True Grit | 
| Director: Henry Hathaway
Actors: John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Jeremy Slate, Robert Duvall
Studio: Paramount Pictures
Category: DVD
List Price: $19.99
Buy New: $5.24
You Save: $14.75 (74%)
New (6) Used (8) from $5.00
Rating:  105 reviews
Sales Rank: 58692
Format: Anamorphic, Closed-captioned, Color, Dvd, Widescreen, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), French (Original Language), English (Subtitled)
Rating: G (General Audience)
Region: 1
Discs: 1
Aspect Ratio: 1.85:1
DVD Layers: 1
DVD Sides: 1
Picture Format: Anamorphic Widescreen
Number Of Discs: 1
Running Time: 127 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 5.4 x 0.6
ISBN: 6305754918
UPC: 097360683370
EAN: 9786305754916
ASIN: 6305754918
Theatrical Release Date: June 11, 1969
Release Date: March 21, 2000
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Amazon.com essential video
A wonderful/rueful running gag in El Dorado involves the Edgar Allan Poe line "Ride, boldly ride" being mangled by toupee-wearer Wayne into "Ride, baldy, ride." Two years later, in True Grit, Wayne put the joke in italics by donning an eyepatch and several inches of girth to play cantankerous territorial marshal Rooster Cogburn. Critics belatedly noticed that he could be a marvelously entertaining actor, and Hollywood finally gave him the Oscar they'd failed to nominate him for in Red River, She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, The Quiet Man, The Searchers, et al. But make no mistake: True Grit is a splendid movie, with lovingly textured storytelling and sturdy characters, Henry Hathaway's finest high-country action set-pieces, intoxicatingly ornate frontier language, and a couple of formidable bad guys (Jeff Corey's Tom Cheney and Robert Duvall's "Lucky" Ned Pepper). It's a compliment to say that, from a technical standpoint, the movie could have been made any time in Hathaway's 40-year career, yet its feeling for the reality of violence ceded no ground to The Wild Bunch, released around the same time. Still, the film's most sublime passage falls between bursts of gunplay: Rooster sitting on a hilltop at night recounting his life story, as John Wayne metamorphoses ineluctably into W.C. Fields. --Richard T. Jameson
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| Customer Reviews: Read 100 more reviews...
 A Very Good Western That Lives Up To It's Reputation June 22, 2009
Joshua Miller (Coeur d'Alene,ID)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I'm not a John Wayne aficionado, I've only seen a few of his films. I mention this because many reviewers of this film probably have a clearer idea of his career and body of work. In the few John Wayne films that I've seen, what I have noticed is what made him an icon. The larger-than-life screen persona, the drawling voice, the charisma, etc. Despite his forever iconic status, John Wayne won only a single Academy Award and that was for this film...And what a performance it is.
Kim Darby stars as Mattie Ross, a strong-willed and sharp-tongued young girl whose father is killed by a man named Tom Chaney, who flees with her father's money. With Chaney hiding in Indian territory, out of reach of local authorities. Mattie becomes determined to bring him to justice. To assist her, she enlists the help of Deputy Marshal Rooster Cogburn, a one-eyed drunkard with an infamous reputation. In his four years as Deputy Marshal, Rooster has killed 23 men. After offering Rooster a substantial amount of money, Mattie and Rooster set off to catch Chaney, assisted by a Texas Ranger named La Boeuf (Glen Campbell), who's out to get Chaney for the murder of a Texas senator.
Robert DuVall co-stars as "Lucky" Ned Pepper, a wanted outlaw believed to be associated with Chaney. Dennis Hopper also makes a brief appearance in the film.
Forty years after it was originally released, True Grit is still one of the most revered and beloved western films of all time. Much of this can be credited to the presence of John Wayne, but this can also be accredited to the plot and, mores specifically, the characterization.
This is no action-packed western film. Of course, there are several scenes with shoot-outs and varying action, but the film does not build itself on these characteristics but, rather, its characters. Its central characters can be called nothing less than three-dimensional. They're imperfect, drunken, annoying, hilarious, heroic, arrogant, and loveable.
I found the characterization to be the strongest point of True Grit. But it's not just the writing that makes the character's so great; much of this goes to the actor's as well. The androgynous Darby nails the Mattie character in a completely convincing portrayal. Campbell is also slyly charming, showing much more depth than his iconic mugshot would lead you to believe. And then there's John Wayne; the real star of the show. Everytime he's on screen, he owns it. His larger-than-life presence and easy charm dominate everything. When Rooster is being cross-examined in a courtroom, drunkenly struggling to stay atop his house, or riding his horse with the reigns in his mouth while firing at four armed men he is absolutely believable. This is an iconic performance for a good reason.
With great characters, greater acting, sharp, witty dialogue, and beautiful scenery throughout, True Grit is definitely worthy of seeking out.
GRADE: B+
 True Grit May 15, 2009
Mary Battle (Lansdowne, PA United States)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I am a John Wayne fan and like to watch this one whenever it comes on Turner Classic Movies. Glad to have my own copy.
71Dotty May 10, 2009
Dorothy Strouz (Houston, TX USA)
The VHS tape, 'High Noon' is exactly as listed on Amazon and the service was excellent. The tape was received on time and in 'new' condition as stated in the ad. Very pleased with tape and service. Thanks !!!!!
John Wayne is a verb April 1, 2009
Geezer68 (Miami Fl USA)
What can you say about John Wayne that hasn't already been said. I never understood why they didn't make a hundred Rooster films. Another great performance and I own em all... Robert Duval is another Hollywood great and puts in a great performance as does Kim Darby one of her few movies. Glem Cambell will surprise you. I recommend.
Excellent DVD. Great extras and super picture and sound, worth rebuying! March 10, 2009
Max Dembo (Los Angeles)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This is one of my favorite films and my favorite Duke film. This package is great, with an informative extra (Of decent length) about the making of "True Grit" in Colorado.(Not Arkansas, where it takes place) One of the parts of the extra is going back to where some scenes were shot, very interesting for a fan of this film. At one location there is still remnants of wood and metal objects they left behind. I had the original DVD but gave it to a friend when I heard the "Special Collector's Edition" was coming out. I bought it the tuesday it came out.
The film has been cleaned up and looks like it did in the theatre.(I saw "True Grit" at a kiddie matinee in the early to mid-seventies as a child)
I have almost all of John Wayne's films (The only ones I do not have are some very early B+W " 3 day westerns") and I wish they all got this fantastic treatment.
If you are a "True Grit" fan, buy it! It is worth the money.
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