John Wayne's "True Grit" or Jeff Bridges' Version, Which Do You Like Better?

[GKC]

...my biggest complaint is that the first True Grit wasn't that good to start with.

I've always felt the same way on the original-it's pretty weak of a John Wayne western-not in my top 500 favorites to be sure-but still better than the new one BECAUSE of Duke.

The reason that the original True Grit might not have appealed to many JW fans is that he played some of the movie as satire: a dissolute, n'er do well, drunken, over the hill man who had a fast and loose relationship with the law he was sworn to enforce, played with comedic overtones. Then, in the latter part of the movie, he morphed into the character we all love: the strong, brave, and stalwart man who braves any odds to do what is right, and who IS right in what he does.

Personally, I think True Grit was one of his best westerns, if you look at the man he played. In finding himself and saving the girl, he actually came to love her, and looked after her like the father she lost. It's very similar to The Searchers, in terms of the character, except that Ethan Edwards was not a parody at any time; he was twisted by hate and lost love. At the end of the movie, Edwards did find his humanity, just as Cogburn found his way back to decency.

 

[Will Carry]

The reason that the original True Grit might not have appealed to many JW fans is that he played some of the movie as satire: a dissolute, n'er do well, drunken, over the hill man who had a fast and loose relationship with the law he was sworn to enforce, played with comedic overtones. Then, in the latter part of the movie, he morphed into the character we all love: the strong, brave, and stalwart man who braves any odds to do what is right, and who IS right in what he does.

Personally, I think True Grit was one of his best westerns, if you look at the man he played. In finding himself and saving the girl, he actually came to love her, and looked after her like the father she lost. It's very similar to The Searchers, in terms of the character, except that Ethan Edwards was not a parody at any time; he was twisted by hate and lost love. At the end of the movie, Edwards did find his humanity, just as Cogburn found his way back to decency.

I thought Rooster Cogburn was the greatest character John Wayne ever played.

 

[GKC]

I thought Rooster Cogburn was the greatest character John Wayne ever played.

While I certainly liked his character in True Grit, very much in fact, I thought his greatest portrayal in a non-western was "The Quiet Man" and his greatest portrayal in a western was "The Shootist."

 

[meaneyedcatz]

Rooster: The Life and Time of the Real Rooster Cogburn, the Man Who Inspired True Grit.

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51CCGdx7PHL._AC_US160_.jpg

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51CCGdx7PHL._AC_US160_.jpg

 

[Wingmaster]

God Bless John Wayne.

Wingmaster

 

[rwsmith]

Time has gone by......

I did like the newer version.

But there are two things that just make the 60s version more memorable. John Wayne and Kim Darby.

I find the newer version fading into memory. It was probably a lot more realistic than the old version but the images of Wayne and Darby yammering at each other are branded in my mind. It was just unforgettable.

 

[LMWIS]

I did like the newer version.

But there are two things that just make the 60s version more memorable. John Wayne and Kim Darby.

I find the newer version fading into memory. It was probably a lot more realistic than the old version but the images of Wayne and Darby yammering at each other are branded in my mind. It was just unforgettable.

And Darby beating up Col. Stonehill (Strother Martin) during their horse trading.

 

[the ringo kid]

I thought Rooster Cogburn was the greatest character John Wayne ever played.

I'd like to agree, but can't. Too many favorites: Hondo Lane from: Hondo, Henry (quite naturally for an unmentioned reason? ) the Ringo Kid from: Stagecoach, Captain Kirby York in: Fort Apache, the Army Colonel in: Back To Bataan, Ethan Edwards in: The Searchers, Sergeant Stryker in: Sands of Iwo Jima, Colonel Cord McNally in: Rio Lobo---and many others.
Hondo Lane:

The: Ringo Kid

Fort Apache:

Posted a few since I didnt want anyone confusing him for Henry Fonda or Pedro Armendariez:

My Back To Bataan image-and no-he aint the guy (Anthony Quinn) on the left: Oh and, my image is the original and not the Turner reprint

Ethan Edwards:

Sgt. John M. Stryker:

Col. McNally:

And too many others to list.

 

[PALADIN85020]

One of my favorite actors in herringbone twill, with one of my favorite rifles...

John

 

[rwsmith]

The Oscar.....

I think John Wayne knew that it was a 'lifetime achievement award'. When he accepted the Oscar he said, "I should have put that eye patch on 30 years ago!"

Just about any big 'award' becomes self serving and tends to push some people out of the picture.

The unique and very non-hard rock group Jethro Tull never got a Grammy until they got an award in the category of "Hard/Metal Rock" beating out "Metallica" (about the biggest metal group ever) by putting one song called 'Steel Monkey" on their album.

The next year Metallica won and said that they were glad that Jethro Tull didn't put out a record that year.

JT knew it was ridiculous and didn't even attend the ceremony.

Another pile of junk award is the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame". There's about 20 major and influential groups that have been ignored since it's inception in favor of newer 'talent'.

 

[sigp220.45]

I've always preferred James Stewart. His uniforms didn't come from the wardrobe department.

 

[stairstars]

"Come see a fat old man!"

No comparison for me, I'll take Wayne's opus over any other.

Enjoyed this thread, but I have no problem separating the human from the performance. Similar thoughts in the WAR WAGON thread. Burt Lancaster was to play the 'Lomax" role until he heard Wayne was the lead and refused to play it. Howard Keel had no use for Wayne and turned down a part in THE GREEN BERETS after being in WAR WAGON with him. No two men could have been further apart on the issues, but Douglas and Wayne were true professionals. Wayne later said he disliked the final film, but I think that is due to Douglas stealing every scene he was in. Not sure up to that time that anyone else ever did that to him. Hepburn certainly does it in ROOSTER. THE SHOOTIST, to me, is hallowed ground.

