commies - 0, big jim - 2

Not singling out any fellow reviewer (or naming names, as it were), but if we as well-intentioned movie-watchers can't look past the politics motivating a particular flick (pro or con), then we ought to recuse ourselves from rating it. It only serves to muddy the waters for folks who want to know by objective standards if a film is worth checking out. In the case of 'Big Jim McLain,' I'm afraid, as gung-ho a fan of the Duke's as I am-- and ardently anti-pinko-- there isn't much to recommend here. It's a cold-war hash with elements of police procedural, espionage thriller and action-romance that has little in terms of dramatic flesh to sink your teeth into. In fact, aside from Wayne's leading-man charm, which is ever-present and estimable, there's not much holding this potboiler together at all. Perhaps the only memorable scenes come in the form of comic asides featuring, respectively, floozy extraordinaire Madge played by Veda Ann Borg and mental patient Mr. Henried (Hans Conried). For those of us who believe in traditional American ideals, it's quaint and refreshing to hear much of the patriotic dialogue and narration, but as entertainment 'Big Jim' simply doesn't make the cut.

BIG JIM MCLAIN

As one of John Wayne earlier movies I found it very slow moving a long.

big Jim McClain

Big Jim McClain
The Movie
Here we have John Wayne in a propaganda film about why you should hate communists. He plays and agent of homeland security bent on breaking the communist groups of America. It comes off as a hate film to be honest and as a fan of the Duke I don't like this side of him at all. It is easy to see why they took so long to release this film to DVD. Its one not a very good movie and two full of stereo types that in its day I guess was necessary.

The Video
It's presented in Full Frame Black and white. It has a lot of blips and a little flicker in the picture they did not put anything into correcting the films need for restorations. It is a very poor transfer.

The Audio
1.0 mono which is just as well cause it's not that great to listen to anyhow.

The Extras
So You Want To Enjoy Life
This is a Story of a guy who wants to die because he only has 30 days to live. Well it's on the DVD why I have no clue its really not that funny. It's like one long joke that runs about 15 minutes...lol it's actually better than the movie though.

The Super Snooper
A classic Daffy Duck as a private eye we have all seen a million times good one to have.

Theatrical Trailer
Just what the movie is about shows they weren't as good as today. For the life of me I don't understand why they include um if they aren't going to clean them up.