True Grit (1969)

[Killer Meteor]

Originally Posted by charlieray1

She's also in a very good 1st season episode of Star Trek (TOS) called "Miri". Michael J. Pollard was in that too.

She's also in Halloween 6!

[#Darren]

Looking at the caps on this site the image looks pretty badly DNR'd.

[rocknblues81]

Originally Posted by The Great Owl

On my flex day off of work today, I just watched my Paramount Blu-ray of True Grit, and I am now enjoying the commentary track.

I haven't seen True Grit in almost 30 years, and I had a blast revisiting it today. This one is not quite on the same level as John Wayne films like Rio Bravo, Stagecoach, The Searchers, Red River, or The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, but it's a top-notch western across the board, and, in my opinion, it blows the recent Coen Brothers remake away, thanks to beautiful wilderness settings and a stellar cast.

John Wayne's Rooster Cogburn is one of his most memorable screen incarnations, and for great reason. He conveys so much, even with the eyepatch, and his quieter moments are amazing to see. County singer Glen Campbell, as Texas Ranger La Boeuf, is a fine contrast character to Wayne's Cogburn, and their interactions crack me up throughout the film. Robert Duvall and Dennis Hopper are also awesome in supporting roles. Strother Martin is terrific as the beleaguered Colonel Stonehill. Finally, Kim Darby, as Mattie Ross, lends a good combination of assertiveness, strength, and vulnerability to her role as the daughter who enlists in Rooster Cogburn to help her find the man who killed her father.

I spent most of this movie trying to remember where I've seen Kim Darby before, and I finally realized that she plays John Cusack's mother, the one who cannot cook, in the 1985 comedy, Better Off Dead... Hahahahaha!

This Blu-ray looks and sounds excellent to my eyes and ears. You can take this with a grain of salt, since my previous viewing was 30 years ago by way of TBS SuperStation, but, yeah, it's an impressive presentation.

Originally Posted by 50strat54

True Grit is one of my favorite films of all time. Saw it on first release in the theater with the whole family, I was a kid.

and here's my opinions:
1. John Wayne deserved the Oscar and I'm glad he won it and saw him accept it [on TV]

2. The supporting case were fantastic especially Kim Darby. Glen Campbell in his first role was very good and you had both Strother Martin and John Fiedler two of the best character actors of their time. Robert Duvall and Dennis Hopper, really what more needs to be said about this cast.

3. I hated the Coen Brothers remake and I love most of their films. I may have been influenced by my love of the original but I really hated the remake.

4. We can debate Wayne's acting skills but he sure made a lot of movies that people loved. For myself he 's a great actor.

5. His performance in The Shootist was one of the greatest swan song performances of all time. Again, an incredible cast beginning with Jimmy Stewart.

6. I love the song True Grit as sung by Glen Campbell and have it on my ipod

7. I love the final scene in True Grit. Is it corny? yeah it is. Is it sentimental? yup but what a scene! John and Kim just crush it.

These posts nail it.

One of my favorite things about the original is Kim Darby's exchanges with Strother Martin. These scenes fall flat in the remake.

Most of the character exchanges were much better in the original despite a goofy performance from Glen Campbell. It worked.

The remake is lifeless and not very amusing.

My favorite Wayne performance is probably from The Shootist. Arnold could never do that type of character. Wayne isn't just being the strong intimidating cowboy like he was in so many movies. He was a tired aging gunfighter and his performance was really good.

Honestly, I'd take Wayne being Wayne over someone like Streep and her boring films. Sometimes range is overblown. It's entertainment.

[Duke_45]

Originally Posted by #Darren

Looking at the caps on this site the image looks pretty badly DNR'd.

The film's transfer is exceptional. One of my top 10 BDs, in terms of picture quality. Paramount hit it out of the park with this one, and El Dorado.

[laidbacklarkin]

Originally Posted by Duke_45

The film's transfer is exceptional. One of my top 10 BDs, in terms of picture quality. Paramount hit it out of the park with this one, and El Dorado.

You seem to be a fan of DNR - you couldn't have picked two better titles worthy of this egregious distinction

[Duke_45]

Originally Posted by laidbacklarkin

You seem to be a fan of DNR - you couldn't have picked two better titles worthy of this egregious distinction

Use whatever terms you like. I'm a fan a of crystal clear transfers, that takes full advantage of the high def format. If that description to you equates to DNR, than guilty as charged. Having seen these films only on CRT's for dozens of years, having them now on BD is a revelation.

[Arch Stanton]

El Dorado looks absolutely awful.

Thing is Duke, when you're watching films that have had all the detail and texture sucked out of them you're getting an image that is artificially clean and not really very good at all.

Would rather watch a DVD copy of El Dorado than the botched Blu Ray job. Look at this: https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/scree...948&position=1

[Duke_45]

Originally Posted by Arch Stanton

El Dorado looks absolutely awful.

