Big Jim McLain (1952): cast, story & where to watch
1952 · Film · ★ 5
Released in 1952, Big Jim McLain is an action, thriller, drama and adventure film directed by Edward Ludwig, running about 90 minutes. “FILMED in HAWAII and FILLED with EXCITEMENT!” — that tagline sets the tone.
What it’s about. House Un-American Activities Committee investigators Jim McLain and Mal Baxter come to post war Hawaii to track Communist Party activities even though belonging to the party was legal at the time. They are interested in everything from insurance fraud to the sabotage of a U.S. naval vessel.
Who’s in it. Big Jim McLain stars John Wayne as Jim McLain, Nancy Olson as Nancy Vallon, James Arness as Mal Baxter and Alan Napier as Sturak, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 5.0/10, Big Jim McLain has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. In US you can rent or buy it from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies and YouTube. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Big Jim McLain page.
If you liked it. Fans of Big Jim McLain tend to enjoy The Dark Knight, The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, Inception and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Big Jim McLain (1952)?
- In US, Big Jim McLain is available to rent or buy from Amazon Video, Apple TV Store and Google Play Movies. Availability varies by country — check our where-to-watch page for every region.
- Is Big Jim McLain worth watching?
- Big Jim McLain holds an audience score of 5.0 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy action, thriller, drama and adventure. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Big Jim McLain?
- Big Jim McLain stars John Wayne, Nancy Olson, James Arness, Alan Napier and Veda Ann Borg.
- When was Big Jim McLain released?
- Big Jim McLain was released in 1952, with a runtime of about 90 minutes.