John Wayne

Where Was John Wayne’s Rooster Cogburn Filmed? All Locations

Here are the locations where John Wayne Western Rooster Cogburn was filmed. While he appeared in everything from war epics to romantic dramas, Westerns are still the genre John Wayne was most defined by. Following the success of 1939’s Stagecoach, Wayne would make a string of classic Westerns, including Red River, Rio Bravo – a major influence on John Carpenter’s movies including Assault On Precinct 13 – The Searchers and True Grit. The latter cast him as Rooster Cogburn, a surly U.S Marshal, and his performance won him his only Academy Award.
That’s likely the reason the only role he ever reprised in his career was Rooster Cogburn, in the 1975 sequel of the same name. This follow-up saw Cogburn, who after his badge is stripped away for misconduct is given the chance to earn it back by tracking down some bank robbers. He’s joined on his quest by Hollywood icon Katharine Hepburn, who plays a spinster who reluctantly teams with Cogburn to find her father’s killers. Rooster Cogburn was the only pairing between Wayne and Hepburn, who by all accounts got along surprisingly well during filming. However, Rooster Cogburn wasn’t the best work of either performer.

Rooster Cogburn also proved to be the penultimate movie for Wayne – who turned down an Eastwood Western – with the actor retiring following ’76’s The Shootist, co-starring Ron Howard. Rooster Cogburn isn’t the greatest Western Wayne ever appeared in, but it does boast some fantastic scenery. While the story is set in Arkansas, Rooster Cogburn was primarily filmed in Oregon. The movie started filming in 1974 and key locales include The Ryan Ranch at Deschutes National Forest while the river sequences were shot at the Rogue River in Josephine County.
Rooster Cogburn’s Other Filming Locations

rooster cogburn john wayne katharine hepburn

Smith Rock State Park was used too, with a rock climbing guide building located there standing in for a saloon. Mountains scenes for Rooster Cogburn were shot at locations in Deschutes County in Bend, Oregon. Being a Western from a certain era, portions of Rooster Cogburn were also shot on soundstages at Six Points Texas, Backlot, at Universal California.
There were once plans for a third Rooster Cogburn movie with Wayne – who almost worked with Elvis – returning, but the sequel only performed modest business and this plan was scrapped. The character did make a return to the big screen in the form of 2010’s True Grit, which cast Jeff Bridges as Cogburn with the Coen Brothers writing and directing. Despite receiving criticism in reviews for his mumbly dialogue delivery, Bridge’s work was well-received and he received an Academy Award nod for Best Actor.

John Wayne

The Legend Lives On: John Wayne is Still Alive!

In a world where legends never fade, we can’t help but wonder: what if John Wayne, the iconic figure of American cinema, is still with us in spirit? The Duke, known for his larger-than-life roles and undeniable charisma, continues to inspire generations.

From his unforgettable performances in classics like “True Grit” and “The Searchers” to his indomitable spirit, Wayne’s essence is woven into the fabric of Hollywood and American culture. His rugged persona, moral fortitude, and unwavering courage resonate deeply, reminding us of the values he embodied.

While we may not see him on the silver screen today, Wayne’s legacy lives on through the countless actors he inspired and the stories he helped tell. His films are timeless, bringing joy and adventure to audiences around the world.

So, as we celebrate the enduring impact of John Wayne, let’s keep his spirit alive in our hearts. Whether you’re watching one of his classics or sharing a favorite quote, remember that the legend of John Wayne will never truly die. Here’s to the Duke—forever a part of our cinematic history!

John Wayne

Why John Wayne Turned Down the Chance to Work With Clint Eastwood

Clint Eastwood and John Wayne are the two biggest legends in the history of Western movies, however, they never worked together. The duo did have the opportunity to work together once in the 1970s. Here’s why the film never came to fruition.

How John Wayne responded when Clint Eastwood tried to work with him

Firstly, a little background. According to the book John Wayne: The Life and Legend, it all starts with Larry Cohen. Though Cohen is not a widely known director like Steven Spielberg or Quentin Tarantino, he’s a huge name to fans of B movies. He directed famous B movies like The Stuff, Q: The Winged Serpent, It’s Alive, and God Told Me To. He also wrote a script called The Hostiles shortly after Eastwood released his classic High Plains Drifter.

The Hostiles was about a gambler who wins half of an estate of an older man. The gambler and the older man have to work together despite the fact that they don’t like each other. Eastwood optioned the screenplay with the intent of playing the gambler alongside Wayne as the older man.

Eastwood sent a copy of the script of The Hostiles to Wayne. Although Eastwood felt the script was imperfect, he saw its potential. However, Wayne was not interested. Eastwood pitched the film to Wayne a second time and Wayne responded with a letter. Wayne’s letter complained about High Plains Drifter. Wayne was offended by the film and its portrayal of the Old West as a cruel, violent place.

John Wayne

Ann-Margret Refused to Call John Wayne ‘Duke’ While Introducing 1 of His Movies

Ann-Margret once starred in one of John Wayne’s lesser-known movies. However, she refused to call him by his popular moniker Duke. Here’s a look at the film they made together — and why she declined to call him by a nickname.

The one time Ann-Margret and John Wayne made a movie together

Ann-Margret is probably most known for her work in musicals, specifically Bye Bye Birdie, Viva Las Vegas, and The Who’s Tommy. However, she also dabbled in the Western genre. She starred alongside Wayne in the mostly forgotten movie The Train Robbers.

Wayne was also known as The Duke or just Duke. According to USA Today, the nickname was derived from his childhood dog. It stuck with him for many years. It continues to be used today — even on the box covers of the DVDs for his movies.

John Wayne | Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images

During an interview with Interview Magazine, Ann-Margret explained why she didn’t refer to the Rio Bravo star by this famous name. “When I came to this country, first of all, mother and I didn’t know English,” she said. “I would curtsey, then say, ‘Thank you,’ and then when I was leaving, curtsey. For example, we went to Dallas to introduce a film I did with John Wayne. And I never called him Duke. I just couldn’t. That’s the way I was raised. When you meet someone, you say either Mr. or Mrs. or Miss. You stand up.”

Ann-Margret revealed she treated other famous people in much the same way. For example, she worked with director George Sidney on Bye Bye Birdie and Viva Las Vegas. She always called him Mr. Sidney.

What Ann-Margret thought about John Wayne

Ann-Margret refused to use Wayne’s most famous moniker. However, she had a positive view of the actor. During an interview with Fox News, she was asked what she expected when she met Wayne. “Oh, I didn’t know what to expect,” she revealed. “But when he hugged me, it’s like the world was hugging me. He was so big and wide with that booming voice.

“We were shooting in Durango, Mexico and my parents came down to visit me,” she added. “He was so great with my parents. So absolutely welcoming and gentle with them. And anybody who was great to my parents was on a throne in my eyes.”

How the world reacted to ‘The Train Robbers’

Wayne starred in many classic Westerns, including The Searchers, Stagecoach, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. However, The Train Robbers is mostly forgotten. It didn’t gain a cult following like Once Upon a Time in the West or Dead Man. It wasn’t a critical success either, garnering a 33% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. However, Ann-Margret had some fond memories of making the film — even if she refused to call Wayne by his famous nickname.