<P> The song was featured in the 1969 Hollywood film Paint Your Wagon, starring Lee Marvin, Clint Eastwood and Jean Seberg . In the film, the song was performed by Harve Presnell . The New York Times said that Presnell's role in the film "delivered the golden opportunity to sing the unforgettable ballad ." Theater writer Thomas Hischak said that "in one of the film's few pleasing moments, Harve Presnell gave full voice to' They Call the Wind Maria' and it was lovely to hear". Referring to Eastwood and Marvin, film reviewer Brian W. Fairbanks wrote that "Harve Presnell steals both stars' thunder with a knockout version of the best song ." </P> <P> In a promotional tie - in with release of the film, recorded versions of the song were issued by seven singers and groups, including Presnell, Ed Ames, Burl Ives, Jim Nabors and the Baja Marimba Band . Several record labels participated . </P> <P> This version appeared in 50 First Dates where it was played at the conclusion of the first half of the end credits during the dedication message to Stanley Sandler who was the real - life father of the film's star Adam Sandler . </P> <P> In George Rippey Stewart's 1941 novel Storm, he names the storm that is the protagonist of his story Maria . In 1947, Stewart wrote a new introduction for a reprint of the book, and discussed the pronunciation of "Maria": "The soft Spanish pronunciation is fine for some heroines, but our Maria here is too big for any man to embrace and much too boisterous ." He went on to say, "So put the accent on the second syllable, and pronounce it' rye"'. </P>

They call the wind maria paint your wagon