Wednesday, May 14, 2008
 
Book Report: Rooster Cogburn by Martin Julien (1975)
Given my love for books that were made into movies or movie novelizations, of course I picked up this book at a book fair. I didn't look too closely, though, as it's neither. It is the tie-in to the movie, but in this case, it is a forward by the producer, an introduction that includes interviewish fan magazine style pieces on the stars (John Wayne and Katharine Hepburn), and then the script for the movie.

As such, it's an even quicker read than a novel would have been.

The movie is a sequel to True Grit, and I've not seen either of the films, so I had no preconceived notions about it. However, I've read books that include the script of a film I liked (particularly Casablanca, and I'm always struck with how thin the scripts seem compared to the actual film. As a writer, of course I'd like to think that the words are paramount; however, the actors and cinematographers add something. Don't get me wrong, a movie with poor choices of words makes a bad film as easily or maybe more easily, but the other factors add a richness to the experience that the script itself cannot.

That being said, it's a decent Western story, sort of a stock bit but serviceable.

Now, of course, I'll have to see the film to see if I'm correct in my thesis. I'd add it to my wish list on Amazon, but none of you googleheads looking for free book reports to turn in as your own bother to read this far, much less click my wish list. At least, I hope you're smart enough to read enough to turn in something else. None of these book reports has particular scholarly merit. But in case you don't, I'd like to add HEY TEACHER/PROFESSOR, YOU SUX!

Books mentioned in this review:


- posted by Brian J. @ 1:29 PM
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