Big Jake (1971) Novelization

In this action-filled western, John Wayne stars as Big Jake McCandles, a husband who hasn't seen his wife (Maureen O'Hara) in over 18 years. But he returns home after his grandson is kidnapped by a vicious outlaw gang. While the law gives chase in rickety automobiles, Jake saddles up with an Indian scout (Bruce Cabot) and a box of money - even though paying a ransom isn't how Jake plans to exact good old frontier justice. Spiced with humor and first-class gunfights, this is a vivid depiction of the last days of the wild frontier. Wayne's oldest son produced Big Jake and two other sons, Patrick and John Ethan, appear in it. The film also marks the second time Richard Boone and John Wayne worked together and the fifth time Wayne worked with Maureen O'Hara.

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This novelization is somewhat different than the film. I am not a fan of the film, finding it one of the lesser John Wayne films--too jokey and has the look of a made for television movie. This novelization reads much more seriously. When I took another look at the film after converting this, I was surprised to see how brightly lit the film is. The book comes across as 'darker' in every aspect--it reads more like HIGH PLAINS DRIFTER than the PG-rated family film the movie turned out to be. The violence is more realistic, and Wayne's character is tougher in a more realistic way. The absence of the jokey music score also helps change the tone. Additional work was done to the script, as the final film is a great deal more sentimental than this book is.

Worth reading.

Missouri Breaks

Directed by Arthur Penn.   Written by Thomas McGuane (and an uncredited Robert Towne according to IMDB.)  Stars Marlon Brando, Jack Nicholson, Randy Quaid, Kathleen Lloyd, Fredric Forrest, Harry Dean Stanton.
1976, 126 minutes, Color, Rated R.

I guess this is really when Brando's reported boredom with acting came to a head.  As written his character was threatening and downright evil and if Brando had gone down that road it probably would have ranked as one of the all time great movie villains.  But that would have been too easy I suppose, for Brando goes off on an idiosyncratic tangent that transforms the character into something altogether different.  I've read that if you just accept that Brando's character is insane the movie is a lot easier to take, but I don't think that's entirely correct.  Granted, his character is somewhat deranged, but insane?  I don't think so.  Damaged is more accurate.

Nicholson is outstanding in this movie, and I personally dug Brando.  Kathleen Lloyd is also in it, and I liked her as well.  The setting is the 1880's and the film depicts this with aplomb.  Arthur Penn directed it and I'd be interested in reading what his experience making this movie was like.