Editor's Note: This column was the last movie review of Daily Record Columnist Bibb Underwood. It is being posthumously published.
One of the surprising discoveries I took away from this 40-year-old movie: John Wayne could act. While the movie is a bit predictable, it has enough suspense to keep the viewer in the story and wondering what the juvenile, Mattie Ross – played by Kim Darby – will do next on her quest to avenge the death of her father.
Ross is a headstrong, beyond belief at times, young woman whose father is murdered by his hired hand, Tom Chaney. She travels to Fort Smith, Arkansas, and single-handedly hires an old crotchety U.S. Marshal "Rooster" J. Cogburn to bring Chaney in with a single goal in mind to find Cheney and bring him back to Fort Smith to be hanged.
She has an abundance of what might be called “street smarts” in today's jargon. The movie illustrates this as we are privy to her horse trading moxie, when she shrewdly raises Cogburn’s fee by horse trading with Colonel Stonehill. Colonel Stonehill is played by Strother Martin, whose roles usually depict characters we love to hate.
In Texas, she visits the local sheriff who denies responsibility for Chaney, because the crime was not committed in his jurisdiction and Chaney is somewhere in Indian territory. Undaunted by the sheriff's refusal, Ross, through a few twists of fate, is introduced to, not one, but two lawmen who are not so much interested in the fate of Chaney as they are the money that will result in his being brought in – dead or alive.
Hanging around town, she gets word of a deputy marshal who is known for getting his man, Rooster Cogburn – played by John Wayne. Cogburn’s an alcoholic, anachronistic and a rusty, crusty one-eyed outlaw gunman with a badge. Quick on the trigger, we learn that in four years as a deputy marshal, he has killed 23 adversaries.
Dangling a few bucks in front of Rooster gets his attention and cooperation since his whiskey supply depends on the money. As Ross and Cogburn are making a deal, La Boeuf – played by Glenn Campbell, yes, that GC – shows up and reveals an even more lucrative reason for finding Chaney. Ned Pepper is traveling with Chaney, and Pepper is wanted for killing a Texas Senator.
Introducing the best line of the movie: "The price on Pepper is $1,500,” La Boeuf says. "That seems little for a senator," Rooster replies. "He was a little senator,” La Boeuf quips.
The men's efforts to leave the young Ross out of the chase meet the same results of other obstacles she confronts.
To the chase. Lots of action, some suspense and the first appearance of two actors who will later grace the screen in fabulous roles in fabulous movies. We meet Robert Duval – from the “Godfather” and Dennis Hopper of “Easy Rider.”
The scenery, from numerous national parks, preserves and locations, is distractingly beautiful.
Wayne never lets us down with his best ever performance. He is far removed from the countless “B” westerns of his early career. He rises above superior and takes the movie, the cast and the story with him. Ross is supporting relief and Campbell does a passing job without singing a note.