Thing is Duke, when you're watching films that have had all the detail and texture sucked out of them you're getting an image that is artificially clean and not really very good at all.

Would rather watch a DVD copy of El Dorado than the botched Blu Ray job. Look at this: https://www.blu-ray.com/movies/scree...948&position=1

You could list 100 reasons why you feel True Grit and El Dorado are bad transfers. You and I would never see eye to eye on the subjuct matter. These two film's transfers are amazing to me. They are sub par to you. Have to just leave it at that.

By the way, you've got a great user name there

[JohnCarpenterFan]

I can't speak for El Dorado, but while watching True Grit, I felt like I was watching a DVD with the DNR and MPEG noise options on my TV set to high. No fine detail, natural grain or anything.

A clean, shiny digital look is something that does not suit a 60's John Wayne western.

[pathofneo99]

On this website it's showing the German blu-ray having Master Audio Mono. Is this correct? If all else is identical then wouldn't that make the German version superior? It also has the German version as 1.85 original aspect ratio (in the description on this website), but on the back of the box it says 1.78. I'm confused.

I always try to go for OAR if possible. Uncompressed Mono is preferred as well since I have a large center channel. Any help is appreciated.

[50strat54]

I'd also like to add one more thing:

In the 1969 original, by the end of the film you could feel the closeness both Wayne and Darby feel for each other. In so many ways Wayne throughout the film begins to admire Darby's spunk even with her bossiness.

In the final scene, the final look on Darby's face shows a true love for Wayne.

You never feel Bridges and Steinfeld had that strong connection. It seems she has a stronger connection to the Texas Ranger.

[pathofneo99]

Good point, and I also felt the same way watching the remake.

[pathofneo99]

So anyone that has the German disc can confirm the Master Audio mono is present or a typo on this site?

[Lastyear]

Originally Posted by 50strat54

I'd also like to add one more thing:

In the 1969 original, by the end of the film you could feel the closeness both Wayne and Darby feel for each other. In so many ways Wayne throughout the film begins to admire Darby's spunk even with her bossiness.

In the final scene, the final look on Darby's face shows a true love for Wayne.

You never feel Bridges and Steinfeld had that strong connection. It seems she has a stronger connection to the Texas Ranger.

I didn't feel that way about Darby-I just found her annoying and a terrible actress. Altho not as bad as Glen Campbell.

[happydood]

Originally Posted by 50strat54

I'd also like to add one more thing:

In the 1969 original, by the end of the film you could feel the closeness both Wayne and Darby feel for each other. In so many ways Wayne throughout the film begins to admire Darby's spunk even with her bossiness.

In the final scene, the final look on Darby's face shows a true love for Wayne.

You never feel Bridges and Steinfeld had that strong connection. It seems she has a stronger connection to the Texas Ranger.

I love the original and I don't know how much more strongly I could disagree with this. The relationship between Rooster and Mattie is the heart of the remake. So much so that I don't bat an eye at her reference to having him disinterred and buried next to her at the end. It's a love story of sorts that you don't expect in a movie like thus and is entirely the point of remaking it.

[mike171979]

Weighing in on the PQ... I think True Grit looks great for an older catalog release and it certainly isn't a bad job by any means. I highly doubt we'll ever see it look any better and for me anyway that's fine because the Bluray is just fine.

Anyone complaining about excessive DNR on a disc with this little DNR applied is probably extremely hard to please and is probably disappointed with nearly all catalog releases, because compared to most this disc is very very well done.

That all being said, of course I'd be excited to buy a new 4K scan of the film if it does come available down the road.

[cannon1]

Originally Posted by Cowboy

I have seen all of his films and I am calling it like I see it....he played one role with different costumes and settings.

So Ethan Edwards is the same as Rooster Cogburn, is the same as John T. Chance(Rio Bravo), is the same as Will Anderson(The Cowboys). I have no doubt you are calling it as you 'see' it, but that certainly isn't what I see.

[cannon1]

The True Grit (1969) Blu Ray needs a fresh transfer, the color is flat and lifeless compared to what it should be. If some are happy with it, I'm glad for them, but it's never been more than disappointing for me. I'd definitely repurchase it if a Fresh transfer was done right.

[Alfred E. Neumann]

The HD transfer looks like an image with a watercolor effect in Photoshop.
Not good and washed out. Can't wait for a 4k remaster.

[UseY0ur1llusi0n]

LOTS of Paramount titles from that era have said effect and need upgrading; To Catch a Thief, Liberty Valance, El Dorado, Italian Job, Grand Prix... and the sweet, sweet abortion known as Zulu is just about the worst you can get from any sort reputable blu-ray studio, ever.

Here's hoping these get the McLintock! treatment -- sooner, rather than later.