A person’s reaction after viewing McClintock, would be, who knew John Wayne could do comedy so well. It has one of the best and funniest fight scenes in a John Wayne film. It has funny lines and several slapstick scenes.
John Wayne plays G.W. McClintock, a cattle baron, whose peaceful life in the Wild West, is interrupted by the arrival of his estranged wife, Katherine Gilhooley McClintock (Maureen O’Hara). Drago, (Chill Wills) tries to keep order between them, but can’t. Chill Wills does have a very good supporting role. His character is also McClintock’s best friend. He gets a good scene when he tries to help a drunk McClintock up the stairs. It doesn’t work, and they both fall down. He tells Drago that he’ll sleep in the den.
John Wayne’s son Patrick, has a good role as Devlin Warren, who spends his time, romancing Becky McClintock, (Stephanie Powers). Devlin Warren gets into a fight with a man over honor. He beats his opponent, and then gets cocky, when the uncle of his opponent challenges him. The uncle is taller and bigger, and knocks him down several times. After this dose of humility, Devlin shakes hands with his opponent, with no hard feelings.
The highlight of McClintock is the fight scene. It begins when John Wayne stops a lynching of an Indian. Chaos reigns after this, and the battle royals begins. Almost everyone in the film participates, even Mrs. McClintock.The participants all fall down a hill, into a mud pit, including Maureen O’Hara, ruining her green dress and hat.
Yvonne DeCarlo, who plays Louise Warren, was a very talented actress. She plays McClintock’s cook and Mrs. McClintock’s foil. She does very well playing off John Wayne and Maureen O’Hara. Louise Warren gives up her job, to marry Ben Sage, the sheriff, (Bruce Cabot).
McClintock has an entertaining final scene. He’s fed up with Katherine’s antics. John Wayne’s character chases her through the street, followed by a large crowd. He finally chases her into the general store owned by his friend, Jake Birnbaum, (Jake Kruschen). He catches her and administers some discipline. After this he leaves, and tells her she can have her divorce. She runs after him, and tells him he’s not getting rid of her that easily.
This movie was written by James Grant. If Shakespeare was alive when this was released, he may have taken legal action. It is a western version of The Taming of the Shrew. Even so, it is a very entertaining movie, scripted by a man who worked with John Wayne on several films.
McClintock is mostly a comedy, but it does integrate problems Indians experienced in the west. In this one, they don’t want to settle on the reservation. They are forced to by the government, despite McClintock speaking up for them.
This movie entertains, and in the long run thats what a movie should do. John Wayne did various genres, most famously westerns, McClintock is a comedic western, and can be enjoyed by John Wayne fans and anyone who wants a few good laughs.