History Film / BigJake

Not one of [[Creator/JohnWayne The Duke]]'s most famous Westerns, it is an interesting treat for dedicated fans. it was made relatively late in the careers of most of those involved, Wayne and his colleagues brought their many years of experience in making Westerns to bear on ''Big Jake'', resulting in a competently-made, easygoing, consistently entertaining film. In addition to older, experienced Western actors, the film also featured two of John Wayne's [[RealLifeRelative real-life sons]], as well as the son of Creator/RobertMitchum. [[CrowningMusicofAwesome The score was pretty good too]].

A 1971 [[TheWestern Western]] movie starring Creator/JohnWayne, Richard Boone, and Creator/MaureenOHara. In 1909, a gang of brutal ruffians led by John Fain (Boone) violently kidnaps the grandson of Martha [=McCandles=] (O'Hara), who runs a large and lucrative cattle ranching operation. When the thugs demand a ransom, Mrs. [=McCandles=] decides it is time to call in her long-lost husband, Jacob [=McCandles=] (Wayne)- a [[BadassGrandpa rough and unpleasant man]], to do a rough and unpleasant job.

Not one of [[Creator/JohnWayne The Duke]]'s most famous Westerns, it is an interesting treat for dedicated fans. Made relatively late in the careers of most of those involved, Wayne and his colleagues brought their many years of experience in making Westerns to bear on ''Big Jake'', resulting in a competently-made, easygoing, consistently entertaining film. In addition to older, experienced Western actors, the film also featured two of John Wayne's [[RealLifeRelative real-life sons]], as well as the son of Creator/RobertMitchum. [[CrowningMusicofAwesome The score was pretty good too]].

* BadassFamily: The [=McCandles=]s' are tougher than the Texas Rangers apparently
* BadassGrandpa: Jacob [=McCandles=] is a literal example of this trope.

* OnlyAFleshWound: Many, many times. The only really realistic example is when Jacob's son James [[ForrestGump takes a barrel full of buckshot in the arse]].

* ADogNamedDog: Played by one of {{Lassie}}'s offspring!

Set in [[TheEdwardianEra 1909]], rather than the 19th century, like most Westerns, ''Big Jake'' deals tangentially with [[TwilightOfTheWildWest the closing of the American West and the ''end'' of the age of cowboy heroes like those played by John Wayne throughout his career.]] Automobiles, motorcycles, oil wells, and semi-automatic pistols all make appearances, and Jacob [=McCandles=] (as well as his Indian companion, Sam) are both old and grey, worn out by years of hard living.

Set in [[TheEdwardianEra 1909]], rather than the 19th century, like most Westerns, ''Big Jake'' deals tangentially with the closing of the American West and the ''end'' of the age of cowboy heroes like those played by John Wayne throughout his career. Automobiles, motorcycles, oil wells, and semi-automatic pistols all make appearances, and Jacob [=McCandles=] (as well as his Indian companion, Sam) are both old and grey, worn out by years of hard living.

* AutomatonHorses: Averted when Jacob tells one of his sons to use a blanket on a horse, rather than riding bareback:
--> Jake: Throw a blanket over 'im.
--> James: I can ride without a blanket.
--> Jake: I'm not worrying about your butt! It's his back!

A 1971 [[TheWestern Western]] movie starring Creator/JohnWayne, Richard Boone, and Maureen O'Hara. In 1909, a gang of brutal ruffians led by John Fain (Boone) violently kidnaps the grandson of Martha [=McCandles=] (O'Hara), who runs a large and lucrative cattle ranching operation. When the thugs demand a ransom, Mrs. [=McCandles=] decides it is time to call in her long-lost husband, Jacob [=McCandles=] (Wayne)- a [[BadassGrandpa rough and unpleasant man]], to do a rough and unpleasant job.

* DeadpanSnarker: Big Jake, as per every JohnWayne character.

