Jenna and Mindless

An Oldie!!!

McLintock

This is one that dates back before all of my readers were born. It is a John Wayne movie from 1963 about a cattle rancher, George Washington McLintock who lives in a town named after him (in the not-so-wild west). This is mainly because he owns the entire area surrounding him. He is obviously a landmark and hero to the town for is money, relationship with the Indians (which happens to be a very good one), and his political influence. But he has plenty of problems of his own.

What kind of problems could a man with so much in his favor for his time and day have? His wife, played by Maureen O’Hara, is a royal bitch who wants nothing more from him then a divorce. The majority of her time is spent away from the town, but all of McLintock’s friends know that she loved him with all of her being and was just as rough as he could ever be. But something had turned her against him (could it have something to do with his drinking?) and she tries to get her daughter to turn against him as well. Unfortunately for her, she holds many of the same views as he does and she agrees with what he is doing with the Indian relations that are going on (this is when the Indians are being forced onto reservations by the government).

McLintock’s daughter is back from school and she is no longer the little tomboy that she used to be. She now has style and class and has no time for the silly little fights among the men in town who are falling at her feet. One of her love interests in the movie is played by Jerry Van Dyke who is one big nerd…but that is what girls want right? Maybe not, since another love interest, played by Patrick Wayne (John Wayne’s son) is new farm hand hired by McLintock who is a really good guy who is just a little rough around the edges. But men had to be back then, didn’t they?

The movie is definitely a great comedy and even though I don’t really like westerns and John Wayne is not one of my favorite actors I think this is one of his better movies. It isn’t celebrated as much as some of his others like True Grit, The Green Berets, Big Jake, or El Dorado, but it is definitely a great movie. Most people I know have never seen this movie but those that have really like it. This is another that you should definitely see.