.What It's About:
In the 1870s, 14-year old Mattie Ross (Kim Darby) travels to the town where her father was killed - Fort Smith, Arkansas - and hires a whiskey-drinking US Marshall (John Wayne) to bring the killer (Jeff Corey) to justice. The two are joined by a Texas ranger LaBeef (Glenn Campbell) and they all travel through the wilderness on horseback to find the drifter.
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| Mattie (Kim Darby) and her father (played by John Pickard) |
My take:
I really like this movie, and liked the Cogburn-Mattie "odd couple" relationship. By the end of the film, Cogburn becomes Mattie's surrogate father figure. Kim Darby is very spunky and determined; some critics think she is too old for the part but I thought she was good. Campbell is just ok; I suspect he was cast so no actor could outshine Wayne. Plus it seems like in the 1960s every other pop star was given a part in a major motion picture, from Eddie Fisher to Tony Bennett. The LaBeef character and Cogburn have some funny banter in this film, and it's funny when Wayne calls him a "jaybird". ha ha. |
| Dinner scene at the boarding house. Mattie eats dumplings. |
My favorite part in the movie is the scene in Chen's store, when Mattie comes and eats dinner with a drunken Wayne and Chen, who later play a game of cards. We also get to meet his cat, General Sterling Price.
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| Mattie (after Cogburn invites her to dinner): I'd like to meet your family! Cogburn (in Chen's store): This is my father, Chen Lee, and (pointing to the cat) my nephew General Sterling Price! |
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| Cogburn, to his cat: Well, General, look what we've got! (referring to the wad of cash that Mattie just gave him) |
There's a funny scene when Cogburn shoots a rat dead after he humorously shouts at him. Mattie throws the rat outside and says to the cat, "That was your job!". The cat then runs after the dead mouse to eat it. Ha ha. Wayne and Mattie continue talking about "rat hunting".
I love John Wayne in this movie, drunk scenes and all. The scene that probably clinched the Oscar for him (besides his drunk speeches) is the one where he talks to Mattie at night and tells her about his ex wife and son, and about how he lost his eye. Also great in this is Robert Duvall as Ned Pepper.
There is some great scenery, and an enjoyable score by the great Elmer Bernstein. Co-starring Jeff Corey and Dennis Hopper. Directed by Henry Hathaway.
My rating: A
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| The film ends with Cogburn and Mattie (with her arm bandaged) visiting her father's grave. Mattie then expresses to Rooster how she would like for him to be buried near her father and family one day. It's a very touching sequence, and a nice ending to a very entertaining film. |