Big Jake (1971)

[lawman in sc]

I think I remember seeing this movie several years ago.Near the beginning of the movie where Big Jake is heading home.He rides upon 2 men about to hang a sheep herder.Jake intervenes and one of the 2 men says,who are you?Jake says,Jacob McCandle.The man says thought you was dead.Jake says,Not hardly.
Needsless to say they didn't hang the sheepherder.
But the last several times that I watched this movie this scene wasn't in it.
I know he had the same conversation at the end of the movie with Richard Boone.
Tell me if I am remembering right or did I dream this.

[ethanedwards]

Originally posted by ethanedwards@Jan 24 2006, 10:39 AM
Memorable Quotes
John Fain: Who are you?Jake: Jacob McCandles.
John Fain: I thought you were dead.
Jake: Not hardly.

INFORMATION IMDb

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Hi lawman in sc,
You're quite right, and here it is from the Memorable Quotes thread.
By the way youre post on THE COWBOYS, was blank,

Best Wishes

[chester7777]

One of the best lines from this movie is Duke's "Not hardly!"

The plot of the movie is interesting, with many different aspects. There is a certain amount of comic relief, but it certainly doesn't make up for the extremely bloody, gory scenes. The first time we watched this, it was after having seen at least 20 to 30 JW movies, and the violence and blood were shocking in comparison (but in line with the time period in which the movie was made). For that reason, we don't watch it very often (don't like our young son watching it).

Deep Discount DVD has an older DVD version of the film, for under $8.

Amazon offers the newer DVD, part of Paramount's John Wayne Collection that includes the released-just-last-year The High and the Mighty, Island in the Sky, Hondo, McLintock, and probably other titles as well. I suspect the newer DVD has some special features not available on the earlier one.

Chester

[falc04]

Originally posted by lawman in sc@Jan 29 2006, 04:59 PM
I think I remember seeing this movie several years ago.Near the beginning of the movie where Big Jake is heading home.He rides upon 2 men about to hang a sheep herder.Jake intervenes and one of the 2 men says,who are you?Jake says,Jacob McCandle.The man says thought you was dead.Jake says,Not hardly.
Needsless to say they didn't hang the sheepherder.
But the last several times that I watched this movie this scene wasn't in it.
I know he had the same conversation at the end of the movie with Richard Boone.
Tell me if I am remembering right or did I dream this.

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And you could also add another 'goof' to this part of the film as well. When Duke rides in to save the sheepherder and his boy from hanging, he asks the man if his sheep are for sale. The man replies yes, whereas the Duke says he'll give him $100 now, and $300 more when they reach market. As the scene plays out, it's apparent that Duke never gave the sheepherder the $100.

As for the whole movie, it's always been a favorite. Although, I do agree with others in that the opening kidnapping was a little too violent for my taste (did we really need to see Harry Carey Jr. shoot a defenseless mexican boy?). Also, not having JW make his first appearance in the film till almost 20 minutes goes by was just too long. If, as stated, they had to cut 30 minutes from the final version, why not cut down on this long played-out scene, and keep the ones involving Maureen and Duke. Also, Patrick Wayne seemed to be rather weak in his acting in the film. His scene where he is called a coward in the bar was proof of that. As someone else mentioned, James Caan would have elevated the role much more.

but all in all, still a good film. my rating...8/10

[InHarmsWay]

This was on the BOOK channel last night, and I watched it twice (back2back).

"i thought you were dead"
"Not, hardly!!"


-IHW

[Bek]

I watched this movie for the first time tonight, I thought it was a good film, although a couple of changes could have been made, Duke seemed very relaxed in this movie, if that makes sense.

[The Ringo Kid]

Originally posted by Bek@Mar 17 2006, 07:32 AM
I watched this movie for the first time tonight, I thought it was a good film, although a couple of changes could have been made, Duke seemed very relaxed in this movie, if that makes sense.

