OM DENNE EPISODE
Two Hollywood legacies saddle up for a lively conversation in this episode of A Word on Westerns. Host Rob Word and producer RJ Word sit down with Chris Mitchum—son of screen legend Robert Mitchum—and Patrick Wayne—son of the Duke himself, John Wayne—to revisit the making of 1971's Big Jake. Both actors, playing Duke's on-screen sons, share spirited behind-the-scenes stories from one of John Wayne's last great Westerns.
The pair recall how Chris landed the role while filming Rio Lobo and how Patrick's casting was decidedly more straightforward and nepotistic. They laugh about George Sherman's direction (and John Wayne's subtle overrides), Richard Boone's scene-stealing intensity, and the surprising challenges of operating a mock-up 1914 Harley-Davidson. Between anecdotes of on-set pranks, baritone voice lessons from Howard Hawks, and the film's brutal opening sequence that truly set its darker tone, Chris and Patrick paint a vivid portrait of 1970s Western filmmaking—where grit, humor, and father-son camaraderie all found a place under the blazing sun.
Whether you're new to Big Jake or have cherished it for decades, you won't want to miss this candid, warmhearted chat with two men who grew up in the long shadow of Western icons yet forged memorable screen careers all their own. Grab your Stetson, fire up the old dirt bike (or horse!), and ride along for an inside look at a John Wayne classic.
