Big Jim McLain (1952)

Approved   |    |  Crime, Drama, History

Big Jim McLain (1952) Poster

In the post-war Hawaii, House Un-American Activities Committee investigators Jim McLain and Mal Baxter hunt down Communists.

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  • John Wayne and Nancy Olson in Big Jim McLain (1952)
  • John Wayne in Big Jim McLain (1952)
  • John Wayne and Nancy Olson during the filming of "Big Jim McLain," Warner Bros. 1952.
  • John Wayne and James Arness in Big Jim McLain (1952)
  • John Wayne and Nancy Olson in Big Jim McLain (1952)
  • John Wayne in Big Jim McLain (1952)

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Reviews & Commentary

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User Reviews
30 September 2004 | redeck
Honest Story of the Communist Threat
While the brainwashed elite criticize this story of how Communism threatened the security of America in the 1950s, any unbiased viewer will understand a piece of history that has since been revised.

This movie was made while the liberal elite defended their liberalism by making a straw man of Senator McCarthy. John Wayne understood the real threat of Communism and their spies in America. Making this movie was unpopular then, nevertheless now; Wayne was a brave patriot who should be commended for doing the principled thing, however unpopular.

The liberal politicians and the media has waged war on the fight against communism for 40 years. That repeated mantra of group thinking has obscured the real attitudes of that era. This movie is valuable for the independent minded; it shows a history and culture that Hollywood wants to deny and ignore in the same way the Klan wants to deny and ignore the Holocaust.

It is not Wayne's best film. It is probably the least seen. However, a student of history or a student of Wayne's character should view the movie.

Critic Reviews

Did You Know?

Trivia

According to Scott Eyman, in his John Wayne biography, in Italy the title of this movie was changed to "Marijuana", and the dialogue soundtrack modified to indicate that McLain (John Wayne) was an agent searching for drug smugglers.

Quotes

Poke: I've had a belly full of this East Texas cotton-chopping jerk.
Jim McLain: Did you ever chop cotton?
Poke: Nah, I'm from the country club set. That chopping cotton's for white trash and niggers!

Goofs

Early in the film, when they're flying into the Hawaiian Islands, the stewardess points out Molokai Island "on the left" and Oahu "on the right", but the views out the windows show the opposite. Otherwise, the plane would have to be flying backward.

Crazy Credits

Closing credits epilogue: The Incidents in this motion picture are based on the files of the Committee on Un-American Activities, House of Representatives, Congress of the United States. Names and places have been changed. We gratefully acknowledge the cooperation of this Committee.

Alternate Versions

The version released in Italy and some other European countries is retitled Marijuana and has John Wayne chasing drug smugglers instead of communists.

Soundtracks

(I Wish I Was in) Dixie's Land
(uncredited)
aka "Dixie"
Music by Daniel Decatur Emmett
Played during the opening credits

Storyline

Plot Summary

Genres

Crime | Drama | History | Romance | Thriller

Details

Release Date:

30 August 1952

Language

English

Country of Origin

USA

Filming Locations

Pearl Harbor, O'ahu, Hawaii, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$826,000 (estimated)

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