TRUE GRIT (1969)

First and foremost, I'm not generally what you call a western fan. Mostly, this is due to the time period I grew up in (1992's Unforgiven being considered "the last great modern Western"), but also their subject matter being no longer a good fit for kids in the era of multiculturalism. But what is it about 1969's True Grit that appeals to even non-western fans (like my fellow film reviewer Ken Anderson)? Let's find out.

Kim Darby as Mattie Ross

John Wayne as U.S. Marshal Reuben "Rooster" Cogburn

Glen Campbell as Texas Marshal La Boeuf

While certainly tailored to the pre-Easy Rider moviegoing taste, Henry Hathaway's film adaptation of Charles Portis' novel brings an easy, unhurried energy, capped by sprawling landscapes and Elmer Bernstein's lovely trumpet, guitar, and strings-driven score. Special credit should also be given to Marguerite Roberts' screenplay, which retains the three-dimensional characters while dispensing with some minor characters and details.

True Grit doesn't give us more than it needs to in

showing Mattie and her father's relationship dynamic.

Even though her role is ever-so-slightly reduced in comparison to the book and the 2010 film, I never had to put on my "different time" glasses when watching Mattie Ross. In an era where over-correction leads to many female characters having no flaws or interesting personalities, Mattie is arguably more refreshing now than she was in 1969. A well-rounded, nuanced, three-dimensional teenager understandably driven by her father's murder, Mattie is thrown into several dangerous situations, but still proves at least somewhat capable, even if she loses in the moment. 

Even though she's unprepared and untrained regarding guns, 

Mattie still fearlessly gets several shots in.

Darby's controlled manner as Mattie makes her

few displays of grief all the more heart-wrenching.

Jeff Corey as Tom Chaney, a character whose relative

patheticness avoids genre cliche.

The sequence of Mattie's father's murder is quite brief,

adding to how quickly and senselessly one can die.

Mattie's expert negotiating skills rouse the eventual interest of U.S. Marshal "Rooster" Cogburn, a slovenly drunkard who everyone in the film seems to know by name and moreso his reputation. It's because of his "true grit" (read: "getting the job done"), not in spite of it, that Mattie seeks him out. 

Not having seen a lot of Wayne films in general (my first, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, seemed to doubly establish the fodder that Wayne and costar Jimmy Stewart would be mercilessly parodied with to this day), True Grit is the first "good" Wayne film that I've seen, and it certainly lives up to it, especially regarding the Duke's performance.

Kitteh!

By all accounts feeling out of his element before starting in the role, you get no sense of that in Wayne's performance. Languid, yet decisive, rough, yet murmuring with heart and likability, in Wayne we see Rooster's slight affection for Mattie start well before he's trying to protect her.

As far as musicians-turned-actors go, Campbell is actually pretty good as La Boeuf, infusing him with charm, that little bit of condescension (especially talking to Mattie), and a bit of ego in regards to Rooster and his methods. (Though my meter might be skewed, seeing as nowadays, musicians acting are generally relegated to guest spots in procedural dramas.) Basically, 60s westerns could do a lot worse than him in a main role.

True Grit's performances solidify the diametrically-

opposed personalities that make up its main trio.

Rooster talking about his old life with his ex-wife

and clumsy son was a favorite scene of Wayne's.

Robert Duvall as "Lucky" Ned Pepper

For a villain who's not even the main villain of the story, Duvall's Pepper proves why he's so successful, notorious, and feared. Pragmatic enough to know Chaney is a serious liability, he turns his attention to Rooster, who stands more of a chance of killing him. Fresh off of films such as To Kill a Mockingbird and Bullitt, Duvall would soon hit it big with M*A*S*H and the Godfather films shortly after.

Colorado's sagebrush reminds me of spending

summers in the Okanagan Valley. In fact, many films

have been filmed there, standing in for several U.S. states.

Some viewers might be disappointed by the main characters not setting off on their journey until about an hour into the runtime, and perhaps the genre artificiality is apparent (not so much for me, an obvious set or two aside), but True Grit's characters mark it a head above many of its contemporaries.

While ending the film happier than in the 2010 film,

the characters still go through hell getting there.

AND THE REST...

Ken Renard as Yarnell

James McEachin as Judge Parker's Bailiff

Alfred Ryder (Star Trek: TOS) as Defense Attorney Goudy

H.W. Gim as Chen Lee, a guy who reminds me 

a lot of my own grandfather.

Strother Martin as Col. G. Stonehill

Jeremy Slate and Dennis Hopper 

as Quincy and "Moon", respectively.

John Fiedler as Lawyer Daggett

LOGO (MOUNTAIN) GEMS

True Grit is one of the few Paramount films where the stars, byline, and company name are in shadow mode. (The changes in the company name's font, byline appearance, and the removal of two stars wouldn't happen until 1974.)

Copyright © Chynna Moore