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Big Jake
(1971)

Director: George Sherman

Key Cast: John Wayne, Richard Boone, Patrick Wayne, Christopher Mitchum, Bruce Cabot, Bobby Vinton, Glenn Corbett, John Doucette, Jim Davis, John Agar, Harry Carey Jr., Gregg Palmer

Rating: PG-13
Genre(s): Western, Action
Film Type: Color

Description

After his grandson is kidnapped, there's only one man who can really get him back -
"Big Jake." (John Wayne)

He has been away from his wife and family for almost 18 years.  His sons barely know him.  His wife, Martha McCandles (Maureen O’Hara), has been managing the family ranch quite well without him. But now they are in trouble and the family needs his help.

John Fain (Richard Boone) and his gang attacked the McCandles ranch and killed many of the people working on it.  They kidnapped McCandles’ grandson, Little Jake (Ethan Wayne), and want $1 million in ransom or they will kill the boy.

As far as Martha McCandles is concerned, there is only one person who she believes can best handle the situation - “Big Jake”- a tough man who knows the territory and knows how to handle a gun.

However, “Big Jake” has his own way of dealing with the kidnappers and his sons (who harbor some resentment against him for leaving).

The dangerous journey leads them all to Mexico.

Interesting Facts

• After its release, “Big Jake” received some criticism from longstanding John Wayne fans because of the amount of violence shown in the film.  This is because John Wayne movies did not typically have a lot of screen bloodshed.  However, when “Big Jake” was made, the western genre was beginning to change and more graphic screen violence was becoming the norm.

• Three of John Wayne’s sons were involved in the production and making of “Big Jake.”  His son, Michael Wayne, was the producer.  Wayne’s son, Patrick Wayne, actually plays his son in the film. (He is  James McCandles.)  And the role of the kidnapped grandson, Little Jake, is actually John Wayne’s son, Ethan Wayne.
 
• John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara starred in five movies together, three of them westerns.  This movie, “Big Jake”, was the last movie that they did together.  The other John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara films are:
            ∙ Rio Grande
            ∙ McLintock!
            ∙ The Quiet Man
            ∙ The Wings of Eagles

• “Big Jake” was filmed on location in Mexico, with many of the scenes being filmed in Durango, Mexico.

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They want $1 million or they will kill
Little Jake. The best person to handle
the money and make sure that
Little Jake comes home alive ? Big Jake.

He's tough.
He's smart.
And he will not give in easily.