When you sit down to watch McLintock!, you aren't just watching a Western. You're watching a family reunion that happens to have a $4 million budget and a lot of flying mud. Released in 1963, this movie basically took Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, tossed it into the Arizona desert, and let John Wayne run wild.
But the real magic wasn't just in the script. It was the people. The cast of the movie McLintock was a hand-picked collection of "Duke’s" favorite humans, family members, and Hollywood legends who actually liked each other off-camera.
The Heavy Hitters: Wayne and O'Hara
Honestly, could anyone else have played George Washington McLintock and Katherine? Probably not. John Wayne was at a point in his career where he could do whatever he wanted, and what he wanted was a comedy. He brought in Maureen O'Hara, his favorite sparring partner, to play his estranged, high-society wife.
Their chemistry was legendary because it was grounded in a very real, non-romantic friendship. O'Hara famously said that Wayne was the only man she could ever really "manhandle" on screen. And boy, did they get physical.
"He really spanked me! My bottom was black and blue for weeks!" — Maureen O'Hara, reflecting on the famous coal scuttle shovel scene.
That scene wasn't faked. In an era before modern stunt pads were the norm, Wayne didn't pull his punches—or his swings. It’s one of those moments that makes modern audiences wince a bit, but back then, it was the climax of their "shrew-taming" dynamic.
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It Was a Family Affair
If the credits look like a family tree, that’s because they are. John Wayne didn't just star in the movie; his company, Batjac Productions, produced it.
- Michael Wayne: The Duke’s eldest son was the producer. He was the one keeping the $4 million budget from spiraling out of control.
- Patrick Wayne: Playing the young, hardworking Devlin Warren, Patrick proved he wasn't just there because of his last name. He had to hold his own against his dad and Maureen O'Hara, which is no small feat.
- Aissa Wayne: Wayne’s daughter even showed up in a small role as Alice Warren.
It wasn't just the Waynes, though. The director, Andrew V. McLaglen, was the son of Victor McLaglen—John Wayne’s long-time friend and co-star from the John Ford days. The whole set felt like a giant BBQ that just happened to have cameras running.
The Supporting Players Who Stole the Show
While the big names got the posters, the character actors gave the movie its soul. You've got Stefanie Powers playing Becky McLintock. She was only 21 at the time! Before she became a household name in Hart to Hart, she was the sassy daughter caught between her parents' feuding and the attentions of two different suitors.
Then there’s Yvonne De Carlo. Most people know her as Lily Munster, but in McLintock!, she played Louise Warren, the cook who inadvertently sparks a lot of the jealousy between the leads.
Interestingly, Wayne insisted on hiring De Carlo because her husband, stuntman Bob Morgan, had been seriously injured while filming How the West Was Won. Wayne wanted to make sure she had a steady paycheck coming in while her husband recovered. That’s the kind of guy he was to his "stock company."
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The "Stock Company" Regulars
- Chill Wills (Drago): The guy with the gravelly voice who played G.W.’s right-hand man. He was a staple in Westerns and brought that perfect "old-timer" energy.
- Jack Kruschen (Jake Birnbaum): He played the local store owner and G.W.'s friend. Kruschen was an Oscar nominee for The Apartment, and his presence added a layer of warmth to the town's dynamics.
- Edgar Buchanan (Bunny Dull): If you watched Petticoat Junction, you know this face. He was the town's resident "loafer."
- Strother Martin (Agard): He played the Indian Agent. Martin was the king of playing slightly annoying, bureaucratic characters you loved to see get knocked into a mud pit.
The Famous Mud Pit Brawl
Speaking of mud pits, you can't talk about the cast without talking about that massive brawl. It was filmed at Old Tucson Studios, and the actors really went for it.
Most of the brawlers were Wayne's regular stunt team, including Chuck Roberson (Wayne’s long-time stunt double). They spent days sliding down a muddy embankment into a literal swamp of chocolate-colored gunk. Gordon Jones, who played the "villain" Matt Douglas, initially refused to go into the mud, but eventually, the peer pressure—and probably a stern look from the Duke—got him in there.
Why This Cast Still Matters
Usually, when you look back at films from the early 60s, the acting can feel stiff. But the cast of the movie McLintock feels alive. They were having fun.
Even the minor roles were filled with legends. Hank Worden played Curly Fletcher, the guy who could never quite keep his hat on. Bruce Cabot, who famously starred in the original King Kong, played the local rancher Ben Sage.
There’s a reason people still watch this on Sunday afternoons. It’s not for the complex plot—it’s a comedy about a divorce, basically—it’s for the people. You can feel the genuine affection between the actors. When they’re laughing at the end of a scene, they aren't always acting.
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What You Should Do Next
If you haven't seen the film in a few years, it’s worth a re-watch just to spot the "Easter eggs" in the casting. Check out the background during the Fourth of July celebration—you'll see faces that popped up in dozens of other John Wayne classics.
For the true film buffs, look for the documentary Maureen O'Hara and Stefanie Powers Remember McLintock!. It gives a great behind-the-scenes look at how the set operated and confirms all the stories about just how loud and boisterous the production really was.
Finally, if you're ever in Arizona, visit the Old Tucson Studios. You can actually stand on the spot where the mud pit fight happened. It’s a lot drier now, but the history is still there.
The movie is a time capsule of a specific era of Hollywood where "who you knew" wasn't about nepotism as much as it was about building a loyal team that would jump into the mud for you.
Actionable Insight: To truly appreciate the performances, watch The Quiet Man and McLintock! back-to-back. It’s the best way to see the evolution of the Wayne-O'Hara partnership from romantic drama to slapstick comedy.