Review of McLintock!

McLintock! (1963)
6/10
Agreeable film in which director Andrew McLagen introduces a battle royal between the two-fisted John Wayne and feisty Maureen O'Hara
26 March 2013
Nice film with the Duke as a tough Cattle baron , this is a Western screen version of the classic Shakespearean comedy . John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara are perfectly cast as ¨Taming of the shrew¨ couple . The inspiration for this raucous John Wayne comedy was none other than William Shakespeare's "Taming of the Shrew", which producer Michael Wayne and director Andrew V. McLaglen thought would have even more of a comedic kick if it were set in the Old West . Starring John Wayne as George Washington whose refined wife (Maureen O'Hara) returns from the east after a two-year separation . She wants a divorce and custody of their 17-year-old daughter (Stefanie Powers) who's been away at school . In the meantime, George's contracted a housekeeper (Yvonne De Carlo) whose son (real-life son Patrick Wayne) promptly falls for his daughter . McLintock then battles his spouse , his daughter, and land-grabbers , finally "taming" them all .

This Western/comedy contains a love story , wonderful friendship , thrills , emotion and loads of fist-play . Western comedy with ¨Taming of the Shrew¨ overtones with a magnificent main cast and top-notch support cast . In ¨MacLintock" Andrew McLagen does the human touch including lots of nice moments , it is a very fine picture that could become another western worthy of any anthology . The "mudhole" in which the famous brawl took place wasn't actually made of mud. It was made of a material called Bentonite, which is used in the drilling of oil wells and has the consistency of chocolate syrup ; according to actor Leo Gordon , the first one to be knocked down it, that scene took a week to shoot. In this film the spectator enjoys because it has a lot of issues that make it enjoyable . Even the female characters played by attractive Maureen O'Hara and Stefanie Powers , reveal two women who know that they wish and makes it irresistible . Other John Wayne family members involved in this pleasant production include son Michael G. Wayne who produced the movie , his daughter Aissa as the housekeeper's daughter and mainly Patrick Wayne . John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara are perfectly cast as ¨Taming of the shrew¨ couple giving extraordinary performances . This is the fourth of five movies that paired John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara , such as The big Jack , Rio Grande , The Wings of Eagles , and of course ¨The quite man¨ . Although often seen as simply a knockabout comedy , John Wayne also intended the film to be a statement of his own conservative political views . Large support cast formed by Western usual players as Edgar Buchanan , Michael Pataki , Jack Krushen , Mari Blanchard , Leo Gordon , Edward Faulkner , Chuck Robertson , Strother Martin , Perry Lopez and other actors , John Ford's favourite , such as : Bruce Cabot , Chill Wills , Hank Worden and Bob Steele . Jolly and lively musical score by De Vol . Colorful and spectacular cinematography in Cinemascope by William H Clothier , John Ford's ordinary .

This well-paced film was compellingly directed by Andrew V. McLagen , son of great actor Victor McLagen . Although Stefanie Powers claims that John Ford came to the set to direct the movie for a week, Andrew V. McLaglen the director says that it never happened , he says he was there for the entire shoot of the movie . The pic contains McLagen's usual themes as familiar feeling , a little bit enjoyable humor, friendship and and sense of comradeship among people . Andrew does the human touch and full of insight that accompanied him during most of his films and the story develops pleasantly in a large frame with an interesting plot and fully adjusted to the requirements of the comedy . Andrew McLagen is a known Ford's disciple introducing similar themes in his films . Andrew holds the distinction of directing the most episodes of "Gunsmoke" . Furthermore , he holds the honor of filmmaking the most episodes of ¨Have gun , Will travel" (1957). And is one of the few directors to have directed both Clint Eastwood and John Wayne . He's a Western expert (McLintock , Shenandoah , Bandolero, Chisum , Cahill, Way West) and warlike specialist , such as proved in several films (Return to Kwai, Wild Geese , Dirty dozen: the next mission, Sea wolves, Breakthrough) . Rating ¨MacLintock¨ : Nice , acceptable and passable , 6'5 . The picture will appeal to John Wayne fans . Worthwhile watching .
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