''The Law and Jake Wade'' is a 1958 American
Western
Western may refer to:
Places
*Western, Nebraska, a village in the US
*Western, New York, a town in the US
*Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia
*Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia
*Western world, countries that id ...
film released in
Metrocolor by
MGM in
CinemaScope
CinemaScope is an anamorphic lens series used, from 1953 to 1967, and less often later, for shooting widescreen films that, crucially, could be screened in theatres using existing equipment, albeit with a lens adapter. Its creation in 1953 by ...
. It is based on the 1956 novel by
Marvin H. Albert and directed by
John Sturges
John Eliot Sturges (; January 3, 1910 – August 18, 1992) was an American film director. His films include ''Bad Day at Black Rock'' (1955), '' Gunfight at the O.K. Corral'' (1957), '' The Magnificent Seven'' (1960), '' The Great Escape'' (19 ...
. The film was shot on location in California's
High Sierra mountain range,
Lone Pine, and
Death Valley
Death Valley is a desert valley in Eastern California, in the northern Mojave Desert, bordering the Great Basin Desert. During summer, it is the hottest place on Earth.
Death Valley's Badwater Basin is the point of lowest elevation in Nort ...
. This film was Robert Taylor's last A-picture as the top-billed lead.
Plot
Reformed criminal Jake Wade breaks his former partner, Clint Hollister, out of jail in the small western town of Morganville. The men have not seen each other since the bank robbery and murder that resulted in Wade's arrest. Wade refuses to tell Hollister where he has hidden the $20,000 from the robbery and advises him to leave the territory. Wade returns to Cold Stream, where he serves as marshal. Hollister and his men catch up with Wade, kidnap his wife Peggy, and demand that Wade take him to the buried money.
The next morning, they begin a long trek into the desert, during which Peggy learns the full extent of her husband's criminal background. After several adventures, the group arrives at a ghost town, where Wade reveals he has hidden the money. When Wade spots
Indian
Indian or Indians may refer to:
Peoples South Asia
* Indian people, people of Indian nationality, or people who have an Indian ancestor
** Non-resident Indian, a citizen of India who has temporarily emigrated to another country
* South Asia ...
scouts in the area, the group takes shelter in a deserted
saloon. Wade is tied to a chair while Hollister goes in search of the natives. As night falls, several calls are heard outside and Wade tells the men they are surrounded by Indians who will attack soon.
After Hollister returns the next morning, the natives attack and a vicious fight breaks out. During the fight, Peggy frees her husband and they attempt to escape, but Hollister catches them. After burying the dead, Wade reveals the money is buried three feet deep in the cemetery, inside a saddlebag. Wade digs up the saddlebag, then surprises Hollister by pulling out a
pistol
A pistol is a handgun, more specifically one with the chamber integral to its gun barrel, though in common usage the two terms are often used interchangeably. The English word was introduced in , when early handguns were produced in Europe, a ...
from it. The others surrender their guns. Wade then asks Hollister's man Ortero to take Peggy away and they ride out of town. Wade and Hollister confront each other in the street and Wade kills Hollister. Hearing the gunshots, Peggy and Ortero return for Wade.
Cast
*
Robert Taylor as Jake Wade
*
Richard Widmark
Richard Weedt Widmark (December 26, 1914March 24, 2008) was an American film, stage, and television actor and producer.
He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as the villainous Tommy Udo in his debut film, ''Kiss of Death'' (1947) ...
as Clint Hollister
*
Patricia Owens
Patricia Molly Owens (January 17, 1925 – August 31, 2000) was a Canadian-born American actress, working in Hollywood. She appeared in about 40 films and 10 television episodes in a career lasting from 1943 to 1968.
Early work
Owens moved ...
as Peggy
*
Robert Middleton
Robert Middleton (born Samuel G. Messer, May 13, 1911 – June 14, 1977) was an American film and television actor known for his large size, beetle-like brows, and a deep, booming voice (for which he was known as "Big Bob Middleton"), usually ...
as Ortero
*
Henry Silva as Rennie
*
DeForest Kelley
Jackson DeForest Kelley (January 20, 1920 – June 11, 1999), known to colleagues as "Dee", was an American actor, screenwriter, poet, and singer. He was known for his roles in Westerns and as Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy of the in the televisi ...
as Wexler (as De Forest Kelley)
*
Burt Douglas
Burton Douglas (November 21, 1930 – July 1, 2000) was an American film, stage and television actor.
Douglas was born in Denver, Colorado, and graduated from the University of Colorado. When he saw the play ''The Heiress'', which starred Ru ...
as Lieutenant
*
Eddie Firestone
Eddie Firestone (December 11, 1920 – March 1, 2007) was an American radio, television, and film actor who accumulated over 200 total credits during his performing career.
Early life
When he was 12, Firestone was in the cast of ''Wheatenavil ...
as Burke
*
Fred Coby as Deputy (uncredited)
* Gene Coogan as Minor Role (uncredited)
* Richard H. Cutting as Luke, Jake's Deputy (uncredited)
*
Roy Engel
Roy Engel (September 13, 1913 – December 29, 1980) was an American actor on radio, film, and television. He performed in more than 150 films and almost 800 episodes of television programs.
Career
Engel's ancestry was Irish and Dutch. His ...
as Avery (uncredited)
*
Al Ferguson
Al Ferguson (19 April 1888 – 4 December 1971) was an Irish-born American film actor.
Born in County Wexford, Ireland, he appeared in nearly 300 films between 1912 and 1956. Billed as Smoke Ferguson, by 1912 he was making Westerns for Selig P ...
as Minor Role (uncredited)
*
Rory Mallinson
Charles Rory Mallinson (October 27, 1913 – March 26, 1976) was an American film and television actor.
Career
Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Mallinson began his acting career after signing a contract with Warner Brothers in 1945. That year he ha ...
as Deputy (uncredited)
*
Reginald Simpson
Reginald Simpson (1896–1964) was a British stage actor and playwright.Mycroft p.209 He moved to Hollywood where he appeared in around seventy films in a mixture of supporting and minor roles.
Selected filmography
* '' Wallflowers'' (1928)
* '' ...
as Minor Role (uncredited)
* Henry Wills as Cavalry Sergeant
Box office
According to MGM records, the film earned $970,000 in the US and Canada and $1,825,000 elsewhere, resulting in a profit of $87,000.
See also
References
External links
*
*
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Law And Jake Wade, The
1958 Western (genre) films
1958 films
American Western (genre) films
Films about bank robbery
Films based on American novels
Films based on Western (genre) novels
Films directed by John Sturges
Films shot in California
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films
CinemaScope films
1950s English-language films
1950s American films