Once upon in the old west when Arizona was still a territory, there was this big guy named George Washington McLintock, aka "G.W." - aka John Wayne. He went up the old corporate ladder of the wild west pretty fast ..beginning with a few skirmishes with hostile Indians and soon he found a redheaded wife who was to become even more hostile. This Irish lass was, however, much prettier than the Indians and provided not only the strength and stamina to help him build his empire...but obviously made the journey to success quite "tolerable" throughout the years.

So successful was G.W. McLintock and his wife, that the town was named after him - the sign hanging on the railroad station read "McLintock." With peace settling over the west you would think that Kate and G.W. could now bask in their wealth - acquired land, and cattle. Unfortunately those years of struggling for survival caused them to grow apart. With all that money, Katie now fancied herself a fine lady of social prominence and wanted the same for their young daughter, Rebecca. G.W.'s intolerance of her frightful temper and social aspirations, led him to the comfort of the saloon and the more compliant ladies there. With Becky away at school in the East, Katie now fully convinced of her husband's infidelity, "packed up, picked up and moved out..." heading for the social whirl of the East, which included a few dances with the "side saddle" Governor of the Arizona territory, Cutforth Humphreys. Though Cutforth delighted in having the gorgeous Katie on his arm at social functions, he was more interested in her husband's money and furthering his ruthless, underhanded politics.

The problems begin when, after this two year absence from her philandering husband, Kate blows back into town. In a minute you take note that Maureen O'Hara looks just as gorgeous as she did in "The Quiet Man" 11 years prior.. .and it's understandable to see why G.W. has a real yen to have her back in his arms. She's been gone a long time and he misses her terribly and quite obviously, loves her with a passion. His diet of saloon girls, cheap perfume, and cigarettes snuffed out onto scrambled egg plates has worn thin. So, for the next 100 minutes or so of the picture our hero G.W. McLintock walks around like a love-sick school boy. Again, like "The Quiet Man" - John Wayne allows Ms. O'Hara to call the shots...until he reaches his breaking point.

The homecoming of their daughter from school in the east, only makes the nostalgia and longing more intense. Becky is a real life reminder of the love and life they had built together. It was what they had struggled and worked for...side by side. Katie tries very hard not to let any memories interrupt her dogmatic plan of divorcing the rowdy G.W. and taking their daughter back to the more civilized eastern society. However, around every corner she begins to fragment as she realizes she is a part of land, and G.W.

In this film O'Hara and Wayne did what they did best...create that electricity generated so well together. They were given quite a lot of leeway here with unusually suggestive remarks for a Wayne film.....at the 4th of July Celebration as they stand side by side at the rodeo G.W. said, "Remember when I rode in this competition...wore your garters to hold up my sleeves?.." Kate gives an indignant sigh and G.W. McLintock continues,..."We had a bet...and I won it"...Now with a wicked grin he leans a bit closer..she spouts,..."G.W. McLintock, you are a crude man!"... He replied, "Maybe so, but that was a rough horse, darn near tore my insides loose"...and then leaning even closer says...."but it was worth it!".... Walking away in a huff...taking only a few steps she turns and with a knowing grin, which G.W. sees, she continues on her way.

Slowly, and insidiously, the stubborn Kate, relents just a wee bit now and again to reflect a on "the good old days." Despite these little periods of remembering, (just when you think she might give in) she surges forward, flaunting her feminine charms in front of her husband (who through most of the film looked like he was just about one-one-hundredth of a degree away from throwing her over his shoulder and hauling her off to bed). Kate reminds me of the female counter part of Red Will Danaher in "The Quiet Man" saying "I am the best man in Inisfree!" Katie knew she was the best woman in McLintock and for McLintock - she was holding all the cards. Even the tempting housekeeper Louise Warren couldn't tempt the very frustrated G.W. Here was a man who could tame the Arizona territory, but not the woman he loved.

Most feminists would have liked to see the end be a little more romantic, but Katie by this time deserved to be "restrained" a bit because she hadn't fooled anyone..least of all G.W. Even though he says..."Now get your divorce!" after the now infamous public spanking G.W. inflicted upon her....we all know that G.W. and Katie belong together and Kate would now forgive him...and as the sun sinks into the west the silhouettes in the upstairs bedroom let us eavesdrop on G.W. making Katie affirm that she will do no more social climbing, etc. etc. The only part that isn't quite fair here is that I kept waiting for her to say to him..."No more spending hours in saloons, carousing and chasing women?"...stuff like that. Oh well, we are all satisfied to know the film ended as it should...with the inevitable left to our collective imaginations.

Once critic said the film was a "127 minute erotic build-up..." and actually that is quite correct. Remember that song, "Nobody Does It Better?"..well nobody could do that better than O'Hara and Wayne. However, they forgot to mention that it was one helluva a fun movie with lots of action and humor and a stellar cast. So there was something for everyone...humor, fighting, sex, cowboys and Indians. The film was a smash hit at the box office in 1963 and remains a favorite of Wayne and O'Hara fans.

Essay copyright 1996, June Parker Beck

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More pictures and some 'Behind the Scenes' tales.....

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