The Law and Jake Wade

The Law and Jake Wade
Theatrical Film Poster
Directed by	John Sturges
Produced by	William Hawks
Written by	Marvin H. Albert (novel)
Screenplay by	William Bowers
Starring	Robert Taylor Richard Widmark Patricia Owens Robert Middleton Henry Silva DeForest Kelley Burt Douglas Eddie Firestone Rory Mallinson Roy Engle Richard Cutting
Music by	Fred Steiner
Cinematography	Robert Surtees
Edited by	Ferris Webster
Distributed by	Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date	June 6, 1958 (U.S. release)
Running time	88 min.
Language	English
Budget	$1,538,000
Box office	$2,795,000

The Law and Jake Wade is a 1958 Metrocolor western released by MGM in CinemaScope, based on the 1956 novel by Marvin H. Albert and directed by John Sturges.

The title character, Jake Wade (Robert Taylor) is a now reformed town sheriff marshal with a past that will soon catch up with him. Before he is able to marry and live peacefully with his bride-to-be, Peggy Carter (Patricia Owens), an old shadowy friend, Clint Hollister (Richard Widmark), escapes from jail.

Jake is methodically stalked by his psychotic ex-partner, who makes it clear that he wants the cash from the gang's previous heist, which the now reformed Jake later buried. Wade leads Hollister on a tedious voyage to recover the loot, having brought along Peggy as leverage. Soon enough all goes to hell when the trio finds Indians who have taken refuge in the ghost town where the money is buried.

The film was shot on location in California's High Sierra mountain range, Lone Pine and Death Valley. This movie was Robert Taylor's last A-picture as the top-billed lead.

Former Confederate soldier and highwayman-turned-marshal Jake Wade (Robert Taylor) breaks his former partner, Clint Hollister (Richard Widmark), out of jail in the small western town of Morganville. The men have not seen each other for over a year, since the bank robbery and murder that resulted in Jake's arrest. At that time, Clint rescued Jake and the men separated with an agreement to reunite later. Instead, Jake buried the $20,000 from the robbery in the desert and decided to go straight. Believing that he has now repaid Clint by freeing him from jail, Jake refuses to tell Clint where the money is buried and advises him to leave the territory. Disgruntled and disturbed by what he considers Jake's betrayal, Clint vows vengeance. Carefully covering his trail, Jake returns to Cold Stream, where he serves as marshal. That evening, Jake dines at the home of his fiancée Peggy (Patricia Owens), and asks if she would consider relocating after their upcoming marriage. Startled, Peggy asks for an explanation, but when Jake hesitates, then flatly refuses to explain, Peggy angrily sends him home. Returning to his office, Jake is confronted and knocked out by a stranger, Rennie (Henry Silva). Upon reviving, Jake discovers Clint and the rest of his old gang and army comrades, Ortero (Robert Middleton), Wexler (DeForest Kelley), Burke (Eddie Firestone) and newcomer, the hot-headed Rennie. When Jake expresses amazement that Clint was able to track him, Clint reveals that he set loose the horse Jake had brought for him and followed it to Cold Stream. Clint then demands that Jake take him to the buried money and when he refuses, Clint has Burke and Rennie bring in Peggy, whom they have abducted.