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John Wayne, Richard Boone, Maureen O'Hara, Patrick Wayne, Christopher Mitchum ... see more see more... , Bruce Cabot , John Agar , Jim Burk , Virginia Capers , Harry Carey Jr. , Glenn Corbett , Jim Davis , John Doucette , Bernard Fox , Roy Jenson , John McLiam , Gregg Palmer , Dean Smith , Bobby Vinton , William Walker , Robert Warner , Ethan Wayne , Hank Worden , Everett Creach , Jerry Gatlin , Don Epperson , Tom Hennessy , Chuck Robertson

When his grandson (played by real-life son Ethan Wayne) is kidnapped by scurrilous baddie Richard Boone, Big Jake (John Wayne) sets out to deliver the $1 million ransom. On the off-chance that there'l... read more read more...l be gunplay, Jake brings along his sons Patrick Wayne and Chris Mitchum. Maureen O'Hara plays Jake's estranged wife and Bruce Cabot provides comedy relief as a scraggly Indian Scout. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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24% want to see it

12,260 ratings

PG-13, 1 hr. 49 min.

Directed by: George Sherman

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DVD Release Date: April 29, 2003

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Flixster Reviews (538)

  • deano
    August 20, 2007
    deano
    One of my best and favourite John Wayne's action-filled western films. This film was a family affair for John Wayne.
  • burgerstar
    June 29, 2011
    burgerstar
    This might be my favorite movie by the Duke.
  • ashleymh007
    July 28, 2007
    ashleymh007
    Gotta love John Wayne..."Don't you ever call me Daddy!" Its a great old western.
  • chadroesti
    April 28, 2009
    chadroesti
    Who are you?
    Jake: Jacob McCandles.
    John Fain: I thought you were dead.
    Jake: Not hardly.

    This movie has John Wayne as Big Jake McCandles who has left his family on his mega ranch years ago to go screw around out west. Some bandits from south of the border attack his house... read morehold and kidnap his grandson for a $1 Million ransom. Well here come Grandpa to save the day (with the help of his older sons who are more than a little reluctant to listen to him) and do whatever he has to get Little Jake back.

    There are plenty of funny lines and famous Duke lines in this one. Recommended Highly!

    I think this is my favorite John Wayne movie. They are all good but this one is the best for me. Unlike most of you people on this site, I grew up with one TV with 13 channels (and that was with cable!). I think that upped to 45 or so by the time I went to college. and then I just couldn't afford it. The point is, everytime a John Wayne movie was on, we watched it.
    We didn't grow up watching these serial rape/torture/murder movies like Saw, Hostel, etc. John Wayne and similar movies were it. The thing you got out of his movies were not only the action and wars and gunfights, but also had family values, pride in your country, sticking up for yourself and those not able to help themselves, doing things right, and basically just not putting up with anyone's shit.Yes, it was more black and white and there was always a clearly defined bad guy, but there wasn't always a perfect resolution.
  • threefolddado
    March 4, 2008
    threefolddado
    One of the few John Wayne movies I actually dig.
  • ancestry80
    November 24, 2009
    ancestry80
    Big Jake is one of my favorites. I know it's not a masterpiece by any means, but there's some great action. Plus, Richard Boone was a great actor, and in this one he is meaner than a snake. The Duke is great too, even though he's a bit long in the tooth. A great western.
  • jscottcorley
    September 5, 2009
    jscottcorley
    This movie is a little corny but great. Patrick Wayne plays his father's son. Jacob McCandles is a bad mammajamma.
  • jackgiantkillr
    July 30, 2009
    jackgiantkillr
    Not a great John Wayne movie by any stretch...still I always watch the stupid thing. Maybe I just like Richard Boone as the gang leader.
  • Bluec45
    May 18, 2009
    Bluec45
    This was an ok movie. Not one of my favorite John Wayne movies. But heck they all can't be my favorite. LOL
  • placeinthesun455
    December 27, 2008
    placeinthesun455
    really unfortunate writing--no gift for dialogue and exposition at all. the acting wasn't really top-notch either. the story, somewhat reminiscent of The Searchers, was passable and the ending was surprisingly violent given the tone of the rest of the film. the attempt at a hu... read moremour value did very little for me--seemed more campy and cliched than actually funny. a classic Western to be sure with some definite highlights, but this one definitely felt a little off for me.

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Critic Reviews

Emanuel Levy
November 2, 2007
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

A second rate Western, more interesting for its biographical elements, the film co-stars Wayne's own son as well as sons of Robert Mitchum and other friends, all getting the usual lessons in macho mor... Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
January 6, 2006
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Wayne gets little help from anyone else but Boone and can't pull off such a slight story line by his lonesome. Full Review

Widgett Walls
June 6, 2005
Widgett Walls, Needcoffee.com

Very enjoyable, underrated western.

Steve Crum
January 2, 2005
Steve Crum, Kansas City Kansan

Rowdy shootem' up has Duke in boot-stridin' form.

Howard Thompson
May 10, 2005
Howard Thompson, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

February 9, 2006
Time Out

Click to read the article Full Review

May 24, 2003
Film4

Click to read the article Full Review

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    • Jacob McCandles: You can call me Father, you can call me Jacob, you can call me Jake. You can call me a dirty son-of-a-bitch, but if you EVER call me Daddy again, I'll finish this fight.
    • Jacob McCandles: Not hardly.
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Big Jake Trivia

  • In which movie is Jake Gyllenhall plagued with disturbing dreams of a big scary rabbit?  Answer »
  • What John Wayne movie featured two of his sons?  Answer »
  • Name the actor: The Searchers Big Jake The Horse Soldiers El Derado  Answer »
  • What do these movie's have in common? Rubber Face Batman Forever Earth Girls Are Easy Dumb N' Dumber Liar Liar Big Jake  Answer »
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