McLintock!
George Washington McLintock, "GW" to friends and foes alike, is a cattle baron and the richest man in the territory. He anxiously awaits the return of his daughter Becky who has been away at school for the last two years. He's also surprised to see that his wife Katherine has also returned. She had left him some years before without really explaining what he had done, but she does make the point of saying that she's returned to take their daughter back to the State Capitol with her. GW is highly respected by everyone around him, including the farmers who are pouring into the territories with free grants of land and the Indians who are under threat of being relocated to another reservation. Between his wife, his headstrong daughter, the crooked land agent and the thieving government Indian agent, GW tries to keep the peace and do what is best for everyone.
Despite its tight budget of $4.0M, McLintock! became a solid performer, earning $14.5M worldwide—a 263% return. The film's innovative storytelling connected with viewers, demonstrating that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
McLintock! (1963) exhibits precise narrative architecture, characteristic of Andrew V. McLaglen's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 7 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.4, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
George Washington McLintock
Katherine McLintock
Rebecca 'Becky' McLintock
Devlin 'Dev' Warren
Drago
Bunny Dull
Main Cast & Characters
George Washington McLintock
Played by John Wayne
Wealthy cattle baron and town patriarch who must win back his estranged wife while managing conflicts between settlers, homesteaders, and Native Americans.
Katherine McLintock
Played by Maureen O'Hara
McLintock's estranged wife who returns after two years to take their daughter back East, believing herself superior to frontier life.
Rebecca 'Becky' McLintock
Played by Stefanie Powers
The McLintocks' daughter returning from college in the East, caught between her parents' marital conflict.
Devlin 'Dev' Warren
Played by Patrick Wayne
Young drifter hired by McLintock who develops romantic interest in Becky despite class differences.
Drago
Played by Chill Wills
McLintock's loyal ranch foreman and voice of reason, devoted to both the boss and maintaining peace.
Bunny Dull
Played by Yvonne De Carlo
Widowed homesteader seeking work and shelter, represents the vulnerable settlers in the territory.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 2 minutes (2% through the runtime) establishes G.W. McLintock rides into town as the powerful, respected cattle baron who owns most of the territory. He's wealthy, confident, and commands respect, but lives alone - his wife left him two years ago.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 15 minutes when Katherine McLintock arrives in town with full intentions to divorce G.W. And gain custody of their daughter Becky, who is returning from college. The old wounds and unresolved conflict between them immediately surface.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 31 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Becky arrives home and the July 4th celebration begins in earnest. G.W. Actively chooses to engage in the battle for his daughter's affection and to prove to Katherine that frontier life and values are worth preserving - entering the "contest" for his family., moving from reaction to action.
At 64 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat The massive mud fight brawl erupts at the July 4th celebration. Katherine and other women end up in the mud pit, humiliated. This public spectacle seems to prove Katherine's point about the crude frontier life and strengthens her resolve to take Becky away - a false defeat for G.W., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 94 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The custody hearing: Katherine wins legal custody of Becky. The judge (biased toward Katherine) rules against G.W. Despite his love for his daughter. G.W. Faces losing both his wife and daughter - the death of his family and the life he wanted., illustrates the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 100 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. G.W. Realizes he must fight for Katherine not with pride and arguments, but by breaking through her pride the way only he can - with bold, public action that forces honesty between them. He formulates his plan for the final confrontation., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
McLintock!'s emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs a 15-point narrative structure framework that maps key story moments. By mapping McLintock! against these established plot points, we can identify how Andrew V. McLaglen utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish McLintock! within the comedy genre.
Andrew V. McLaglen's Structural Approach
Among the 4 Andrew V. McLaglen films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.2, reflecting strong command of classical structure. McLintock! represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Andrew V. McLaglen filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Andrew V. McLaglen analyses, see Shenandoah, The Wild Geese and Chisum.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
G.W. McLintock rides into town as the powerful, respected cattle baron who owns most of the territory. He's wealthy, confident, and commands respect, but lives alone - his wife left him two years ago.
Theme
Drago (the cook) tells G.W., "A man ought to do what he thinks is best" - establishing the theme that pride and stubbornness, while valued in the West, can destroy what matters most.
Worldbuilding
Introduction to McLintock's world: his ranch empire, the town's July 4th preparations, his relationship with hired hands, the landless settlers arriving, and the revelation that his wife Katherine is returning after two years to file for divorce and take their daughter Becky back East.
Disruption
Katherine McLintock arrives in town with full intentions to divorce G.W. and gain custody of their daughter Becky, who is returning from college. The old wounds and unresolved conflict between them immediately surface.
Resistance
G.W. navigates the complications of Katherine's return while dealing with other pressures: hiring Dev Warren and Louise, the settlers' land dispute with the government agent Birnbaum, and preparations for the Independence Day celebration. He resists confronting the real issues in his marriage.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Becky arrives home and the July 4th celebration begins in earnest. G.W. actively chooses to engage in the battle for his daughter's affection and to prove to Katherine that frontier life and values are worth preserving - entering the "contest" for his family.
Mirror World
The young romance between Dev Warren and Becky begins to develop, mirroring G.W. and Katherine's own courtship years ago. Their fresh, honest attraction contrasts with the parents' pride-wounded relationship.
Premise
The "fun and games" of the Independence Day celebration: the town party, drinking, dancing, flirtations, and escalating tensions. G.W. demonstrates frontier justice and hospitality while Katherine grows increasingly scandalized by the rough behavior, widening the gap between them.
Midpoint
The massive mud fight brawl erupts at the July 4th celebration. Katherine and other women end up in the mud pit, humiliated. This public spectacle seems to prove Katherine's point about the crude frontier life and strengthens her resolve to take Becky away - a false defeat for G.W.
Opposition
Katherine intensifies her custody battle and divorce proceedings. The government agent Birnbaum tries to drive the settlers off their land. The romantic subplot between Becky and Dev faces obstacles from Katherine. G.W.'s temper and pride prevent him from being vulnerable with Katherine. All conflicts escalate.
Collapse
The custody hearing: Katherine wins legal custody of Becky. The judge (biased toward Katherine) rules against G.W. despite his love for his daughter. G.W. faces losing both his wife and daughter - the death of his family and the life he wanted.
Crisis
G.W. must confront whether his pride is worth losing everything. He processes the loss and recognizes that being "right" about frontier values means nothing if he's alone. Meanwhile, Becky rebels against her mother's control.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
G.W. realizes he must fight for Katherine not with pride and arguments, but by breaking through her pride the way only he can - with bold, public action that forces honesty between them. He formulates his plan for the final confrontation.
Synthesis
The famous finale: G.W. publicly spanks Katherine down the main street and into the store, breaking through years of pride and pretense. This outrageous act cuts through their mutual stubbornness. Katherine finally admits her own fault in their separation. Becky chooses Dev. The settlers get their land. All relationships are resolved through honest confrontation rather than prideful posturing.
Transformation
G.W. and Katherine reconcile with Katherine in his arms, both humbled and reunited. The image mirrors the Status Quo but transformed: G.W. is no longer alone, having learned that love requires vulnerability, not just pride and power. Katherine has learned that strength and authenticity matter more than eastern propriety.