BIG JIM McLAIN
US, 1952, 90 minutes, Black and white.
John Wayne, Nancy Olson, James Arness, Alan Napier, Veda Ann Borg, Hans Conried, Gayne Whitman.
Directed by Edward Ludwig.
Big Jim Mc Lain is often considered one of the worst of John Wayne's films. It was made in the early '50s, a support from Hollywood for the House of Un American Activities Investigations. It is strongly right-wing, gung-ho in its screenplay, very patriotic in the style of the times.
Because the film was made as propaganda, it is stuck in its own time and does not make an impact as drama in later times. However, it is an interesting example of Hollywood supporting the witch-hunts of the period, the atmosphere of the Cold War and the paranoia about Communists in the United States. The film has Hawaiian settings, has James Arness as Wayne's offsider, Nancy Olson as heroine, Alan Napier as villain.
1.The popularity of John Wayne? The All- American hero? The atmosphere of the '50s and his being a Cold War hero?
2.The background of the Cold War, concern about Communists, the house investigations about unAmerican activities? The prelude to the McCarthy? inquiries? The film as a drama of its time? Propaganda?
3.The genre of the police investigation, going to Hawaii, local leads, the confrontation with the villains, the violence? The background romance?
4.John Wayne and his style, invincible? The background of his work, the agency? The cases? James Arness as his buddy? In Honolulu, the background, the locals? The encounter with Nancy - and the romance?
5.The picture of the hearings, the real hearings, reconstructed? The atmosphere in the United States at the time?
6.The bugging, the investigations, James Arness and his zeal, having Wayne's associate die? The emotional pathos reinforcing the propaganda?
7.The doctor, the Communists, their goals, the cells, their meetings, the insanity, the truck driver, the arrest, the expose?
8.The contrast with the humour of McLain? and the interactions with his landlady?
9.The picture of the man scientist, his ambitions, the threat to the US - reminiscent of the Saturday matinee serial mad scientists?
10.The ending of the film, all in order, patriotism revisited, the unAmerican activities progressing, the American hero conquering, the romance flourishing? A '50s propaganda movie?
