We look back at the 1969 John Wayne post-Civil War story.
Editor's Note: Throughout the month of October, C&I is celebrating the golden westerns of 1969, a year that changed the game for the beloved film genre. Check the Entertainment tab each day to see a different film recommendation by C&I senior writer Joe Leydon. And be on the lookout for the upcoming November/December 2019 print edition, which prominently features one of the 25 greatest films of 1969 on its cover.
Just a few months after True Grit hit theaters, John Wayne followed up with a decidedly lesser but undeniably enjoyable post-Civil War western directed by Andrew V. McLaglen (McLintock!).
The Duke is well-cast as John Henry Thomas, a former Union Army colonel who becomes the unlikely ally of Confederate Army veteran James Langdon (Rock Hudson) when the two men and their associates get caught in the crossfire during the Mexican revolt against Emperor Maximilian. Ben Johnson (pictured above with Wayne), Lee Meriwether, Bruce Cabot, Merlin Olsen, Paul Fix, Dub Taylor, John Agar, and Harry Carey Jr. are among the familiar faces in the strong supporting cast.