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Hi Bek, I grew up watching this movie over-and-over again. I never tire of it. I think The Duke had a great time making this film as many of the people he worked with were vets of his movies and he knew that they knew what he wanted.

Some of my favorite lines from this movie:

1) Man trying to hang the Sheepherder: "Mister, you shouldn't stick your nose into others business...you really shouldn't. If it's one thing that I like hanging a sheepherder it's hanging someone who sticks his nose into my business." Big Jake: "No you got me scared......(throws pocket-knife which sticks in the tree trunk) you do it."

2) "He fired his six shots its safe to come out."

3) "Now you understand....Anything goes wrong....anything at all, your fault my fault nobody's fault....IM going to blow your head off. It's just as simple as that, no matter what happens no matter who gets killed, IM going to blow your head off."

To quote just a few. :D

[Robbie]

This movie was one of John Wayne's most financially successful of the 1970's. I can't help but sometimes think of what the movie would have been like with a better director such as Rydell or Siegel. I also believe it was a mistake to cut out the scenes of Maureen O'hara at the end of the movie as her role is meerly an extended cameo.

[DukePilgrim]

Maureen O Hara in her book thought it had the potential to be a great film and that through bad editing they made a mess of it.

Now, how much of her gripes were caused by her role being the most edited is up for debate but she did come out of retirement to make the film so the property must have been strong enough initially to let her make that decision.

As Robbie, has said before a better director, tighter script with less comedy and a stronger cast would have enhanced the movie.

[Robbie]

Mike

Interesting point Mike, I wonder how much was actually edited from the movie, is the original script for the movie available to read?

[DukePilgrim]

Hi Robbie

If the footage still exists I would imagine it would be in rough form.

The best bet is an actual script

Best

Mike

[bopoppa]

I really think this is Duke at his accumalative best. I actually like all of the other cast members and enjoyed the lighter moments. This is the first of Duke's pictures that I ever remember watching, so maybe I'm not being very objective. As far as Duke goes, I believe it is one of his smoothest performances, you could just feel he was on top of his game. Not enough scenes with Richard Boone or Maureen although I feel the scenes he had with her was an extension of McClintock. Overall, my favorite Duke movie.
Bo

[General Sterling Price]

We have watched Big Jake probably 20 times, and we still have a tough time accounting for the death of all the outlaws. There were nine men at the beginning, one killed during the rampage at the McCandles ranch...leaving eight. Then as we counted them off at the end, it seems like there should be one left. But then maybe the goof mentioned on page one of this thread explains it, in that only seven rode away from the McCandles ranch, though only one was killed. Is it possible that someone else was killed and they cut the scene? Anybody know which character introduced at the beginning is the one that went missing? Next time I watch it, I am gonna write it all down, and check them off as they go.

GSP

[General Sterling Price]

I went back and tried to do some more research on my question about the death of the outlaws...there were nine at the start of the raid of the McCandles ranch...

John Fain - Michael shot him at the end of the film
Will Fain - Jake shot him at the start of the big shootout
"Pop" Dawson - James shot him standing in a doorway during shootout
John Goodfellow - Jake got him with a pitchfork at the end of the big shootout
Trooper - Sam shot him from atop a wall during big shootout
"Kid" Duffy - Michael shot him off the bell-tower
O'Brien - James shot him off a rock during big shootout
Billy Devries - Shot during the opening raid on the McCandles ranch
Walt Devries - ?? The mystery bandit...whatever happened to him?

As was said earlier, only 7 are shown to leave the McCandles ranch, and I have yet to try and count them later in the film. I will have to watch closer next time...unless someone else can solve this mystery.

GSP

[Robbie]

Hi GSP

Jakes young son who gets badly injured at the start of the movie is the man who shoots Walt Devries, its young Billy whom we are unsure about what happened.

I think the two Devries brothers should have been kept alive until the final shootout as it would have made it a little more interesting.