons (one of whom is .. Read more

Starring John Wayne, Richard Boone, Maureen O'Hara, Patrick Wayne
Director George Sherman
Genres Action/Adventure

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Big Jake

John Wayne is Jacob McCandles, an aging cowboy in an Old West that is on the verge of modernization. When his eight-year-old grandson is kidnapped by a violent gang led by the evil John Fain (Richard Boone), Jacob's estranged wife (Maureen O' Hara) enlists his help to rescue the boy. Jacob and his three sons (one of whom is portrayed by Wayne's real-life son Patrick) set out to bring the gang to justice. This late-period Wayne western is characterized by a gritty realism not present in most of his earlier works. The surprisingly graphic violence is also tempered with abundant humor.

Starring John Wayne, Richard Boone, Maureen O'Hara, Patrick Wayne, Christopher Mitchum, Bobby Vinton
Director George Sherman
Studio PARAMOUNT HOME ENTERTAINMENT
Run time DVD: 1 hr 49 mins
Certificate Certificate 15
Collections 100 Wild Westerns
Genres Action/Adventure
Language DVD: English
Released DVD: 07 Jun 2004
Production year: 1971
Format DVD
  • Critics' reviews (3) of Big Jake

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  • 2 stars out of 5

    It might just as well have been titled Big John, because that's all this is, really: close-ups of the grizzled John Wayne, in the twilight of his career, nostalgically paired (for the fifth and, sadly, last time) with an elegantly ageing Maureen O'Hara, and surrounded by relatives and buddies such as son Patrick and old sparring partner Bruce Cabot. There's precious little plot, though, and George Sherman's direction is lazy and untidy, lacking the zest of all those “Three Mesquiteers” programme fillers he directed Wayne in some 30 years earlier. Still, William Clothier's outdoor photography is worth a look and Richard Boone makes a fine larger-than-life baddie. But, really, the whole sad enterprise is altogether too routine, and the leads just look too old.

    • Radio Times
  • A late Wayne Western, depending heavily on recycling better (and no better) earlier pictures. Strung together in a... read more on Time Out

    • Time Out
  • Most helpful member's review of Big Jake

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  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    One For The Family

    One of his best, good laugh and plenty of action. All the family liked this one

      • John Rice from Hampshire
  • Most recent members' review of Big Jake

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  • 2 out of 2 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 5 stars

    One For The Family

    One of his best, good laugh and plenty of action. All the family liked this one

      • John Rice from Hampshire
  • More like this

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Rating breakdown

1,100 Member ratings
  • 100
123
  • 90
110
  • 80
228
  • 70
190
  • 60
195
  • 50
103
  • 40
65
  • 30
39
  • 20
32
  • 10
15

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    • John Wayne is Jacob McCandles, an aging cowboy in an Old West that is on the verge of modernization. When his eight-year-old grandson is kidnapped by a violent gang led by the evil John Fain (Richard ...