The man of “True Grit” is back and look who’s got him!
Often called the sequel to True Grit, Rooster Cogburn bears little resemblance to perhaps John Wayne’s most popular- even if not best, role. In the almost thirty years since its release, it has joined Wayne’s other 1970s films as a key component in a relative mélange of mediocrity.
Wayne is clearly laboring here, and rightfully so. He well into the sunset of his career, but still trying to compete with newer and hotter stars of the time, namely Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds. He’d even gone so far as to dip his toes into their type of movies, resulting in the tepid McQ and Brannigan in 1974 and 1975. Surprisingly, he was still the #1 draw at the box office in 1971, the year Big Jake was released. It was his last hit picture.
Not only were things tougher due to Wayne’s age and America’s changing interests away from westerns, but his health was also questionable. In addition to increasing infirmities from his increasing old age, he had lost a lung in 1964 to cancer and suffered a stroke in 1974. The former required Wayne to have oxygen available at all times during filming Rooster Cogburn, though Wayne’s needs here were exacerbated by the elevation (in Oregon) where most of the filming took place. The stroke required Wayne to alter his speech pattern and speak out of the side of his mouth. This pattern is especially noticeable in Coogburn and its predecessor, Brannigan.
So how does the end result fare?
Nostalgic, but rather weak, Rooster Cogburn is in many ways simply a westernized African Queen, with Wayne and co-star Katharine Hepburn floating downriver with an explosive final act in store. Unlike his earlier films (think Rio Bravo), Wayne isn’t paired with a young heartthrob to garner box office cache. If anything, the somewhat odd pairing with Hepburn did nothing but diminish any attraction a younger audience may have had for the film.
Even the score, here by Laurence Rosenthal, harkens back to an earlier picture. It bears more than a slight resemblance to the score from the much earlier Big Country.
The plot seems to try to take the advanced age of the stars into account. Ignoring the fact that both (Wayne especially) were far to aged at the time to be appropriate for their roles, there are several surprisingly witty and self-deprecating comments sprinkled throughout. In one of the better scenes of the picture (of which there are few), Wayne is humorously mocked by Judge Parker, with whom he clearly has had a career-long relationship. Parker mocks Cogburn’s appearance, saying he drinks too much and has let himself go to seed. Wayne’s reply of “I ain’t had a drink since breakfast” strikes a great chord.
Rooster Cogburn (Wayne): How old are you?
Eula Goodnight (Hepburn): Shall we say it has already struck midnight?
Throughout the picture, any scene with Richard Jordan is worth the price of admission. As the dastardly renegade Hawk, his self-labeled over the top performance steals the show. Thinking the movie was swill and any draw would be purely because of Wayne’s and Hepburn’s names on it, he ramped up his performance. His remains a bright spot in an otherwise flat outing. Incidentally, Jordan though Hepburn might drop dead at any moment during filming, though ironically she outlived him by many years.
As I mentioned above, the film is a westernized remake of the Bogart-Hepburn classic The African Queen- just substitute a western motif. Wayne (Cogburn) is hot on the trail of Hawk’s gang after they kill the father of missionary Hepburn (Eula Goodnight). They have some witty banter as they travel up the mountains and down again, only to float down the river on a raft in hot pursuit of Hawk and his cronies. The raft segment bears (of course) the most similarities to Hepburn’s prior film, leveraging nitro-glycerin and a gatlin gun against the Queen’s torpedoes.
Incidentally there is another amusing tidbit of conversation when the gun washes overboard through some rapids (still another Queen reference) as Hepburn wails that they’ve lost the gun in the river. Wayne’s sardonic reply is (roughly), “Well what the hell do you think I can do about it?”
Hepburn and Wayne seem to have an odd type of chemistry in their only onscreen pairing. Though both are a bit crotchety, they seem to have an inside knowledge that this isn’t their best entry in their respective filmographies. They are having a bit of fun with the material, and one gets the impression that they’d like you to be in on the joke.
There are hints of a potential romantic storyline between the two stars, but thankfully it is never really developed. The closest it ever comes to reality is Wayne’s comment (to Hepburn) towards the denouement, “Being around you pleases me.”
And that is probably the best way to sum up the movie. The nostalgic feel of the two iconic stars offsets the unoriginal script.
