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.

Hired to track down a vicious gang, federal marshal Rooster Cogburn reluctantly lets a missionary and a Native American lad accompany him after their mission is ransacked by the gang in this belated sequel to 'True Grit'. John Wayne reprises the title role with just as much gusto despite noticeably looking older. Katharine Hepburn also puts in a strong turn as the missionary with the best scenes being the banter between the pair. The villains are not particularly interesting and the plot is no great shakes; in fact, 'Rooster Cogburn' feels more like a remake rather than sequel to 'True Grit' at times with Hepburn also seeking vengeance for a father killed. The plot is more complex than it first seems though. While most are quick to praise the chemistry between Wayne and Hepburn, it is the bond that slowly develops between Wayne and the young Amerindian, played by Richard Romancito, that is ultimately most touching. Romancito becomes a surrogate son of sorts to the once hardened old man who inadvertently finds himself with a 'family' for the first time as he pursues the gang. One wonders though just what messages (if any) the filmmakers had in mind with the project. Early on, Wayne is told "the west is changing and you aren't changing with it", and yet minutes later he hired because, again, he has "grit". Is the film meant to be a tribute to the virtues of old ways or a film about learning to change (unwillingly accepting companions)? Topped off with a memorable explosive climax, one thing for sure is that this is a more dynamic sequel than one might expect.

. . . Ay-Ya, it's none other than the Connecticut Yankee herself, Katharine Hepburn, angling for that elusive fourth Best Actress Oscar if she can pull off the Miracle of bringing Salvation to that most Unrepentent scoundrel, Rooster Cogburn. Ol' Rooster has slaughtered scads of Abolitionist families as a Confederate Civil War "raider," in his failed attempt to coddle the lazy Southern cotton plantation guys and their Racist System of Genocidal Black Slavery. Instead of being hung for his status as a traitor and a War Criminal, this Chicken Man has hit the reset button on his Rolodex of Death, and started enumerating his Quasi-Legal murders in a U.S. Marshal capacity from Absolute Zero. However, in just eight years this crowing bully has notched 60 kill shots among his 64 gun attacks--a fatality rate that only a back-shooting sniper could achieve, as any REAL military man will tell you. His renegade judicial enabler points this out in stripping Rooster of all authority as this sequel opens, but immediately defies his better angel by reinstating the drunken killing machine for the quality of his "Blue Spit" (caused by 86-proof Bourbon and 14% alcohol Beer). Even the AFR!CAN QUEEN can't salvage THIS geezer; she'd have to look for her next Oscar ON GOLDEN POND. However, with the NRA running what passes for the American Government nowadays, an open-carrying Rooster could lurch into nearly any public gathering in America, and feel as comfortable shooting off his mouth as a Chicago Cop.

Carefully and lovingly made,"Rooster Cogburn" is a Western not unlike "Shane" in that every shot seems very deliberately set out and composed to maximise the effect the director was looking for.This is no mere showcase for the two principals with everything else merely ancillary,this is a movie where everything comes together very satisfactorily and the end - product is rather memorable in its own way. It has been Miss Hepburn's destiny to play a succession of ballbreakers throughout her long career and she comfortably fits into the role of the Preacher's daughter whose father is murdered by the very gang sought by Marshall Mr Wayne for killing some cavalry soldiers and stealing a waggon of explosives. Wayne is unable to rid himself of this troublesome woman and,together with the young son of an Indian also killed by the gang,they set off bent on revenge. As Reuben "Rooster" Cogburn,Mr Wayne is able to play someone of his own age with weaknesses and prejudices,stubborn and bloody - minded,but not unkind.His brand of personal justice,which served him well for many years is now becoming embarrassing for the local Judge (Mr John Mcintyre)but Cogburn is the only game in town when evil passes through. The villains include the excellent Mr Anthony Zerbe,an actor who defies categories and who never fires on less than all six cylinders. As Mr Wayne has proved before,he is very adept at comedy without being "comic" and his "Rooster"is a splendidly rounded character. Miss Hepburn often seems to be wobbling on the edge of self - caricature but she never topples over the edge here as she did so disastrously in "On Golden Pond" a few years later. Comedy Westerns/Western Comedies are a neat trick if you can them off and in "Rooster Cogburn" we have the best one since "McClintock".