To me, this movie is perfection.

Absolutely brilliant

I cannot think of one single thing that I would change about this film. The acting is incomparable, the directing deft, and the writing poignantly brilliant.

The joyful confection is coated in a sparkly gloss, bright enough to gleam from the darkest, most cynical corners.

THE LAW AND JAKE WADE was directed by John Sturges, and it uses some of the same sets seen in Sturges' earlier MGM western BAD DAY AT BLACK ROCK. So in a way, despite the different story, it has a slightly derivative feel to it. Richard Widmark is a perfect nemesis to Robert Taylor in this picture, but it's never really explained why Taylor puts up with him and why he'd want to go back in the last scene and not just let him die alone. The final shoot-out seems contrived and unnecessary, except for the point of giving the audience some climactic ending. Taylor appears to have been battling a cold or bronchitis, and his line deliveries are a bit congested in some scenes. I wouldn't mind it if there had been a line of dialogue referencing it, but I suppose we cannot have a western hero "sick" in any way. I gave the film a score of 8 out of 10. It has some sturdy elements for fans of the genre and these stars to enjoy, but it's far from being the type of classic it could and should have been.

"The Law and Jake Wade" doesn't rank up there with many of Director John Sturges' other classic westerns (The Magnificent Seven and Gunfight at the OK Coral for example) however it is very entertaining western nonetheless, due in large to its small cast of veteran performers and the crisp direction of Sturges.The film opens with Jake Wade (Robert Taylor) breaking his former partner convicted killer Clint Hollister (Richard Widmark) out of jail. It seems that Hollister had done likewise for Wade in an earlier time. We learn that the two had rode together robbing banks and stagecoaches and that the two had split up when an attempted robbery had gone wrong.Wade had escaped with $20,000 buried it and settled in a small town where he became town marshal and acquired a girl, Peggy (Patricia Owns) in the process. Hollister had maintained his criminal ways leading to his arrest.Hollister and his gang which includes Orleso (Robert Middleton), trigger happy gunman Rennie (Henry Silva), Wexler (DeForest Kelley) and Burke (Eddie Firestone) trail Wade to force him to bring them to the missing money. They take Peggy along in order to force Wade to comply. They bicker and fight among themselves along the way until they reach a ghost town where the money is hidden. A lively Commanche attack ensues and some of the party don't survive. Eventually the long awaited showdown between Wade and Hollister takes place and........................................Robert Taylor and Richard Widmark play well off of each other. Taylor the grim faced anti-hero (we never learn if he really has reformed) and the sneering vengeful Widmark brings back memories of his early villain roles. Taylor had been a "pretty boy" leading man early in his career but had gravitated towards westerns later on as had many of his contemporaries.The supporting cast is excellent. Robert Middleton who usually played a sadistic villain, has a more sympathetic role this time around. Henry Silva and DeForrest Kelley are quite good as no good bad hombres. Patricia Owens has little to do other than play the helpless heroine. As a sign of the times, it is interesting to note that not one of the bad guys lays a hand on the comely Owens despite being nasty sorts and out on the lonely trail together.This is a good western.

The film begins with a man breaking into a jail (Robert Taylor) to rescue and old friend (Richard Widmark). Oddly, however, it turns out they aren't friends any more and you know that they'll soon reunite and blood will be shed. It turns out Taylor is a sheriff and Widmark is his old partner in crime. This, sadly, is about the only twist in the film that caught me off guard.Despite having Widmark and Taylor in the leads, this is yet another tired old Western--and in so many ways practically indistinguishable from the countless number made in the 1950s. That's because the film is so predictable and takes no chances--it's only assets are the stars. Plus, since it's by-the-numbers, you know that by the end of the film, there will be the clichéd shoot-out between Taylor and Widmark. And, in between, there is the rather dull girlfriend, the "hot-headed" young punk and an attack by addle-brained Indians--who, naturally, ride past the cowboys single-file in order to give them a better chance to shoot them! My advice is find a better Western to watch. While this one isn't bad, it sure isn't good. Plus seeing a middle-aged and paunchy Taylor playing the action hero is a bit of a stretch.My advice is to find a Randolph Scott western--particularly from the 1950s--his best and most exciting period. Now those are some westerns well worth seeing.

No question that the end is important to a film but also it takes only a couple of minutes. The last scenes of Jake Wade are too conventional and not in the same level . John Sturges is here at his best with a story full of surprises and with the excellent Richard Widmark . Robert Taylor is Jake Wade, a man driven by guilty feelings. Guilt can lead you to crazy acts and that is what Jake does when he saves Clint (Widmark) from being hanged. Instead of being grateful Clint and his gang kidnap Jake and his girlfriend Peggy (Patricia Owens) and will kill him after he shows them where he hid the money. If Jake would escape from that, would his conscience make him give Clint another chance? Would he make the same mistake he made before? Jake has troubled feelings because Clint had saved him from being hanged in the past. His guilt and sense of fair play will determine his actions.