Review of McLintock
For those who are big John Wayne fans, you won’t want to miss this one. This
film marks John’s Wayne’s foray back into production after The Alamo. The plot
of the movie is based around George Washington McLintock, who has worked to
build an empire out in the wilderness while fighting off Indians and at the same
time working to earn their respect. He has been a timber baron, miner and cattle
king and has now had a town named after him, which he pretty much rules. He
helps those who need it and isn’t afraid to take his fists to those who don’t
measure up to his own standard of conduct. Since his wife (played by Maureen
O’Hara) left his two years previously because she suspected he was cheating on
her, he has being living the single life on his ranch. McLintock hires cook to
work on his ranch, who happens to be a beautiful widow.
He also welcomes her two children onto his ranch at the same time. This leads to
a hilarious and adventuresome round of action involving an Indian attack, brawls
and gunfire as well as the return of the long absent Mrs. McLintock, claiming
she wants a divorce and custody of her daughter Becky. As his wife continues to
demand a divorce, the tough McLintock finds he has no choice but to duke it out
with her. Meanwhile, their daughter is falling in love with the new
housekeeper’s son. This wildly funny comedy is loosely based as a Western
adaptation on “The Taming of the Shrew.”
As some of John Wayne’s movies tend to go, this film tends to lean toward the
side of being too overtly political, making a few digs at big government;
including a swipe at Senator Hubert H. Humprhey, who at the time, was somewhat
of a liberal symbol of the government. The film could certainly have done with
less musical numbers and the script could have used a few touch ups but it is
amusing enough in it’s own right if you can get past the political overtones.