McLintock!

Now I know where Mel Brooks got the idea for Blazing Saddles. This movie isn’t quite the laugh riot that Brooks' ultimate Western comedy is, but it does have moments when it rises above a level of general silliness and achieves some real comedy. The foundation of the humor comes largely from the characters, who are slightly warped versions of the standard Western tropes. John Wayne as the title character is largely the Wayne you always get in any oater; he is in many ways the straight man here. Maureen O’Hara is the major foil as McClintock's estranged harridan of a wife Katie; she’s a real pill throughout the proceedings. Perhaps she is frustrated by being outshone by Yvonne de Carlo in a supporting role. The story also features a surprisingly sympathetic take on the plight of the Comanches. I find this sort of take on the Indian question more frequently than expected when watching old horse operas—perhaps, contra the current fad, it all wasn’t entirely virulent racism back in the day. Mostly, though, this film is all about fights and arguments and wiseacre takes on various setups—a lot of which hit the mark, though not every shot nails the target. The major issue is that the movie runs a bit too long. Otherwise, it’s a fair diversion, nothing important but not a misstep either. Give this one a look when you can rustle up a couple of idle hours.