A 1971 [[TheWestern Western]] movie starring JohnWayne, Richard Boone, and Maureen O'Hara. In 1909, a gang of brutal ruffians led by John Fain (Boone) violently kidnaps the grandson of Martha [=McCandles=] (O'Hara), who runs a large and lucrative cattle ranching operation. When the thugs demand a ransom, Mrs. [=McCandles=] decides it is time to call in her long-lost husband, Jacob [=McCandles=] (Wayne)- a [[BadassGrandpa rough and unpleasant man]], to do a rough and unpleasant job.

Not one of [[JohnWayne The Duke]]'s most famous Westerns, it is an interesting treat for dedicated fans. Made relatively late in the careers of most of those involved, Wayne and his colleagues brought their many years of experience in making Westerns to bear on ''Big Jake'', resulting in a competently-made, easygoing, consistently entertaining film. In addition to older, experienced Western actors, the film also featured two of John Wayne's [[RealLifeRelative real-life sons]], as well as the son of Creator/RobertMitchum. [[CrowningMusicofAwesome The score was pretty good too]].

* AnswerCut: Martha noting that for this "harsh and unpleasant" affair, they'll need "a harsh and unpleasant kind of man" (and she knows exactly the right one). Cut to Jake's intro scene with his rifle at the ready and a {{Badass}} scowl, with his {{Leitmotif}} playing.

Not one of [[JohnWayne The Duke]]'s most famous Westerns, it is an interesting treat for dedicated fans. Made relatively late in the careers of most of those involved, Wayne and his colleagues brought their many years of experience in making Westerns to bear on ''Big Jake'', resulting in a competently-made, easygoing, consistently entertaining film. In addition to older, experienced Western actors, the film also featured two of John Wayne's [[{{Nepotism}} real-life sons]], as well as the son of Creator/RobertMitchum. [[CrowningMusicofAwesome The score was pretty good too]].

* BeserkButton:

Not one of [[JohnWayne The Duke]]'s most famous Westerns, it is an interesting treat for dedicated fans. Made relatively late in the careers of most of those involved, Wayne and his colleagues brought their many years of experience in making Westerns to bear on ''Big Jake'', resulting in a competently-made, easygoing, consistently entertaining film. In addition to older, experienced Western actors, the film also featured two of John Wayne's [[{{Nepotism}} real-life sons]], as well as the son of RobertMitchum. [[CrowningMusicofAwesome The score was pretty good too]].

* [[spoiler: [[YouSaidYouWouldLetThemGo You Said You Would Let Him Go]]]]: Actually [[spoiler: [[InvertedTrope inverted]]]] in this case.

* [[spoiler: BigDamnHeroes: The party that comes to ransom Little Jake instead just kills the kidnappers and takes him back without paying]].

* ADogNamedDog

* MadeOfIron: The machete-wielding kidnapper is [[spoiler: attacked by an angry dog (twice!), shot with a pistol (also twice), stabbed in the stomach with a knife, and finally dies after being stabbed in the stomach with a pitchfork]].

->''"They wanted gold. He gave them [[spoiler: lead instead]]!"''

* [[HotMom Hot Grandma]]: Maureen O'Hara.

** With more then a bit of IronLady as well.

* BadassFamily: The [=McCandles=]s' are tougher then the Texas Rangers apparently

* SomebodyElsesProblem: "I haven't interfered in anybody's business since I was eighteen year old... and it damn near got me killed."

* KickTheDog: Several. In one instance, a member of lynch mob gratuitously kicks a young boy, prompting Big Jake to get involved in the situation, when previously he had viewed the situation as SomebodyElsesProblem. There are also several examples involving the gang of kidnappers, the most egregious of which belong to the machete-wielding [[FatBastard overweight]] kidnapper. One of these [[spoiler: involves an actual dog]].

* PhraseCatcher: "I thought you was dead." Possibly alluded to by ''EscapeFromNewYork'', made about 10 years later.