Rooster Cogburn (film)
| Rooster Cogburn | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Stuart Millar |
| Written by | Martha Hyer |
| Produced by |
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| Starring | |
| Cinematography | Harry Stradling, Jr. |
| Edited by | Robert Swink |
| Music by | Laurence Rosenthal |
Production company | Hal Wallis Productions |
| Distributed by | |
Release date |
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Running time | 108 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $17,594,566 [1] |
Rooster Cogburn is a 1975 American Western Technicolor film directed by Stuart Millar and starring John Wayne, reprising his role as U.S. Marshal Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn, and Katharine Hepburn. Written by Martha Hyer, based on the Rooster Cogburn character created by Charles Portis in the novel True Grit, the film is about an aging lawman whose badge was recently suspended for a string of routine arrests that ended in bloodshed. To earn back his badge, he is tasked with bringing down a ring of bank robbers that has hijacked a wagon shipment of nitroglycerin. He is helped by a spinster searching for her father's killer. Rooster Cogburn is a sequel to the 1969 film True Grit.[2]
Plot
Because of his drunkenness and questionable use of firearms, aging U.S. Marshal Rooster Cogburn (John Wayne) has been stripped of his badge. But he's given a chance to redeem himself after a village in Indian Territory is overrun by a gang of violent, ruthless criminals, who've killed an elderly preacher, Rev. George Goodnight (Jon Lormer). His spinster daughter, Eula Goodnight (Katharine Hepburn), wants to join Cogburn to track the criminals down, becoming his unwilling partner. But Rooster must use care, because the criminals, led by Hawk (Richard Jordan) and Breed (Anthony Zerbe), have stolen a shipment of nitroglycerine.
Cast
- John Wayne as Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn
- Katharine Hepburn as Eula Goodnight
- Anthony Zerbe as Breed
- Richard Jordan as Hawk
- John McIntire as Judge Parker
- Richard Romancito as Wolf
- Paul Koslo as Luke
- Strother Martin as Shanghai McCoy
- Tommy Lee as Chen Lee
- Jack Colvin as Red
- Jon Lormer as Rev. George Goodnight
- Lane Smith as Leroy
- Warren Vanders as Bagby
- Jerry Gatlin as Nose
- Mickey Gilbert as Hambone (uncredited)
- Chuck Hayward as Jerry (uncredited)
- Gary McLarty as Emmett (uncredited)
- Andrew Prine as Fiona's Husband (uncredited)
- John Hamilton as Cavalry Lieutenant (uncredited)
- Unknown as General Sterling Price (Rooster's Pet Cat) (uncredited)
Production
The screenplay was written by actress Martha Hyer, the wife of producer Hal B. Wallis, under the pen name "Martin Julien".[3] Director Stuart Millar, a longtime Hollywood producer, had directed only one film, When the Legends Die based on the classic novel by Hal Borland, prior to helming Rooster Cogburn.
Although True Grit was released by Paramount Pictures, Wallis made a deal with Universal Pictures to finance this film.
The film was shot in Oregon, in Deschutes County, west of the city of Bend (for the mountain scenes), on the Deschutes River for the whitewater rapids, and on the Rogue River in the counties of Josephine and Curry, west of Grants Pass (for the river scenes). Smith Rock State Park was a setting as well; the Rockhard/Smith Rock Climbing Guides building at the park entrance was originally built as a set for the movie, where it was portrayed as "Kate's Saloon".
John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn were born a mere two weeks apart (Hepburn being the eldest), and their careers paralleled each other, yet Rooster Cogburn marked the only time the Hollywood veterans appeared together in a film. It was the final film from producer Hal B. Wallis. Although it was promoted as Rooster Cogburn (...and the Lady), the opening credits of the film give the title as simply Rooster Cogburn.
Strother Martin, who portrays Shanghai McCoy in this film, also appeared in True Grit, playing a different character.
The cinematography was by Harry Stradling Jr.
Reception
Critical response
In his review in the New York Times, Vincent Canby called the film "a high-class example of the low Hollywood art of recycling".[4] Canby praised the performances by the two leads—Wayne for his continuation of his Oscar-winning role as Cogburn, and Hepburn for a performance that recalls her "marvelous characterization opposite Humphrey Bogart in The African Queen".[4] Canby felt that the film's lighthearted tone and convincing performances allows the viewer to accept the film on its own terms.[4] Canby concluded that the film is "a cheerful, throwaway Western, featuring two stars of the grand tradition who respond to each other with verve that makes the years disappear".[4]
Box office
The film grossed $17,594,566 at the box office,[1] earning $4.5 million in North American rentals.[5] It was the 25th highest grossing film of 1975.
See also
References
- ^ a b "Rooster Cogburn". Worldwide Boxoffice. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
- ^ "Rooster Cogburn (1975)". The New York Times. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
- ^ Steinberg, Jay. "Rooster Cogburn (1975)". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
- ^ a b c d Canby, Vincent (October 18, 1975). "A Recycled 'Rooster Cogburn' ..." The New York Times. Retrieved March 21, 2014.
- ^ "All-time Film Rental Champs", Variety, 7 January 1976 p 48
External links
