Terrible acting, screenplay and direction.

best movie i've ever seen.

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

I'm a huge fan of John Wayne and this was the first Wayne western I saw in a theater on first release. It's a treat seeing Wayne and O'Hara again and many of the veteran character actors such as Bruce Cabot, Harry Carey, Jr. and Hank Worden that have appeared in many films with the Duke. Richard Boone also gives a marvelous performance as the vicious villain and he's the perfect foil for Wayne in the film. No one could play a slimy bad-guy like Boone. Having said all that however, this still is not a very good picture. The direction is shoddy (reportedly director Sherman was ill during the shoot and Wayne directed scenes himself), the script weak and many of the performances are sub-par (Patrick Wayne is particularly bad). Most of the humor in the film comes across as forced and some of the violence is kind of gratuitous and in bad taste. This was typical of most of Wayne's 1970's films (the exceptions are the classic "The Shootist" and the underrated "The Cowboys"), he often gave clichéd performances during this era and was mostly just going through the motions and playing his "personna." I almost gagged when I saw an earlier reviewer state that this is better than "The Searchers." Sorry - not even close. Still, it's The Duke and most of the movie is kind of fun - just don't compare it with Wayne's best Westerns. "Stagecoach," "Red River," "Rio Bravo," "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance," and the aforementioned "The Searchers" and "The Shootist" are all miles ahead.

BIG JAKE is another solid western for the dependable John Wayne, here playing up his age as an old-time gunslinger drawn back into action once more when his own son is kidnapped. The film charts the progression of the Old West with the advent of new technology; I never thought I'd be watching motorbike stunts in a John Wayne movie! I loved Wayne's character in this one, as his one-liners are tougher than ever and he has lots of little neat touches, like needing his glasses to read anything and sticking to short-range weapons due to his failing sight. The rest of the story is familiar but the cast is well populated by familiar faces and the action hits home.

I will rate Big Jake as one of the best films of Duke. It is adventurous and funny as well. The story is simple,a person asked by his ex-wife to save her grandson from Bandits who have demanded ransom, but it was entertaining at the same time which was complimented well with acting. The role of was a tailor made for Duke. Hadn't he been in this movie then it wouldn't have been worth watching it. The supporting cast of Patrick Wayne,Christopher Mitchum and Bruce Cabot was excellent. The Richard Boone as the villain was also tremendous and was on par with Duke. The action scenes were first rate and funny. Along with The Shootist and Cowboys this movie can be ranked as one of the best film of Duke of his later career.

Aging Texas cattleman Jake McCandles(John Wayne)is looked upon by some of his peers as being too old to cut the mustard; but this man's man musters into action when ruthless cutthroats led by John Fain(Richard Boone) kidnap his grandson. Big Jake returns to join his estranged family in the search of the youngster called Little Jake. Once again The Duke is paired with the beautiful Maureen O'Hara as his wife; real life son Patrick plays sharpshooting son James. Robert Mitchum's son Christopher plays Big Jake's son Michael. Boone is the perfect villain. And his minions are faithful, but dumb enough to die for him. Plenty of gun play and violence to befit a Wayne western. Beautiful, but rugged scenery filmed entirely in Mexico. Other players include: Glenn Corbett, John Doucette, Jim Davis, Harry Carey, Jr., Bruce Cabot and Wayne's own son Ethan plays Little Jake. Maybe not a big money maker as some, but one of The Duke's most popular movies. I personally consider it one of his best.