![true grit john wayne true grit john wayne](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Em2XeUuXaig/UsN4ivj2ftI/AAAAAAAAFA8/acDH3YFN3xI/s1600/truegrit1969.png)
Not only did the legend let stray gray hairs fly freely from under his hat on set, he intentionally gained weight to more convincingly portray the weathered old marshal. But the role of Rooster Cogburn was a chance for John Wayne to fully embrace his age-a move most Hollywood megastars aren't eager to make. Despite his younger years being far behind him in the 1960s, the star continued to stick to his signature style by playing imposing characters who could still physically hang with foes half their age, such as Cole Thornton in El Dorado (1967) and Taw Jackson in The War Wagon (1967). Even though he would be riding around on horseback, firing a rifle and showing no mercy to those who dared do him wrong, the role would be unlike any Duke had stepped into before. Sure enough, John Wayne was indeed cast as the cantankerous Rooster Cogburn once Wallis was given rights to the adaptation and Hathaway officially signed on as director. "But no matter who gets it, I'm going to play that part," he added. "I think it's great and I hope you get it," John Wayne told Michael. As Michael stated later, Duke loved the story and was rooting for his oldest son.
![true grit john wayne true grit john wayne](http://mickbaltes.de/afup/2020/08/al-rusia-A-03.jpg)
To help his father fully understand the unique role he could potentially be taking on, Michael lent his father a copy of True Grit.
![true grit john wayne true grit john wayne](https://render.fineartamerica.com/images/rendered/default/front/spiral-notebook/images/artworkimages/medium/2/true-grit-rooster-cogburn-jumping-4-rails-john-wayne-well-come-see-a-fat-old-man-some-time-thomas-pollart.jpg)
Wallis's way, Michael was already plenty familiar with Portis's story. By the time director Henry Hathaway called John Wayne to gauge his interest in taking on the role of Rooster Cogburn should the bidding war go his and Hal B. One such producer who enthusiastically threw his hat in the ring for the rights to True Grit was Duke's son, Michael Wayne. The novel's vivid descriptions, powerful story and intricate character work all had rich feature-film potential that was noticed by more than just a few well-read filmmakers. Shortly after its release in 1968, True Grit's adaptation rights became an extremely desirable purchase for Hollywood producers. Unbeknownst to Portis at the time, though, was the fact that he was laying the groundwork for one of the most iconic John Wayne characters to ever saddle up on the big screen. While penning True Grit, his second novel, Charles Portis called upon his past experience as a journalist with the Arkansas Traveler and the Northwest Arkansas Times to give a credible and realistic voice to the characters he was crafting. Well before John Wayne was delighting audiences across America as the eyepatch-wearing, booze-swilling, foul-mouthed Rooster Cogburn, the character merely existed on the pages of a novel by a somewhat unknown author. Below, read an exclusive excerpt from the forthcoming magazine and keep an eye out for the new issue, in stores June 4 and available to ORDER NOW.įeatured in The Official John Wayne Collector's Edition, Vol. In Volume 29, fans of Duke will not only gain detailed insight into the making of the classic film but also a closer look at how Duke's legacy of living life with conviction continues to inspire. to celebrate his Oscar-winning turn as the "one-eyed fat man," we've created an all-new edition of the John Wayne Official Collector's Edition. This year marks the 50th anniversary of what some would argue is John Wayne's most iconic role, as Rooster Cogburn in True Grit.