Big Jake

Set in the year 1909, Jacob "Big Jake" McCandles (John Wayne) is an aging rancher and near-legendary gunfighter estranged from his family. Their ranch is raided by a ruthless gang of outlaws led by John Fain (Richard Boone). They kidnap Jacob's grandson Little Jake (Ethan Wayne), for ransom, murdering ranch hands and wounding his eldest son, Jeff (Bobby Vinton). Martha McCandles (Maureen O'Hara) summons Jacob. Jacob and his wife have been separated for nearly 10 years. Jacob arrives by train and he and Martha discuss a plan to take the ransom to the kidnappers and for Jacob to return with the boy. Jacob warns that "Pay or not, we run the risk of never seeing the boy again". Martha has what is well known as a million dollars in a big red strongbox. Jacob is to deliver the box to the kidnappers. Jacob is packed quickly and ready to go. The Texas Rangers are close at hand ready to attempt a rescue, as is Jacob's son James McCandles (John Wayne's real-life son Patrick Wayne), whose initial greeting of Jake reveals a somewhat strained relationship. Michael McCandles (Christopher Mitchum) arrives by motorcycle and tells Martha that he saw the little boy alive. He suggests the Rangers can use automobiles to set an ambush for the kidnappers. Buck (John Doucette) and the Rangers try to get Jacob to come along with them. Jacob is old fashioned and goes at things his own way. The Rangers take off to set the trap in their new automobiles and are themselves ambushed at the very place they were to ambush the kidnappers. Jacob, his dog and Sam Sharpnose (Bruce Cabot) come along and assist the ambushed and now wounded Rangers. James decides he better go with Jacob. The three set out to find Michael who seems to have wrecked or crashed the motorcycle during the ambush. They find him and he is unhurt, until Jacob realizes he IS unhurt at which time he flattens Michael twice—once for scaring him out of 10 years of his life and again for risking the grandson's life. While McCandles starts off estranged from his sons, and punching them around, they become united in this quest, and each make vital contributions. Through this quest many attempts are made to steal the money from the McCandles' party. Finally after being met by Fain, the McCandles' are in an Oil Boom town in Mexico. The kidnappers are close by. Others attempt to rob the McCandles of the box in the hotel. Sam and Michael foil the attempt but during which time the lock is blown on the strongbox revealing not money but newspaper clippings. Jacob then explains to the boys that he and Martha never intended to pay the ransom. They repair the lock and a representative (Pop Dawson) (Harry Carey Jr.) of the kidnappers comes to escort them to the meeting place. The group proceeds tensely, and with extreme caution, as they only have a short time before it is discovered that they did not bring the money, in which case they will have to move quickly to save the life of their grandson and nephew. Once inside the battle is on between good and evil. As in most Wayne movies, good prevails but not without a price. Little Jake is rescued and the kidnappers are dead. Sam Sharpnose is killed during the fight, as well as the dog. Jacob, Little Jake, James and Michael all go home.