I saw the John Wayne version of "True Grit" the other night

[Orrex]

Found it close to unwatchable, all things considered. Aside from the wretched technicolor costumes that were the moviemaking style of the time, it seemed as though every shot was contrived specifically to put Wayne's big face front and center of the action, story and plot be damned.

Hell, they even reworked the climactic scene so that The Duke could "save" Mattie from Tom Chaney, instead of having her fend for herself and shoot him with Leboeuf's carbine.

I know that he got the Oscar for it, and I know that the Coen brothers' film is reworking of the novel rather than a remake of the Wayne film, but holy moley what a crapfest.

[fishwax]

1. but there are all those beautiful shots of Arkansas's glorious Rocky Mountains

[Orrex]

3. Yes, it's nice how they transported them for the production

That's craftsmanship, I tell you.

[Art_from_Ark]

16. You noticed that, too?

As a native Arkansan who has traveled extensively throughout the state, I was very surprised to "learn" that Arkansas had such lofty snow-capped peaks!

I was also surprised to "learn" from "Hang 'Em High" that the "Rockies" are also found in Southwest Oklahoma!

[alphafemale]

2. Mattie was delightful in the update. nt

[Orrex]

4. Absolutely!

Probably the best performance I've seen by someone so young.

[Old and In the Way]

5. I just watched the Coens' version of "True Grit" the other night.

Absolutely loved it. Characters were well developed and the cinematography was terrific. But what I really, really liked about the movie was the dialogue. The language employed was, I assume, authentic for the times. It must have been quite a task for Damon, Bridges, Brolin, and Steinfield to learn to say their lines in such a prosaic manner. The film was brutal, ugly, nasty, dirty, and throughly enjoyable to watch.

I saw the original a few months back...didn't really watch it, more like background filler. This version had me totally focused.

[progressoid]

6. Aren't most of Wayne's movies a crapfest.

IMHO.

[El Supremo]

8. Please watch The Searchers and The High and the Mighty. n/m

[progressoid]

11. I did rather like The Shootist.

I vaguely remember The Searchers.

It's best if he doesn't try to run in a movie. He tends to look like he's about to soil his pants.

[Major Nikon]

12. Stagecoach

[riderinthestorm]

10. I found a boxed set of John Wayne movies at Goodwill and bought it

as a gift for my husband ($2.99! what a deal...) My husband and I had a John Wayne marathon and watched 5 movies in 3 nights, all of them were awful. The horse abuse was pretty horrendous to watch.

I've only ever liked the Quiet Man honestly.

[Major Nikon]

13. Sounds like a collection of his B movies

[El Supremo]

7. The 1st one was good.

I cry every time I watch the scene where Mattie invites Rooster to be buried next to her. I didn't cry during the new one.

But (except for the final scenes) the new one is better. And Mattie is better. Rooster is about the same. The new one is more Presbyterian. The Coens deliberately wanted to make a Protestant oriented movie.

[Orrex]

14. I liked the ending of the Coens' version

Didn't mind the Presbyterian aspect, really, because it felt more like a scenery piece than an attempt at proselytizing.

I liked Bridges' Rooster much more. Wayne's version was John-Wayne-with-an-Eyepatch. Bridges' portrayal was much more effective IMO at concealing the actor playing the role.

[UTUSN]

9. John the Ultimate Chickenhawke - despised by veterans/patients

He (unlike James STEWART & many others) *didn't GO* because his young career was just taking off and he thought a hiatus would set it back.


But then, later, when he toured a veterans hospital in (Hawaii?) the patients boo-ed him. Thank you, vets/patients.

[Frank Cannon]

17. My grandfather, a WW II vet, couldn't stand him.

Apparently, Benjamin Vandervoort, the Colonel who became famous for leading the retaking of the French town of St. Mere Eglise on D-Day, was also rather pissed off when he found out that of all Hollywood actors, they chose the Duke to play him in "The Longest Day".

Interestingly, both Wayne and James Stewart had the same excuses for getting out of military service during World War II, except Stewart used his clout to get INTO the Army Air Corps, since he was an experienced pilot and thought that Uncle Sam desperately needed such. Stewart had a distinguished military career as a bomber pilot and instructor. Wayne stayed home and enjoyed a fat and happy Hollywood life.

[TreasonousBastard]

15. Saw the new one in the movie house...

and loved it!

About a week later the Wayne version was on teevee and it just couldn't hold up to the new one. I had no problem with any of the rest of the cast, or most of the direction, but Wayne was... well... Wayne.