John Wayne fans will be happy that True Grit, one of the actor’s greatest films, will be the feature film at the Many Community Center on Saturday, May 5 starting at 7 p.m.
A classic western story of the good guys against the bad guys, it is sure to please everyone in the family who sees this film. Cowboys, pioneers, and a gritty, stubborn young girl who asks a drunken, hard-nosed U.S. Sheriff (John Wayne as Rooster Cogburn) and a Texas Ranger Glenn Campbell) help her to track down her father’s murderer in Indian territory. Sheriff Rooster Cogburn helps her find the outlaws who killed her father and bring them to justice is all part of this compelling movie. Grandparents, parents, and kids are sure to enjoy the movie because of the actors, the plot, and the western scenery.
The story goes like this: The murder of her father sends a teenage tomboy, Mattie Ross, (Kim Darby), on a mission of “justice”, which involves avenging her father’s death. She recruits a tough old sheriff, “Rooster” Cogburn (John Wayne), because he has “grit”, and a reputation of getting the job done. The two are joined by a Texas Ranger, La Boeuf, (Glen Campbell), who is looking for the same man (Jeff Corey) for a separate murder in Texas. Their odyssey takes them from Fort Smith, Arkansas, deep into the Indian Territory (present day Oklahoma) to find their man.
Surely one of the purest westerns ever made, the movie is a simple tale of a lawman tracking down an outlaw. This film is raised way above the norm for western movies in almost all respects: The photography is superb, with the hills, mountains, valleys and forests being the real stars. The acting is first rate, with not a weak performance in sight from even the lowliest minor character. The direction is well paced as we ride along with the 3-person-posse through the landscape and experience the minor twists of the actual hunt, as well as the evolution of the relationships between the characters.
Movies in Many are sponsored by Many Mayor Ken Freeman, the Many Cultural District Advisory Committee, and the Many City Council
The movies, usually shown on the first and third Saturday of every month, are FREE to everyone. Concessions are only $1 for soft drinks, and $1 for popcorn.
Movies in Many, Music in Many, Happy Hours Creative Classes at the Depot, and Many Book Nooks are all part of the efforts of Mayor Freeman, the City Council, and the Many Cultural District to bring entertainment and culture to the people of Many and the surrounding area.
