Very well executed

It's the kind of movie you'll want to see a second time with someone who hasn't seen it yet, to remember what it was like to watch it for the first time.

The story, direction, characters, and writing/dialogue is akin to taking a tranquilizer shot to the neck, but everything else was so well done.

The film never slows down or bores, plunging from one harrowing sequence to the next.

Rooster Cogburn (1975)** 1/2 (out of 4)After being fired for violent conduct, Marshall Rooster Cogburn (John Wayne) is asked by Judge Parker (John McIntire) to track down a gang who stole some explosives in order to rob a bank. Cogburn heads out and runs into missionary Eula (Katharine Hepburn) whose father was killed by the gang. She demands to go with Cogburn and the two head out for revenge.ROOSTER COGBURN isn't the best movie out there but it's certainly entertaining enough thanks in large part to its two legendary stars as well as some nice supporting performances. I really can't blame the filmmakers for bringing Wayne back in his Oscar-winning role from TRUE GRIT but I do question why they also seemed to want to remake THE African QUEEN since Hepburn is playing the same type of role and the two films share some other connections.With all of that said, this here is the basic type of Western that you'd expect to see Wayne doing. He plays that lovable, tough-as-nails character who does things his way and usually that means killing off the bad guys. I must admit that I wasn't crazy for Hepburns's role here but there's no question that she's good in it and the two stars have some nice chemistry. The two of them work extremely well together and have some nice back-and-forth as they throw insults and quotes off one another.The film benefits from having some nice action as well including the finale, which I won't spoil but there's some nice tension as well as some loud action. The cinematography is quite good and technically speaking this is a well-made film. Still, I just wish something more had been done with the story and I think the attempt at remaking THE African QUEEN didn't help matters. Still, it's Wayne and Hepburn and that's worth watching.

Those who watched African Queen will understand from where this movie came from,this sequel of True Grit,they tried explore the chemistry of those greatest actors Duke and Kate and they got it,no doubt about that,the movie is funny and every characters are engaged in their roles,especially John McIntire as judge and Strother Martin as McCoy the wise balsa man...they are superb...Rooster and Eula are on fight every time,both have a own way to think about the right and wrong and they are completely opposite each other....about the movie??? doesn't matter at all!!We must point out the amazing western landscape,in particular way Rogue river in the Oregon!!!Resume:First watch: 1989 / How many: 2 /Source: TV-DVD / Rating: 7.5

John Wayne returns to his iconic, Oscar winning character of one eyed, colorful deputy marshal "Rooster" Cogburn in this passable sequel (of sorts) to "True Grit". At the beginning of the story, Rooster is stripped of his authority by a judge (John McIntire). But the judge soon changes his tune, and tasks Rooster to bring an outlaw gang, led by Hawk (Richard Jordan), to justice. Roosters' biggest problem: a spinster named Eula Goodnight (Katharine Hepburn) insists on tagging along, because her minister father (Jon Lormer) was murdered by the Hawk gang and she wants to see that they're properly punished."Rooster Cogburn" is no "True Grit", not by a long shot, with a rather redundant story (by actress Martha Hyer, writing under a pseudonym). It's handsomely shot in widescreen, with some decent action (especially a finale on some river rapids), but it gets awfully bogged down in talk, with too much bickering and bantering between our two leads. Hepburn is wonderful, but her character does get annoying at times. The Duke is quite lively and engaging, and his reactions to her sermonizing ways can be pretty funny. Rooster is definitely an old fashioned kind of guy who's not used to this level of feistiness from a lady.The supporting cast is good. Jordan is unsubtle but amusing as the villain, while Anthony Zerbe has a more interesting role as the scout who rides with him. Other familiar character players like Paul Koslo, Jack Colvin, and Lane Smith turn up. Strother Martin gives the tale a shot in the arm with his appearance as the cantankerous McCoy. And Richard Romancito is appealing as a brave, reliable Indian kid who is the third member of the Cogburn travelling party.Admittedly, it's the star power that is the principal value of this movie. But Wayne and Hepburn set off enough sparks to make this pleasant if not exceptional viewing.Six out of 10.

John Wayne was one of the fundamental stars of the movies and when one bought a ticket to a John Wayne movie, one was assured of a fine movie! Executive Producer Hal Wallis bought together John Wayne and one of the other great stars of the era Katharine Hepburn for this movie. The film shot in Oregon has wonderful scenic shots. It is wonderful to see the great Hepburn riding a horse and sparring with John Wayne in this film. Katharine Hepburn who in her long career worked with James Stewart, Cary Grant, Peter O'Toole, and her great love Spencer Tracy among others is equal to John Wayne in all matters in this film. And John Wayne loves every minute of it! Producers like Hal Wallis and Stars like John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn do not exist anymore in today's Hollywood! How they are missed!David Barra Los Angeles