Lifting the eyepatch: National Cowboy Museum's 'Two Grits' marks milestone anniversaries for both 'True Grit' movies

As The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences prepares for its 92nd Annual Academy Awards on Feb. 9, Oklahomans have the chance to see one of the coveted statuettes up close and personal.

John Wayne's 1970 best actor Oscar currently is displayed at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum as part of the exhibit "Two Grits — A Peek Behind the Eyepatch." Although he was nominated three times over two decades, the legendary actor won his lone Academy Award for playing the iconic one-eyed lawman Rooster Cogburn in Henry Hathaway's 1969 adaptation of "True Grit."

"I love 'True Grit' because he got his Academy Award for that. And I just loved the story because it was with young girl, and I was about the same age as that girl when he made that movie. So, it was kind of special for me. ... I always loved that story of such a tough young girl and he was an old codger but there was a little softness to him," said Anita La Cava Swift, Wayne's granddaughter. "He loved that story, and he loved that film. ... It held a very special place in his heart for sure."

First published as a serial in "The Saturday Evening Post," Charles Portis' 1968 novel about an Arkansas teenager named Mattie Ross who ventures into Indian Territory (now Oklahoma) with Marshal Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn and Texas Ranger LaBoeuf to hunt down the scoundrel that killed her father has made an indelible impact on American popular culture. It's the rare book that has been adapted into not one but two Oscar-honored films.

On view through May 10, the exhibit "Two Grits" celebrates the 50th anniversary of the 1969 version starring Wayne, Glenn Campbell, Robert Duvall, Dennis Hopper and Kim Darby, as well as the 10th anniversary of Joel and Ethan Coen's 2010 adaptation featuring Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Barry Pepper and Hailee Steinfeld.

"Very much like 'The Virginian' by Owen Wister, 'True Grit' by Charles Portis is one of those that rises to the top. I've seen some critics compare 'True Grit' to 'Huckleberry Finn' as far as a great American novel," said Michael Grauer, the National Cowboy Museum's McCasland Chair of Cowboy Culture.

"It's an opportunity to look at the interpretations of the film by two different directors, two different sets of actors. ... And it's an opportunity to examine in a historical context how accurate the movie is if it had taken place, but also how close to the novel each set of directors and producers kept."

Fictional tale

The exhibition compares the character development, cinematography, screenplays, performances and costumes of the "Two Grits." Along with Wayne's Oscar, it includes his full "True Grit" costume and his personal copy of the script. It also features several other costumes and costume pieces from the two movies, photographs from the films and firearms from the story's 1878 setting.

Both movies earned great acclaim: The 1969 adaptation received two Oscar nominations, with Wayne winning for best actor, and the 2010 version garnered 10 Academy Award nods, although it didn't win any trophies.

"John Wayne lobbied actively to play the role of Rooster Cogburn," Grauer said, adding that The Duke reprised the role in the 1975 film "Rooster Cogburn."

"He took Rooster Cogburn to a whole different level, well beyond the book, as did Jeff Bridges in his own interpretation."

The exhibit includes a reproduction of a letter the author penned to the National Park Service in which he affirms that the Western adventure is a work of fiction — and that includes its unlikely eyepatch-wearing hero.

"It's a composite (character). Portis talks about that in the letter, that everyone insists that they knew someone like that. And he said no," Grauer said. "Charles Portis makes it very clear: He made the story up because he's a writer of fiction."

Western icon

Along with showcasing the Portis novel and its two cinematic interpretations, "Two Grits" also affirms Wayne's close relationship with the National Cowboy Museum.

"John Wayne was involved with the National Cowboy Museum beginning with its establishment and then its opening in 1965," Grauer said. "When he passed in 1979, he left us a collection of items from his estate, which were augmented by family members over the years."

Swift said her grandfather believed in the museum's importance and legacy.

"He believed in the West and everything it stood for ... and he was a student of history. And all of that history and everything just was part of his nature. It just meant everything to him, so that museum really meant everything to him," said Swift, who earlier this month traveled to the OKC museum of tour the exhibit and attend a special screening of 1969's "True Grit."

Although the original cinematic version "True Grit" holds a special place in her heart, Swift said she recommends both films and the novel. The museum is hosting a book club discussion of "True Grit" from 1 to 2:15 p.m. Feb. 9, before the Oscars air that evening, as well as a special April 3 showing of the 2010 movie.

"I think the Coen Brothers did a good job in their version, as well. First of all, Jeff Bridges was amazing, and Hailee Steinfeld did an amazing job in her version. Matt Damon was great. They all did a great job. Hey, who would want to do a redo of John Wayne? But they did a great job. I think it was awesome. It's such a good story," she said.

ON VIEW

"Two Grits - A Peek Behind the Eyepatch"

When: Through May 10.

Where: National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, 1700 NE 63.

Information: nationalcowboymuseum.org or 478-2250

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