“Well, son, since you haven’t learned to respect your elders, it’s time you learned to respect your betters.” —Jacob McCandles.
Today’s quick review: Big Jake. When a band of outlaws led by John Fain (Richard Boone) raids the McCandles ranch and kidnaps her grandson Jake (Ethan Wayne), Martha McCandles (Maureen O’Hara) asks her estranged husband Jacob (John Wayne) to deliver the $1 million ransom. With the help of his sons James (Patrick Wayne) and Michael (Christopher Mitchum) and his old friend Sam (Bruce Cabot), Jacob sets out to save the boy one way or another.
Big Jake is a Western about an expedition to save a boy who was kidnapped and held for ransom. John Wayne stars as Jacob McCandles, a stern man with the experience needed to manage all sorts of dangerous situations. Whipping his sons into shape, he must navigate traps and ambushes to deliver the money and rescue his grandson. In spite of a few rough spots with its writing and acting, Big Jake tells a satisfying story with solid foundations.
Much of Big Jake’s appeal comes from its lead. John Wayne delivers a commanding performance, and his character’s feats are impressive without being unbelievable. The movie plays up the clash between his old-fashioned attitude and the more modern sensibilities of 1909. The theme of old versus new is not as fully explored as it could have been, but Jacob’s competence and the use of some newer technology helps the movie strike a good balance.
Big Jake makes some minor missteps that don’t detract too much from the overall experience. The writing can be choppy in places, tending towards blunt summary and exposition rather than the artful, understated dialogue seen in other films. The acting has the same problem, sketching coarse portraits of the characters rather than building them up organically. These issues are not too distracting, but they give the movie a rough sort of character.
Big Jake is a fine pick for fans of the Western genre and John Wayne in particular. The movie is direct and unambiguous, but its plot is effective and its lead is enough to carry it. Those looking for more poetic writing and artistic direction should try the work of Sergio Leone. For a more adventurous Western that involves a man protecting his family, try Silverado. For a more violent movie about a man hunting down kidnappers, try Taken.
[7.2 out of 10 on IMDB](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0066831/). I give it a 7.0 for a solid story with a capable lead.