George Sherman directed and Harry and Rita Fink wrote Big Jake, a film featuring John Wayne, Richard Boone, Patrick Wayne, Christopher Mitchum, and Maureen O’Hara. Elmer Bernstein composed the music, with William H. Clothier serving as cinematographer. The movie was filmed in Panavision and Technicolor, primarily in Durango, Mexico. The story centers on Duke Wayne portraying Jake McCandles, a hardened rancher and gunfighter who has distanced himself from his family and wanders the West with his dog. When outlaws led by John Fain (Boone) raid the McCandles ranch and kidnap Little Jake for ransom, Jake’s separated wife Martha (O'Hara) summons him to rescue her grandson, which he does alongside two of his sons. Some critics believed John Wayne should have stopped acting before the 1970s began, a perspective that seems short-sighted given his later work like The Shootist in 1976. It’s true that many of the ten films he made during the 1970s are forgettable, but Big Jake isn't one of them. While the plot is familiar and the film has a higher level of violence than some previous John Wayne movies, and the tone can be uneven, the performances from Wayne and Boone are strong, and the action and sense of brotherhood more than make up for its predictability. The film’s setting, near the end of the Old West era, is also notable; it shows aspects of the Wild West being civilized with things like railroads and automobiles. The protagonist and antagonist are old-fashioned figures set against a backdrop of change, which benefits from Wayne and Boone's experienced portrayals. Clothier and Bernstein’s contributions to the Western genre are well known, and they deliver here, providing excellent visuals and music. Maureen O’Hara also adds something special, appearing with her friend Duke Wayne for what would be their last collaboration on film. Despite all the violence, there's a lot of fun to be found, both from the banter between Duke and his sons and some unintentional humor like watching the dog act better than Robert Mitchum’s and Duke’s children! Overall, if you don’t expect something like The Searchers or Hondo, then this is an enjoyable way to spend an afternoon. It earns a rating of 7/10. Interestingly, I've noticed that John Carpenter may have taken inspiration from Big Jake for Escape from New York; both films feature a recurring joke about characters believing the protagonist is dead. It seems like a deliberate nod to this film.

Source on TMDB