American Movie Classics has been running a film preservation series this weekend and is showing back-to-back wide screen versions of the best of the immortal John “Duke” Wayne. In addition to The Searchers, which many think is the best Western ever, AMC has shown restored wide screen versions of She Wore A Yellow Ribbon, El Dorado, and Fort Apache. Wide Screen presentations, also known as letterbox editions, are very seldom seen in commercial VHS video tapes, therefore I rabidly recorded lots of them in order to replace/augment the pan-and-scan normal versions in my video collection. In addition, the restoration process makes the video detail and color look as good as new. It is instructive that AMC shows a little clip of the before and after look of the video in between the commercial-free presentation of the feature presentations. It is truly amazing how many classic films are deteriorated almost to the point of utter destruction.

True Grit stars Duke Wayne as Deputy Marshall Reuben J. “Rooster” Cogburn, a heavy-set, elderly, one-eyed officer of the court. Rooster is also one of the meanest hombres alive when it comes to getting his man. When the reward poster reads dead or alive, Rooster usually brings the bad guy back in draped over a saddle. It is for this reputation that he is approached by precocious youngster Matty Ross (Kim Darby) who wants to get the man who killed her father. She is remarkably business-minded for her age and wants to find a champion who has “true grit.” Convinced that Rooster is indeed the man, Matty cajoles, badgers, and bribes him until he agrees to do the job and to take her with him. Coincidentally, they meet up with a Texas Ranger (Glen Campbell) who is looking for the exact same man, so they throw in with him. By the end of the movie, I think the viewer will agree that all three of them have “true grit.”

It is always a pleasure to me to watch John Wayne perform and his performance in True Grit is no exception. A truly remarkable actor, I feel that Wayne’s contribution to the cinematic art has yet to be recognized. A pretty fair actor to begin with, John Wayne continually improved throughout his long career and added more and more facets to his characters, especially in his later films. Rooster Cogburn is a drunkard, “a fat old man” according to one of his adversaries, and funny as hell. To see the feisty young Kim Darby best him in their verbal duels is truly a riot. Glen Campbell is also spot on in his performance as LaBoeuf, Texas Ranger. It is apparent that both Duke and Glen Campbell were having the time of their lives playing their rôles. The “Fill your hand…” line occurs in the dramatic showdown between Rooster and four, count ‘em, four mounted adversaries. The supporting cast including Strother Martin and Robert Duvall are perfectly chosen as well. Martin’s haggling scenes with the shrewd Darby are worthy of the Academy Award as well as the well-deserved Best Actor Oscar won by The Duke.

Henry Hathaway directed and like most Wayne movies, the scenery is spectacular -- skies, mountains, and idyllic settings. Photography was by Lucien Ballard (The Wild Bunch). Sets and costuming are similarly well done. Dialog by Marguerite Roberts and Charles Portis (book) is priceless, for example, Wayne’s tongue-twisting “Rat Writ” speech. And Mattie’s determined statement to the sheriff, “I won’t rest until Tom Chaney is barking in Hell.” These moments and many another sparkle with humor and make True Grit a wonderful movie. Watch True Grit and see what a remarkable actor John Wayne was. Five stars.

More John Wayne fun:

Rooster Cogburn

The Shootist

El Dorado

The War Wagon



Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: VHS
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening