Rooster Cogburn (1975)

Really Surprised!

It's funny watching the elements come together in this complicated scam. On one hand, the set-up isn't quite as complex as it seems, but there's an easy sense of fun in every exchange.

Good films always raise compelling questions, whether the format is fiction or documentary fact.

It is a whirlwind of delight --- attractive actors, stunning couture, spectacular sets and outrageous parties.

Rooster Cogburn (1975)** 1/2 (out of 4)After being fired for violent conduct, Marshall Rooster Cogburn (John Wayne) is asked by Judge Parker (John McIntire) to track down a gang who stole some explosives in order to rob a bank. Cogburn heads out and runs into missionary Eula (Katharine Hepburn) whose father was killed by the gang. She demands to go with Cogburn and the two head out for revenge.ROOSTER COGBURN isn't the best movie out there but it's certainly entertaining enough thanks in large part to its two legendary stars as well as some nice supporting performances. I really can't blame the filmmakers for bringing Wayne back in his Oscar-winning role from TRUE GRIT but I do question why they also seemed to want to remake THE African QUEEN since Hepburn is playing the same type of role and the two films share some other connections.With all of that said, this here is the basic type of Western that you'd expect to see Wayne doing. He plays that lovable, tough-as-nails character who does things his way and usually that means killing off the bad guys. I must admit that I wasn't crazy for Hepburns's role here but there's no question that she's good in it and the two stars have some nice chemistry. The two of them work extremely well together and have some nice back-and-forth as they throw insults and quotes off one another.The film benefits from having some nice action as well including the finale, which I won't spoil but there's some nice tension as well as some loud action. The cinematography is quite good and technically speaking this is a well-made film. Still, I just wish something more had been done with the story and I think the attempt at remaking THE African QUEEN didn't help matters. Still, it's Wayne and Hepburn and that's worth watching.

Those who watched African Queen will understand from where this movie came from,this sequel of True Grit,they tried explore the chemistry of those greatest actors Duke and Kate and they got it,no doubt about that,the movie is funny and every characters are engaged in their roles,especially John McIntire as judge and Strother Martin as McCoy the wise balsa man...they are superb...Rooster and Eula are on fight every time,both have a own way to think about the right and wrong and they are completely opposite each other....about the movie??? doesn't matter at all!!We must point out the amazing western landscape,in particular way Rogue river in the Oregon!!!Resume:First watch: 1989 / How many: 2 /Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 7.5

John Wayne returns to his iconic, Oscar winning character of one eyed, colorful deputy marshal "Rooster" Cogburn in this passable sequel (of sorts) to "True Grit". At the beginning of the story, Rooster is stripped of his authority by a judge (John McIntire). But the judge soon changes his tune, and tasks Rooster to bring an outlaw gang, led by Hawk (Richard Jordan), to justice. Roosters' biggest problem: a spinster named Eula Goodnight (Katharine Hepburn) insists on tagging along, because her minister father (Jon Lormer) was murdered by the Hawk gang and she wants to see that they're properly punished."Rooster Cogburn" is no "True Grit", not by a long shot, with a rather redundant story (by actress Martha Hyer, writing under a pseudonym). It's handsomely shot in widescreen, with some decent action (especially a finale on some river rapids), but it gets awfully bogged down in talk, with too much bickering and bantering between our two leads. Hepburn is wonderful, but her character does get annoying at times. The Duke is quite lively and engaging, and his reactions to her sermonizing ways can be pretty funny. Rooster is definitely an old fashioned kind of guy who's not used to this level of feistiness from a lady.The supporting cast is good. Jordan is unsubtle but amusing as the villain, while Anthony Zerbe has a more interesting role as the scout who rides with him. Other familiar character players like Paul Koslo, Jack Colvin, and Lane Smith turn up. Strother Martin gives the tale a shot in the arm with his appearance as the cantankerous McCoy. And Richard Romancito is appealing as a brave, reliable Indian kid who is the third member of the Cogburn travelling party.Admittedly, it's the star power that is the principal value of this movie. But Wayne and Hepburn set off enough sparks to make this pleasant if not exceptional viewing.Six out of 10.

. . . Ay-Ya, it's none other than the Connecticut Yankee herself, Katharine Hepburn, angling for that elusive fourth Best Actress Oscar if she can pull off the Miracle of bringing Salvation to that most Unrepentent scoundrel, Rooster Cogburn. Ol' Rooster has slaughtered scads of Abolitionist families as a Confederate Civil War "raider," in his failed attempt to coddle the lazy Southern cotton plantation guys and their Racist System of Genocidal Black Slavery. Instead of being hung for his status as a traitor and a War Criminal, this Chicken Man has hit the reset button on his Rolodex of Death, and started enumerating his Quasi-Legal murders in a U.S. Marshal capacity from Absolute Zero. However, in just eight years this crowing bully has notched 60 kill shots among his 64 gun attacks--a fatality rate that only a back-shooting sniper could achieve, as any REAL military man will tell you. His renegade judicial enabler points this out in stripping Rooster of all authority as this sequel opens, but immediately defies his better angel by reinstating the drunken killing machine for the quality of his "Blue Spit" (caused by 86-proof Bourbon and 14% alcohol Beer). Even the AFR!CAN QUEEN can't salvage THIS geezer; she'd have to look for her next Oscar ON GOLDEN POND. However, with the NRA running what passes for the American Government nowadays, an open-carrying Rooster could lurch into nearly any public gathering in America, and feel as comfortable shooting off his mouth as a Chicago Cop.