DS Rooster Cogburn

The 1975 film Rooster Cogburn offers a revisionist view of "the other." The term "the other" refers to anyone in the Western film complementary to the alpha male cowboy. In the film, Eula Goodnight and Wolf--two characters that would otherwise be typically lumped into "the other" category of characters--emerge as important and competent role-players. From a cultural studies perspective, we can attribute this transformation to the higher regard for women and Native Americans in American society that resulted from the Indian and Women civil rights movements of the era. The greater respect for these groups in society is reflected through their growing prominence in Western cinema.

Eula Goodnight is a strong, competent female figure. While it may be said that she talks allot (which is typical of women), most of what she has to say is carefully calculated to argue and voice her opinion. She is a skilled marksman, which is indicated when she kills one of Hawk's goons and Rooster's would-be killer. She can hunt and cook as good as any man, Rooster included, which is shown when upon the return of Rooster and Wolf from hunting she is seen cooking a turkey she had hunted and which had eluded both Rooster and Wolf. She has a self-expressed fastidious devotion to duty, as in the duty to bring her father's killers to justice. She is even seen by movie's end to partake in a sip of alcohol. Clearly this is a step in a different direction from the normal role and status of women in Western film.

Additionally, the Native American boy Wolf defies the convention of "the other" throughout film. Wolf is able to converse in perfect, fluid English, which no doubt influences the bonding between Rooster and Wolf and blurs the lines between supporting Indian character and leading role-player. He is a competent enough marksman such that Rooster can rely on him for assistance in hunting (though a somewhat failed venture), in a gun-fight, as well as serving as look-out. Wolf also plays an integral role in escaping the outlaws by "spooking" their horses, which buys them time to flee. Wolf's role as a Native American is drastically different and far more prominent than the Native American roles of earlier Western films.