The remake is without question the better film, but the original will always be one of my favourite movies. John Wayne of course played John Wayne, as he always did, but he never played him with more gusto, and that made him one helluva Rooster Cogburn. Ok, a movie Rooster Cogburn, arguably a borderline pantomime Rooster Cogburn, but boy when he sets off across that valley with his reins in his teeth and a six-shooter in each hand, well, that's the Wild West right there! "Fill your hands you sunnuva bitch!"