Big Jake Reviews

Wayne brought in old friends, family, and associates to help him make BIG JAKE, and the resulting film is a disappointment. Helmed by George Sherman, who had worked with Wayne when he was a rising star at Republic in the "Three Mesquiteers" series of the late 1930s, the film is marred somewhat by lackadaisical direction and gratuitous violence. Wealthy rancher Wayne's young grandson (played by Wayne's real-life son Ethan) is kidnapped by a vicious band of hoods led by Boone. Wayne sets out with his sons, Pat Wayne (also the Duke's real-life offspring), and Mitchum to drop off the $1 million ransom demanded by the outlaws. Cabot tags along, and there is the usual horseplay between father and sons. The film ends with an unusually bloody finale for a Wayne film, and the bad guys get their just desserts. Wayne, Boone, and Cabot are very good. O'Hara looks like she's just doing Wayne a favor, and Pat Wayne and singer Vinton just don't have much screen presence. These weaknesses plus a mediocre script add up to a very weak Wayne outing.