Back in 1963, John Wayne starred in the Western comedy McLintock!, which is loosely based on William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.
Duke played an ageing rancher called George Washington McLintock, a wealthy self-made man facing several issues.
High-ranking government officials, his own sons and local Native Americans all want a piece of his huge farmstead.
Meanwhile, his wife (played by regular collaborator Maureen O’Hara) who separated from him two years prior, is back on the scene demanding custody of their daughter.
A film of its time, McLintock! famously has a scene, as captured on its poster, of Wayne’s George publicly spanking his wife played by O’Hara.
According to his co-star’s autobiography, this scene was “completely authentic” with Duke carrying it out with “such gusto”, that she “had bruises for a week.”
Adding to the satire, Wayne had the weak Governor be named Cuthbert H Humphery. This was intended to be a parody of the liberal Senator Hubert H Humphrey who the conservative Duke couldn’t stand.
Meanwhile, the John Wayne estate have recently share a behind-the-scenes video from the set of McLintock!
In the footage, Duke is captured working and relaxing with his wife Pilar Wayne, co-stars Maureen O’Hara, Chill Wills, Bruce Cabot, Stefanie Powers, plus writer James Edward Grant.
