Average Rating: 
Rating:  - don't call him DADDY!!!!!!!!!
This film is one of the better later-day John Wayne films, though strangely violent for a Wayne film. The Duke stars Jacob MacCandles (maybe a reflection of his real life family situation) as a tough man, estranged from his wife and grown sons. Bobby Vinton gives a quickie performance as Wayne's eldest son, shot when (the great) Richard Boone and his band of cutthroats nearly slaughter all on Jacob's ranch in the kidnapping of his grandson (played by Wayne youngest son Ethan). Patrick Wayne, his real son, plays second eldest son and youngest son, Michael, is played by Christopher Mitchum (Robert Mitchum's son!).In tow are Wayne regulars, Harry Carey (disgusting tobacco chewing baddie), Bruce Cabot as the Indian tracker showing age with Jacob, Glen Corbett as breed the fast gun that faces off against Patrick Wayne in a gun fight, the most natural actor to ever grace the screen, the late Richard Boone, and a lovely appearance by the eternally beautiful Maureen O'Hara, once again playing John's long suffering wife whot loves him, but cannot live with him. It is super to watch Wayne with Cabot, Carey, Boone and O'Hara, and Jim Davis (later rose to fame once more as Jock Ewing of Dallas) and though the film is intensely violent, I don't see it was gratuitous. The violence came from the end of a very violent era, times were changing, but not fast enough. The violence of the kidnappers had to be there to show Wayne's to-the-wall rescue of his small grandson was called for. Wayne's character was a violent man when the times called for it, but it was just as willing to let things go - if ONLY the other person walked away. He worked well with his sons and Mitchum, and the interaction between Jacob and his two sons provides the Wayne brand humour in the film. The times were changing for the code of the old west, and in the same way, times were changing for John Wayne.... I give Wayne credit for not pulling punches in a film that does him credit.
Rating: - John Wayne is Back in True Form as Big Jake
This is one of the last traditional John Wayne Westerns. He's a little older but he's still tall in the saddle and commands the screen. Estranged legendary patriarch, Big Jake (John Wayne) reunites with his family to recover his grandson, Little Jake. Richard Boone, the leader of the kidnappers turns in a good performance as the personable but menacing villain. Boone and Wayne exchange some of the best cliched dialogue ever put on film. It's pure good old-fashioned Saturday matinee stuff. The film is also highlighted by Elmer Bernstein's best score for a Wayne Western since his "The Comancheros" and "The Sons of Katie Elder." This film also features Maureen O'Hara, Patrick Wayne, Chris Mitchum, Bruce Cabot and Bobby Vinton. This was director George Sherman's last film. There are some great scenes in this film. This is one of my favorite John Wayne Westerns.
Rating:  - Violent Duke Wayne western.
The Duke's most violent film, and from its television ratings one of his most popular. This film is very violent for a Duke Wayne film featuring not only the standard fistfights and shoot'em ups, but also pitchforks and machetes. This is also one of those Batjac movies (Duke's production company)whose cast and crew is filled with his friends, his sons, and the sons of his friends. (The role of Big Jake's grandson is played by the Duke's youngest son, Ethan.)Despite the violence and nepotism, this a superior western and one of the Duke's better films in latter part of his career. It's fast paced, fun, has great action scenes, and the ending is terrific. John Wayne is awesome as a man with definite flaws as a parent; but when his family really needs him there is no one better to have around when the chips are down. His final confrontation with the head villain (played by the always terrific Richard Boone) is fantastic. The movie also marks the fifth and final pairing of Maureen O'Hara and John Wayne as an onscreen couple.
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