 

[sheepdawg]

I've always preferred James Stewart. His uniforms didn't come from the wardrobe department.

Did you know that Wayne was made an honorary life time member of the VFW? Not exactly an honor passed out to just anyone that managed to stay out of uniform. We all know that some people hold it against Wayne for never serving in the armed forces especially during WWII but none of us know the real reasons why. It's just I read this or heard that. Being asked to join the VFW after WWII tells me the troops knew something you probably don't.

 

[JohnRippert]

Three of my favorite lines in movies.



"I mean to kill you in one minute, Ned. Or see you hanged in Fort Smith at Judge Parker's convenience. Which'll it be?"

"I call that bold talk for a one-eyed fat man."

"Fill your hand, you son of a bitch!"

 

[lhump1961]

I like them both but the second was true to the book and I LOVE the dialog!

"I'm struck by LaBoeuf. He's been shot, trampled, nearly severed his tongue and not only does he not cease to talk but he spills the banks of english."

"My name is LaBoeuf. I've just come from Yell County."
"We have no rodeo clowns in Yell County."

The second film is full of great dialog.

 

[AzShooter]

I like both but give the edge to John Wayne. I don't like remakes. They are never as good as the original.

Jeff Bridges did a fine job but I just don't like Mat Daman. He can make his money with guns but is against the Second Amendment.

 

[kmyers]

I like both but prefer the 2010 version which isn't really a remake as much as a retelling more along the lines of the book and from Mattie's view. The original was made more into a John Wayne movie as opposed to a young adult/teen story from her point. I have always gotten a kick out of the debate on the eye patch where views when in the book Rooster was blind in one eye but did not wear a patch at all, his eye was mostly closed and the bit you could see was milked over. One aspect of the 2010 version I preferred is that in the final gunfight Rooster's firearms of use were a pair of cap and ball saddle revolvers instead of a pistol and rifle. The ending was a bit different as well with Rooster losing his badge a few months after the hunt for Chaney because he kills another Wharton and enough was enough for his vendetta. Although the Wayne version of True Grit is a fun movie I liked The Cowboys as a better film. Even with how far along in life and career Wayne was the character of Will Anderson was not presented as bigger than life as the best with guns, best with his fists, and a huge financial success like in McLintock and Chisum. Anderson was presented as more of a everyday type of individual.

 

[the ringo kid]

I thought Rooster Cogburn was the greatest character John Wayne ever played.

J.B.Books(The Shootist) was another of many. Ive a great still of him standing at the bar-just before the final-shoot-out, shows his pistol nicely. Cant post it yet-but it should be-after I ask QBall to do so-when I can remember to send him a photo cd-with itv and other great shots on it. Run-on I know..............

 

[the ringo kid]

Yep...
And not to judge an entire movie based on gun handling but Bridges firing in the final horse back shootout scene just wasn't the same as duke twirling his lever action.

Ive always said this about some things-and yes-it's MY creation: "You can't make an Eagle out of a Turkey."
In this case-as always-it's true too.

I ""judged"" all of the Halloween and jason carp-having only watched a few minutes of what I saw. Thought they stuff was trash-and its true too.

 

[the ringo kid]

Did you know that Wayne was made an honorary life time member of the VFW? Not exactly an honor passed out to just anyone that managed to stay out of uniform. We all know that some people hold it against Wayne for never serving in the armed forces especially during WWII but none of us know the real reasons why. It's just I read this or heard that. Being asked to join the VFW after WWII tells me the troops knew something you probably don't.

actually, the real reasons are known. You can find the actual 4F type doc and other govmnt stuff there excusing him from serving. He DID try to enlist but there are those who are closed-minded on the subject. Anyway, all this stuff can be found at: John Wayne Message Board -- I cant remember where?

Some official reasons why Duke wasnt able-or allowed to serve was because--he was deemed more important for the war effort-and public morale--and they wanted him to keep making movies. They Were Expendable-is one that comes to mind. Id like to say that Sands of Iwo Jima was another? but I think it came out in 1949-like Battleground did.

 

[stairstars]

If, he had been accepted, I would think he would have been assigned to 'Fort Roach' with Reagan and most of the Hollywood recruits for just that purpose. John Ford chose to take a unit into combat photography (and won a special Academy Award for that film) and we all know Jimmy Stewart, Clark Gable and Tyrone Power, Big Boy Guinn and others distinguished themselves in war zones.

Ford never stopped cruelly needling Wayne about his lack of service, often in front of others. Fonda and Stewart are on record as having witnessed those events.

 

[the ringo kid]

If, he had been accepted, I would think he would have been assigned to 'Fort Roach' with Reagan and most of the Hollywood recruits for just that purpose. John Ford chose to take a unit into combat photography (and won a special Academy Award for that film) and we all know Jimmy Stewart, Clark Gable and Tyrone Power, Big Boy Guinn and others distinguished themselves in war zones.

Ford never stopped cruelly needling Wayne about his lack of service, often in front of others. Fonda and Stewart are on record as having witnessed those events.

Ford was a class "A" ******* and Duke could have torn him a new sphincter-muscle if they ever got into a fist-fight. After The Searchers-Ford toned down quite a bit. Ford tried telling Duke how to Direct others while on Duke's The Alamo set. Duke did give Ford a chance as 2nd unit director--but that was Duke's way of getting Ford out of the way-in a nice manner of "speaking."

 

[stairstars]

I remember reading that Ford's presence on THE ALAMO set was unexpected, and cost Wayne, the producer, a lot of money for his set ups.
Regardless of the service issue, and the bigger DeMille American Activities Committee, where Ford confronted DeMille face to face at a DGA meeting ("I'm Jack Ford and I make westerns. I don't like you CB..") Ford and Wayne remained close to his death. Talk about oil and water...