Rooster Cogburn

Rating:
Summary: Quite a movie
Review: John Wayne shines once again as Rooster Cogburn but Katherine Hepburn provides the polish.

This movie is often refered to as John Wayne meets the African Queen. I disagree. The interaction between Wayne & Hepburn is the foundation of the movie, but I think the chemistry and clash between Hawk & Breed (Richard Jordan & Anthony Zerbe)is almost as interesting. Jordan & Zerbe are two character actors who are often overlooked.

I liked the character of Hawk. I always thought He would make an adult version of him would make a good character in a western series if they ever came back. Strother Martin is a pleasure (as always) in a bit role as well.

Hepburn & Wayne work well together, Hepburn is a different type of foil than O'Hara, of course the relative ages of the characters and the actors call for a more verbial and less sexual tension. Of course if it was O'Hara then she would have shot her father's killer herself.

This movie is a sip of aged wine, one of the last movies Wayne appeared in. Enjoy the flavor

Rating:
Summary: John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn stand toe to toe
Review: Sometimes a multitude of wrongs can come out right. Hollywood has a penchant for making sequels to successful films, so when John Wayne finally won an Oscar for his performance in "True Grit." Wayne played Rooster Cogburn, a fearless, one-eyed U.S. marshal who never knew a dry day in his life. Fortunately Hollywood waited six years before making this 1975 sequel. However, at that point they not only hired a novice screenwriter, actress Martha Hyer ("First Men in the Moon"), they let her rip off "The African Queen" and turn it into a western. Fortunately, they hired Katharine Hepburn to play opposite the Duke.

That is what "Rooster Cogburn" comes down to, the chance for John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn to do scenes together; it also explains why the film is also known as "Rooster Cogburn and the Lady." Hepburn plays Rose Sayer, no, wait, I mean Eula Goodnight, who is the daughter of a minister (Jon Lormer) instead of the brother of a missionary. The gospel is still being brought to the natives, except this time we are set in the Cascades of Oregon rather than the jungles of Africa. The bad guys are now a gang of thieves led by Breed (Anthony Zerbe) and Hawk (Richard Jordan), instead of Nazis, and this time they gun down the minister. So when Rooster comes along to track them down and bring them to his brand of justice, Eula insists on going along.

The plot is predictable in terms of the outcome and familiar when Kate and the Duke end up on the water. But there is fun to be had in these two standing toe to toe, but not jaw to jaw, and going at it. "To whom do you think you are speaking," she intones frostily. "You is to whom I think I am speaking, sister," he shoots back. She allows that he is bigger than she is, but only physically. He observes in this situation that should be enough and they continue to have great fun with the dialogue. Wayne has great fun hamming it up and Hepburn enjoys having an actor big enough to stand up to her assault.

The stories from the set were that the two great stars had great fun making this movie. Their politics were at opposite ends of the spectrum so they just avoid the topics and enjoyed being in each other's company. Wayne was playing a character he had done before in a movie, but then Hepburn's character is instantly recognizable as well, even if the name is different. The names do not matter. They can call them "Rooster Cogburn and the Lady," but it is the Duke and Kate, and their fans will not be disappointed by their time together.

Rating:
Summary: Ole Rooster lacks true grit second time around
Review: The "one-eyed fat man" Rooster Cogburn is arguably John Wayne's best performance. It (from the movie True Grit) netted The Duke his only Oscar. However, the sequel Rooster Cogburn lacks the style and pinache of True Grit. This time out, Cogburn is on the trail of gunrunners who have stolen a Gatling gun and, in the process, have murdered Katherine Hepburn's father. Finding Hepburn gives this movie a pulse. Otherwise, it rambles aimlessly. The villians, or lack thereof, are another major defect in Rooster Cogburn. Unlike Robert Duval's ballsy Ned Pepper in True Grit, Richard Jordan's Brooklyn-tinged bark is much more annoying than his bite. And the rest of his gang is easy-pickins for The Duke. Luckily Hepburn's and Wayne's tit-for-tat antics keep Rooster Cogburn watchable. Otherwise, ole Rooster lacks the true grit that won him an Oscar the first time around.

Rating:
Summary: A Highly Enjoyable Western Romp With Two Of Hollywood's Best
Review: This sequal to TRUE GRIT is, in many ways, superior. There's more humor, for starters. MUCH more. And we don't have to listen to that obnoxious little girl from the first movie whine and bicker! However, ROOSTER COGBURN is also inferior in other ways. The plot's a little harder to follow (at least for me), mainly because every single villain looks the exact same! Therefore, you quickly loose track of who's who, who was shot, or who lived, etc. Secondly, the film's way too short for a western; for me, a western should be at the very least two hours. But in the long run, the loss of the Mattie Ross from TRUE GRIT ("But it's mine and I want it!" Obnoxious!) wins over all the cons.

But the real reason to watch ROOSTER COGBURN is not for the plot (since it's nothing more than a retread of its predecessor), but to see John Wayne and Katherine Hepburn, two of the all-time greats, square off eachother and exchange witty insults! It's some of the most fun you'll ever have in front of a TV screen! Now, I've heard some people shun this movie for being nothing more than an attempt to overthrow THE AFRICAN QUEEN. Well, let me tell you something, bub: that film was among the most boring I've ever seen! Meanwhile, ROOSTER COGBURN is loaded with action and thrills. I strongly feel that this is a far better film than John Huston's 1950 movie.

Unfortunately, while the DVD is widescreen format, the picture and sound aren't all that great, especially during the first ten minutes or so (blotches and scratches galore). I was on the verge of turning it off, but don't worry, it gets much better. All it has for special features are production notes (which are fairly interesting), a theatrical trailer, and cast & crew bios. Not what you'd call a jam-packed DVD...

CONCLUSION: It ain't great on plot or characterization, but ROOSTER COGBURN is one helluva good time for any Wayne and/or Hepburn fan!

Rating:
Summary: Nearly as good as True Grit
Review: While this film has more of a tv western feel to it than film #1 did it still totally clicks. It is, like True Grit, a bit of a true story as Judge Isaac Parker who appears in both did exist. Wayne and Hepburn have fine chemistry and the rest of the cast is faultless. Zerbe especially. Good, believable action too. I'm sorry but I feel I should point out an inconsistency or two with True Grit. Judge Parker is played by a different man here and his court room is small and doesn't call to mind the giant court room he had in the first film. Also, Chin Lee is a different guy here too. And the cat of Cogburn's,General Sterling Price, is still alive after all these years?