This John Wayne western is set around the beginning of the Twentieth century. According to the film, the days of the wild West and rustling were now thought to be over, though they soon would learn that this is not necessarily the case. This is because a group of bandits attack the ranch that Wayne's ex-wife (Maureen O'Hara--in a very familiar role) runs. Many are killed and the grandson is kidnapped for ransom. So, she sends out word for Wayne to come home. Once there, they organize a plan and a posse and head into Mexico to get the boy back--but the folks organizing it seem to ignore Wayne and his advice, so you can easily predict what will happen next! After many of them are killed in the process, Wayne takes on the job with the assistance of two of his grown sons.

Now before I go on, let's talk about John Wayne's parenting style in this film. Needless to say, it's unconventional! Here are a few of his tidbits of his vast parenting knowledge:

1. If you have been absent from your sons' lives for most of their lives, when you are reunited, don't accept any anger or bitterness from your sons. If they don't immediately respect you and do what you say, slug 'em.

2. If they are nearly killed, slug 'em--after all, you love them and don't want anything bad to happen to them.

3. Don't allow for the fact that your sons have opinions or accomplishments--they will always be your inferiors.

4. If your sons have any questions as to why their mom and dad split up, slug 'em. If they ask about why you "ran out" on Ma, ignore them and walk off--a real man NEVER has to be answerable to his children.

5. If a son is hesitant about killing someone, belittle him. After all, killing other fellas is a sign of masculinity.

6. Have a trusted sidekick who tells the kids "Keep your mouths shut and listen to him (Wayne)".

7. To show your sons that fighting and manliness is important, take them to a bar and then pick a fight with the meanest guy there. You don't need to win, but a good show of manhood is important. After all, how else will your boys learn?!

8. Hug 'em? Nah...slug 'em!

9. After you and your sons kill off the bad guys in a big blood bath, understand it's a bonding experience. Time to let old wounds disappear. It's Miller time!

Although I did come up with a dandy list of lessons I learned from the film (most of them terrible),I must say that the film was well done and satisfying--especially in a brainless sort of way. This is NOT meant as criticism--sometimes a brainless action/adventure film is just what the doctor ordered! By the way, though I am giving the movie a positive rating, I must point out that one scene in particular irritated me (other than all the father-son punching, of course). Glenn Corbet was barely noticed in the film. However, late in the movie, he has a gun drawn on Patrick Wayne. What happens next is the dumbest and most pointless scene from a Western I've seen in ages. Watch this scene and see what I mean.

By the way, like many of Wayne's films of the 60s and 70s, the casting is quite odd. First, there is Bobby Vinton playing a son of John Wayne--polka-singing and permed Vinton! Second, Bruce Cabot (a common Wayne supporting actor) plays an American-Indian!

This is not John Wayne's best film or his worst either, for me it leans towards the watchable but disappointing category. It is definitely watchable, especially for the handsome photography and scenery. Also the first five minutes was inspired I think, and the score was more than adequate. While past his prime, John Wayne is good here, I liked how Maureen O'Hara was so elegant and Richard Boone is very entertaining.

Sadly, Big Jake is also quite lazily directed, and the plot is disappointingly meagre. The script is an uneven mix, one minute it flows well, the other it feels stilted, while the ending could have been better rounded off. Out of the cast, I liked Wayne, I liked Boone, I liked O'Hara, but I thought Chris Mitchum and Patrick Wayne were pretty awful.

All in all, it is a watchable effort but doesn't quite work. 5/10 Bethany Cox

Though Big Jake doesn't go down with the greatest of John Wayne's films I put it in the class of The Comancheros which I also found entertaining. This film is the right mixture of chemistry and action. No doubt helped by the fact that John Wayne was surrounded with family literally.

John Wayne is the estranged patriarch of a family who owns a big cattle spread just as he did in McLintock. A gang of kidnappers came on the place while most everyone was on roundup and killed several people and kidnapped Wayne's grandson. Grandmother Maureen O'Hara sends for her estranged husband to deal with the kidnappers as he sees fit. Being this is a John Wayne movie, you already know how that is.

Son Michael Wayne is the producer and sons Patrick and Ethan play Wayne's son and grandson. This is a bit of a change for Patrick Wayne. From back in the days of The Searchers, Pat Wayne always played callow youths in his father's and in other films. Here he's a grown man and quite bitter at his father. The conflict between them crackles on the screen. Christopher Mitchum, the son of another Hollywood icon, plays another Wayne offspring as does Bobby Vinton.

The action flows pretty good here and the tension does not let up for a moment. There are some good comic moments, but they are well integrated into the plot of the story.

Of the Duke's films post his Oscar from True Grit, Big Jake is one of his best and a personal favorite of mine.