John Wayne Preferred the ‘Uplifting’ ‘True Grit’ Ending Compared to the Book’s Original Ending

True Grit actor John Wayne became the face of the Western genre thanks to iconic classics, such as Stagecoach and Red River. He always had a firm understanding of characterization, but he always wanted to keep it family-friendly. Wayne once said that he actually preferred the changes made to the True Grit ending compared to the one in the original book, which wasn’t so “uplifting.”

‘True Grit’ actor John Wayne played Rooster Cogburn

'True Grit' John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn in a black-and-white picture, wearing a cowboy hat and eyepatch.
John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn | Screen Archives/Getty Images

True Grit saw Wayne play the legendary Rooster Cogburn, a frequently inebriated and stern U.S. marshal, who 14-year-old Mattie Ross (Kim Darby) seeks out after her father’s murder. Together, they hunt down Tom Chaney (Jeff Corey) to give him the death that he deserves. Meanwhile, Texas Ranger La Boeuf (Glen Campbell) joins them to bring him to a more civilized sense of justice.

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