It isn’t a great movie but I’ve always had a soft spot for “Rooster Cogburn.” Maybe because of its distinct resemblance to “The African Queen” and the fact that Rooster, more grizzled and dilapidated than he was in “True Grit” (a film I don’t care for), appeals to me in the same way Charlie Allnut does. I enjoyed the teaming of Hepburn and Wayne – odd couple or not, it seemed to work (Hepburn/Bogart was an odd pairing, too, though they were at least on the same page, politically). You’re right, the two do seem to be having fun with the picture and if they were trying to draw the audience into the fun, they succeeded with me.
Both times I’ve seen Rooster Cogburn I’ve watched it with my father. He loves everything John Wayne but not so much Kate. ha ha
Interesting that you mention it’s a westernized remake of African Queen. I’ve never thought about that but now that you bring it up. So true!
I loved the relationship between Kate and John’s characters. Not as much as Kate with Bogie but pretty darn close.
A solid film and a great look back at it. I’ve certainly taken a way a lot I didn’t consider after reading your well thought out review.
Cheers!
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I agree with both of you- it is a movie I tend to like out of nostalgia for both the Duke and Kate. If you go into it with the right perspective and expectations it plays a lot better.
I’ve only ever seen the opening scene of this film, where Katharine Hepburn stands quoting scripture while being shot at. I must give this film another go. I’m glad I read your review before seeing the whole thing, otherwise I would have spent the whole film annoyed at a rip-off of “The African Queen” instead of appreciating it for its “Western-ized” qualities.
On paper I agree that it looks rather bleak on paper and for the record I am not a huge Hepburn fan, but at the most base of levels this film strikes a chord with me. Perhaps an homage rather than a rip-off of Huston’s masterpiece.
Richard Jordan would have been outstanding in True Grit. Unfortunately, after the Colonel botched up Elvis’s casting, the studio had to replace him with a “hot name”…thus we got Glen Campbell, who couldn’t act his way out of a paper bag.
I have always really enjoyed this film, probably for the banter between Wayne and Hepburn. Richard Jordan is a dynamic bad guy too. I actually enjoy it more than True Grit because I found Glen Campbell and Kim Darby just lousy and annoying to watch.
I saw this one on TV once. John Wayne and Katherine Hepburn appeared to be really enjoying themselves in their scenes together. I always thought that they were good friends off stage, also, just from the way they played it.
The movie is great, African what lol
I loved this film. Anthony Zerbe and Richard Jordan were the icing on the cake.
I loved this film. Anthony Zerbe and Richard Jordan were the icing on the cake.
I really like this movie. I am surprised by the bad comments and review because I own both it and True Grit and I never tire of it while I do True Grit. The movie has some great dialogue and has more to do with the two stars than action adventure, perhaps compensating for the two of thems ages. Still it is a favorite. I love both John Wayne and Katherine Hepburn so perhaps that helps. I think it is a much better movie than you all are giving it credit.
I disliked this film from the start; probably because it is an attempt to bring two great actors together in a plot that is forced to convey. The movie was their last year as great stars. It is a sad little film that is heartbreaking to watch. It was a bad choice for the two great World Wide personalities. Was it for the money? What a waste of talent and money! It was sheer torture as well as being boring and dull. I watched as fans left the theatre before the ending.
Hollywood is famous for beating a subject to death with eighty gorolles.
i can not believe some of the comments on this Film. I have referred this movie to many to try , anywhere from my age (56) to my Grand Daughter who is eleven . NO one has seen what some of you critics have written. I will agree that this may not have been either of their best over all performance , but taken their age into consideration , it is a Grand Film . Maybe someone should look at their selves in the mirror once and a while and also consider the years and how it has worked out for them. i believe this is a great film and wish they had worked together more. I cherish this film , i do like both John and Katie and believe that they did not take kindly to the banter you have created about this Film. Yes it may have been at the end of their hay day’s , but it certainly is much more than you are willing to give it.
It’s a mediocre film but my favorite Western.
Bottomline – I’ve always liked this movie. Yes the story is contrived and the dialogue weak. But it’s also John Wayne, one of the most underrated actors EVER! What you see is him, as he was in even his best movies. And nobody can stand against Ms Hepburn – the best. In my view you see two outstanding actors, and persons, not acting, but being themselves, just on screen for all to see. I’m in awe of actors that don’t act like they’re acting. And finally, I’ll watch the whole movie just to hear the line, “being around you pleases me” – one of the most heartfelt and loving lines ever spoke on film.