New Release: Big Jake, Rio Lobo Blu-ray

Rio Lobo

Two John Wayne westerns made their high-definition debut on May 31, 2011, when Paramount Home Entertainment released Big Jake and Rio Lobo on Blu-ray.

Released in 1970 and 1971, respectively — a year after 1969’s True Grit — Rio Lobo and Big Jake are two of the later movies from Wayne’s extensive resume.

In Rio Lobo, director Howard Hawks’ (Gentlemen Prefer Blondes) last film, Wayne plays Col. Cord McNally, who, after the Civil War, goes in search of the traitor who caused the defeat of McNally’s unit and the loss of a close friend. The movie is rated G.

PG-13 rated, adventure film Big Jake stars Wayne as the titular Jacob McCandles, whose ranch is overrun by a gang of cutthroats led by the evil John Fain (Richard Boone). The gang kidnaps Jake’s son and hold him for a million-dollar ransom, and Jake must save him. The movie also stars Maureen O’Hara (Miracle on 34th Street) as Jake’s wife.

Each film was priced at $24.99 on Blu-ra.

The Blu-ray discs come out a week before the remake of True Grit, which bowed on DVD and Blu-ray on June 7, 2011.

Here’s a scene from Rio Lobo, showing the Duke in action:

Buy or Rent Big Jake
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Buy or Rent Rio Lobo
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