''Scandalous John'' is a 1971 American

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

comedy-drama Comedy drama (also known by the portmanteau dramedy) is a hybrid genre of works that combine elements of comedy and Drama (film and television), drama. In film, as well as scripted television series, serious dramatic subjects (such as death, il ...

film directed by Robert Butler and produced by

Walt Disney Productions The Walt Disney Company, commonly referred to as simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios complex in Burbank, California. Disney was founded on October 16 ...

. It stars

Brian Keith Robert Alba Keith (November 14, 1921 – June 24, 1997), known professionally as Brian Keith, was an American film, television, and stage actor who in his six-decade career gained recognition for his work in films such as the Disney family ...

and

Alfonso Arau Alfonso Arau Incháustegui (; born 11 January 1932) is a Mexican filmmaker and actor. He worked as an actor and director in both Mexican and Hollywood productions for over 40 years, before his international breakthrough with the 1992 film ''Li ...

. The music was scored by

Rod McKuen Rodney Marvin McKuen ( ; ; April 29, 1933 – January 29, 2015) was an American poet, singer-songwriter, and composer. He was one of the best-selling poets in the United States during the late 1960s. Throughout his career, McKuen produced a wide ...

Plot

John McCanless is a rip-snorting, 79-year-old western rancher, together with the prettiest granddaughter; ugliest horse; scrawniest herd; and puniest partner, a Mexican handyman, go on a cattle drive (of one cow) and do battle against a wealthy, land-grabbing industrialist. After an adventurous (and humorous) trek, à la Don Quixote, the rancher confronts the villain in a shootout that parallels the classic struggle of good and evil in the Old West.

Cast

as John McCanless *

as Paco * Michele Carey as Amanda McCanless * Rick Lenz as Jimmy Whittaker *

Harry Morgan Harry Morgan (born Harry Bratsberg; April 10, 1915 – December 7, 2011) was an American actor whose television and film career spanned six decades. Morgan's major roles included Pete Porter in both '' December Bride'' (1954–1959) and '' Pet ...

as Sheriff Pippen * Simon Oakland as Barton Whittaker * Bill Williams as Sheriff Hart *

Christopher Dark Christopher Dark (born Alfred Francis DeLeo, April 21, 1920 – October 10, 1971) was an American actor. He graduated from Cornell University and did post graduate work at Columbia University. He served as an army medic in the Philippines ...

as Card Dealer *

Fran Ryan Frances Mary Ryan (November 29, 1916 January 15, 2000) was an American character actress featured in television and films. She was born in Los Angeles, California. Career Ryan began performing at the age of six at Oakland's Henry Duffy Thea ...

as Farm Woman *

Bruce Glover Bruce Herbert Glover (May 2, 1932 – March 12, 2025) was an American character actor, who is best known for portraying the assassin Mr. Wint in the James Bond film '' Diamonds Are Forever'' (1971). Other notable film appearances include roles ...

as Sludge *

Richard Hale Richard Hale (born James Richards Hale; November 16, 1892 – May 18, 1981) was an American opera and concert singer and later a character actor of film, stage and television. Hale's appearance usually landed him roles as either Middle E ...

as Old Indian *

Jimmy Lydon James Joseph Lydon (May 30, 1923 – March 9, 2022) was an American actor and television producer whose career in the entertainment industry began as a teenager during the 1930s. Early life Lydon was born in Harrington Park, New Jersey on May 3 ...

as Grotch *

John Ritter Johnathan Southworth Ritter (September 17, 1948 – September 11, 2003) was an American comedian and actor. He was a son of the singing cowboy star Tex Ritter and the father of actors Jason Ritter, Jason and Tyler Ritter. He is best known for ...

as Wendell *

Iris Adrian Iris Adrian Hostetter (May 29, 1912 – September 17, 1994) was an American stage and film actress. Life and career Adrian was an only child, born in Los Angeles, California, to Florence (née Van Every) and Adrian Earl Hostetter, who wed in 1 ...

as Mavis * Larry D. Mann as Bartender *

Jack Raine Thomas Foster "Jack" Raine (18 May 1897 – 30 May 1979) was an English stage, television and film actor. Career He was a leading man of the British cinema in the late twenties and early thirties in such films as '' The Hate Ship'' (1929), ...

as Switchman *

Booth Colman Booth Colman (March 8, 1923 – December 15, 2014) was an American film, television and stage actor. In his later years he played older authority figures, such as doctors and lawyers. Colman appeared in films since 1952, when he debuted (uncred ...

as Governor Murray *

Edward Faulkner Fielden Edward Faulkner II (born February 29, 1932, in Lexington, Kentucky) is an American film and television character actor. He is most known for his roles in John Wayne films, including ''Hellfighters'', ''The Green Berets'', ''Rio Lobo'', ...

as Hillary * Bill Zuckert as Abernathy * John Zaremba as Wales * Robert Padilla as Paco's Cousin * Alex Tinne as Clerk *

Benny Baker Benny Baker (born Benjamin Michael Zifkin; May 5, 1907 – September 20, 1994) was an American film and theater actor and comedian, and appeared in over 50 films between 1934 and 1988. He died in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California. Filmog ...

as Dr. Kropak * Paul Koslo as Pipes * William O'Connell as Men's Store Clerk *

Sam Edwards Sam George Edwards (May 26, 1915 – July 28, 2004) was an American actor. His most famous role on television was as banker Bill Anderson on ''Little House on the Prairie''.D.S.S. Form 1 Military Draft Registration Card completed on October 16, ...

as Bald Man * Leone Stevens as Girl * José Nieto as Mariachi Band * Joseph Gutierrez as Mariachi Band * Freddie Hernandez as Mariachi Band

Music

The film's score was written by

. The film features one original song. "Pastures Green" was written and performed by Rod McKuen as John McCanless and Paco continue their cow drive through the Old West tourist town of Warbag. The song is reprised over the film's end credits.

References

External links

* * * * {{Robert Butler 1971 films 1971 children's films 1971 comedy-drama films American comedy-drama films 1971 Western (genre) films American Western (genre) films Walt Disney Pictures films Films directed by Robert Butler Films with screenplays by Don DaGradi Films produced by Bill Walsh (producer) Films scored by Rod McKuen Films based on British novels 1970s English-language films 1970s American films English-language Western (genre) films English-language comedy-drama films Films with screenplays by Bill Walsh (producer)