PS "Rooster Cogburn"

The film Rooster Cogburn is a true western film which represents revisionism of “the other.” The 1975 film was released while racial segregation and the second feminist movement was taking place. In this film we see the “other” gain power and grow as a character. Through the “other” characters of Eula and Wolf one can see the transformation of these characters now and from early westerns.


Eula is a very strong willed character who wants to be listened to, respected, and taken seriously. Tompkins explains in her book that the women in westerns are pretty much are brushed aside for the most part and are ignored as well as told what to do. In this case this is the exact opposite for her. She makes sure Rooster listens to her. He ends up respecting her so much that he makes sure she is always protected either by himself or Wolf. Eula has so much power for a woman that it even upsets the gang when they encounter her. The power surprises the gang and gets them upset because it is something that is not very common in the west. Eula shows her very traditional woman characteristics as she cares for the young Indian children when the gun fight breaks out.


Again, very uncharacteristic for a woman in the western is the fact that Eula wants to go after the gang who has killed her father. She very much is involved with going after the murderers and avenging her father. Most times woman would stay at the home because they are too scared to leave or because the men tell and force them to stay. In this case Eula makes no not an option and shows her strength. She also shows her skills when Rooster and Wolf go to hunt a turkey for dinner and all they get is a possum and when they return they find Eula preparing and cooking a turkey she had hunted on her own. This is out of the ordinary for a woman. They know how to cook and prepare food, but a woman hunting is something never seen in a western. Eula is a very strong character and through this film it is evident that women being the “other” have grown in westerns.


The film also introduces another “other” character with much more of a minor role than Eula. Wolf is a Native American and through western culture from the beginning they are viewed as negative characters that are most always the antagonist and can never out do the cowboy. Wolf in this film looks up to Rooster and wants to be just like him. He one day would like to be a Native American Marshal. He assists Rooster throughout the film and is even given his first gun. This is traditionally different because in the past the Indians have guns from stealing them or taking them from a killed enemy, but in this case it is a gift. Wolf also does a good when he scares the horses to distract the gang. In this film Wolf, the “other,” does much good and is looked as a very positive character compared to the typical Native American in films.