Director: George Sherman

Writers: Harry Julian Fink; R. M. Fink

Music by: Elmer Bernstein

Producer: Michael A. Wayne

Keywords: Western

Outlaws raid the McCandles Ranch and kidnap Jacob McCandles, age 8, demanding a ransom of $1M in twenties. The matriarch of the ranch, Maureen O'Hara, calls for her estranged husband who has been 18 years absent, to rescue the boy (his grandson) and dispense justice. More violence than most of Wayne's films, still very entertaining.

Name	Occupation	Birth	Death	Known for
John Agar	Actor	31-Jan-1921	7-Apr-2002	Sands of Iwo Jima
Richard Boone	Actor	18-Jun-1917	10-Jan-1981	Have Gun, Will Travel
Bruce Cabot	Actor	20-Apr-1904	3-May-1972	Saved Fay Wray from King Kong
Harry Carey, Jr.	Actor	16-May-1921	27-Dec-2012	The Whales of August
Glenn Corbett	Actor	17-Aug-1930	16-Jan-1993	Lincoln Case on Route 66
Jim Davis	Actor	26-Aug-1909	26-Apr-1981	Jock Ewing on Dallas
Bernard Fox	Actor	11-May-1927	14-Dec-2016	Dr. Bombay on Bewitched
Maureen O'Hara	Actor	17-Aug-1920	24-Oct-2015	Miracle on 34th Street
Gregg Palmer	Actor	25-Jan-1927	31-Oct-2015	The Rebel Set
Bobby Vinton	Singer	16-Apr-1935		Sealed With A Kiss
John Wayne	Actor	26-May-1907	11-Jun-1979	The Duke
Patrick Wayne	Actor	15-Jul-1939		Sinbad and the Eye of the Tiger
Hank Worden	Actor	23-Jul-1901	6-Dec-1992	The Searchers

CAST

John Wayne	...   Jacob McCandles
Richard Boone	...   John Fain
Co-Starring
Patrick Wayne	...   James McCandles
Christopher Mitchum	...   Michael McCandles
Bruce Cabot	...   Sam Sharpnose
Bobby Vinton	...   Jeff McCandles
Glenn Corbett	...   O'Brien
John Doucette	...   Buck Duggan
and
Maureen O'Hara	...   Martha McCandles
with
Jim Davis	...   Lynching Party Leader
John Agar	...   Bert Ryan
Harry Carey, Jr.	...   Pop Dawson
Gregg Palmer	...   John Goodfellow
Roy Jenson	...   Gunman
Virginia Capers	...   Delilah
William Walker	...   Moses Brown
John McLiam	...   Army Officer
Bernard Fox	...   Shepherd
Don Epperson	...   Man in Saloon
Jim Burk	...   Trooper
Dean Smith	...   Kid Duffy
Ethan Wayne	...   Little Jake McCandles
Hank Worden	...   Hank
Tom Hennesy	...   Mr. Sweet
Chuck Roberson	...   Texas Ranger
Robert Warner	...   Will Fain
Jeff Wingfield	...   Billy Devries
Jerry Gatlin	...   Stubby
Everett Creach	...   Walt Devries

REVIEWS

Review by Pat Shaffer (posted on 11-Aug-2007)

"Big Jake" is the best example of the later John Wayne - Batjac (his production company) -- with Wayne playing "The Duke" -- and surrounding himself (many for the last time) with cast and crew who had worked with him on many rugged productions. This is his final film with the actress that many consider his best female co-star, Maureen O'Hara -- Rio Grande, The Quiet Man, Wings of Eagles and McKlintock. Robust musical score by Elmer Bernstein and evocative photography by William Clothier enhance this kidnapping/ransom tale -- with a gang of thugs led by Richard Boone, in a performance described by Gary Wills, as Wayne's best opponent in these later Westerns. Directed by George Sherman, a good friend of Wayne's since doing the "3 Mesqiteers" series in the 30s, and later produced many westerns, including "The Comancheros" with Wayne. That film, the last by Hollywood veteran Michael Curtiz (Casablanca) -- was co-directed by Wayne, as the ailing Curtiz was unable to handle the work, sick as he was, so Wayne stepped in. he refused co-director credit. A similar situation arose on "Big Jake" - as Sherman, active in the 60s with Fess Parker's successful "Daniel Boone" series -- was now ailing, and John Wayne stepped up and directed many scenes - including the very successful and suspenseful final scene. The end result was the most financially successful Wayne film, of the 70's -- perhaps due to the reteaming of Wayne/O'Hara -- but also because John Wayne's fans knew that this was the Duke as they liked him best, tough, humorous and delivering the action.

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