True Grit (1969)

Director:

Henry Hathaway

Writers:

Charles Portis (novel)
Marguerite Roberts (screenplay)

Release Date:

11 June 1969 (USA)

Genre:

Adventure | Western | Drama

Tagline:

The strangest trio ever to track a killer.

Plot:

A drunken, hard-nosed U.S. Marshal and a Texas Ranger help a stubborn young woman track down her father's murderer in Indian territory.

Plot Keywords:

Rat | Maverick | Bounty Hunter | Man Hunt | Amazing Grace Hymn

Awards:

Won Oscar. Another 6 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

John Wayne	...	Marshall Reuben J. 'Rooster' Cogburn
Glen Campbell	...	La Boeuf
Kim Darby	...	Mattie Ross
Jeremy Slate	...	Emmett Quincy
Robert Duvall	...	Ned Pepper
Dennis Hopper	...	Moon
Alfred Ryder	...	Mr. Goudy (Defense attorney)
Strother Martin	...	Colonel G. Stonehill
Jeff Corey	...	Tom Chaney
Ron Soble	...	Capt. Boots Finch
John Fiedler	...	Lawyer Daggett
James Westerfield	...	Judge Parker
John Doucette	...	Sheriff
Donald Woods	...	Barlow
Edith Atwater	...	Mrs. Floyd

Runtime:

128 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M (TV rating) | Finland:K-15 (2002) (DVD) | USA:G (edited for re-rating) | Brazil:14 | USA:M (original rating) | Canada:PG (Manitoba) | Finland:K-16 (cut) (1969) (theatrical) | Canada:PG (Ontario) | Iceland:12 | Canada:G (Quebec) | Australia:PG | Spain:T | Sweden:15 | UK:PG | West Germany:12 | Singapore:PG

Filming Locations:

Bishop, California, USA

Company:

Paramount Pictures

Trivia:

John Wayne reportedly chased costar Dennis Hopper around Paramount with a loaded gun. Hopper had to hide in Glen Campbell's dressing room until Wayne cooled down.

Goofs:

Continuity: When Mattie approaches the ferry pulling the horse, to join Cogburn and La Boeuf, her shadow indicates the sun position to the right. Subsequently, all of them are shown from behind, with their shadows indicating the sun position to the right again.

Quotes:

Rooster Cogburn: Boots, I got Hayes and some youngster outside with Moon and Quincy. I want you to bury 'em for me. I'm in a hurry.
Capt. Boots Finch: They're dead?
Rooster Cogburn: Well, I wouldn't want you to bury 'em if they wasn't.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "L.A. Law: True Brit (#4.11)" (1990)

Soundtrack:

True Grit

Darby Makes This Wayne Western Special

John Wayne and Kim Darby make this simple story a fun two hours of entertainment. It probably was another case of Hollywood giving away Academy Awards (Wayne for best actor) for longevity in the business, if nothing else, because Wayne is fine but nothing exceptional here. This is the same role he played in Big Jake, The Searchers and a number of other films.

But, he's fun to watch and listen to, as usual. The difference between this western and Wayne's others was Kim Darby, a fresh-faced strong-willed young woman who gives the story its unique angle. Even though Wayne is given the responsibility and chasing down the bad guys, it's really Darby doing it as young woman seeking the killer of her father.

Darby doesn't come off, though, as some hardened woman. She's too cute for that, but she's feisty, doesn't take no for an answer and this role came along right at the beginnings of the feminist movement so it made her a popular figure at that time. Too bad she, or Hollywood, didn't capitalize more on her looks and talent. I don't know why she never made it as a film star because she certainly had the appeal in this movie.

Anyway Wayne played what he played best: a crotchety-but-likable old man who delivered a lot of interesting lines. He's always tough on the outside but with a soft spot deep inside.

The oddball in here was singer Glen Campbell, playing a Texas Ranger and being the third person in the killer-hunting trio. He wasn't bad, but not being a professional actor, he wasn't totally convincing, either. I don't really understand that choice of putting him in this role.

Check out the actors who have minor roles in here: Jeremy Slate, Strother Martin, Robert Duvall, Dennis Hopper and more. Wow!

One other question I had. How can this be rated "G?" I thought that meant nothing offensive was in the film, yet Wayne uses a number of damns, several "bast--ds," and one memorable "son of a bit-h!" And it's rated "G?" Huh? Anyway, it's a very entertaining western that I always enjoy watching. As in most westerns, you'll see some great scenery too which makes having this in widescreen DVD a good choice.