Where Was Rooster Cogburn Filmed? John Wayne’s Captivating Western Flick!!

If you’re looking for an entertaining film to watch during the first weekend of 2023, then you can stop searching further. In this article I will introduce you to a classic film, Rooster Cogburn, starring John Wayne. Furthermore, I’ll also share with you where was Rooster Cogburn filmed.

The American western film, Rooster Cogburn released in 1975 was based on a popular character from a novel by Charles Portis, published 8 years prior to the film. Stuart Millar, the director of the film, was so influenced and moved by Portis’ novel, that he decided to make a classic film, True Grit in 1969. Yet, Millar consciously changed the screenplay of the sequel just a wee bit, to make the story more captivating. The basic premise is centered around the character of Rooster, a stern American marshall, who reluctantly investigates a homicidal case.

Rooster Cogburn received a positive response from audiences and critics upon its release but wasn’t as popular as its prequel, True Grit. This intense action drama film went on to gross over $17 million at the box office against a nominal production budget. 

Now, before I acquaint you with the plot of this super-entertaining film, let’s explore where was Rooster Cogburn filmed. So that you can analyze the filming locations closely.

Where Was Rooster Cogburn Filmed? Let’s Know This Western Flick Closely!

The prequel of Rooster Cogburn was filmed entirely in and around the state of Colorado. However, the makers decided to change the filming location for this movie, during the early stages of pre-production. 

Thus, a number of locations in western and southwestern parts of America were initially scouted by the crew. However, as the director wasn’t particularly satisfied with the overall look of the selected locations, he instructed the crew to look for other potential shooting locations in the northwest. 

Soon, the state of Oregon was selected as the prime filming location for Rooster Cogburn. Director Millar later decided to shoot a few minor sequences of the movie and around California as well. The principal photography commenced in September 1974 and continued for 8 weeks. The filming crew managed to complete the shooting within the stipulated time, which in turn immensely helped the makers to maintain the production dates.

So, without waiting any longer, let’s find out where was Rooster Cogburn filmed and discuss the specific shooting locations in depth.

Oregon | USA

As mentioned, the state of Oregon was selected as the primary location for shooting, thus the majority of the filming took place in different parts of this state. In fact, the opening sequence of the film, where we see the lead character of the film chasing an outlaw, was filmed in the High Desert near the communities of Redmond and Terrebonne. 

Specifically, the Smith Rock State Park was used to capture this outdoor scene, depicting the hideout of the outlaw around the rocky terrain. The filming crew captured some other sequences here and then moved to the city of Grants Pass.

The beautiful city of Grants Pass is located on the banks of the Rogue River and is an important county seat of Josephine County. The production member filmed the pivotal outdoor sequences here, showcasing the first meeting of Rooster with the female lead. The majority of the shooting in Grants Pass took place on the outskirts of the city near the Rogue River.

Then, in order to film the final quarter of the movie, the production members traveled to the central part of Oregon. Deschutes National Forest is where the captivating scenes showcasing the investigation of the marshall were captured. The crew spent one and a half weeks in this forest and extensively filmed around it. A special camera and lighting equipment were also used to shoot outdoor scenes during the night.

California | USA

After all the outdoor scenes were shot in different parts of Oregon, the crew moved to the state of California. The remaining interior sequences of the film were shot here. The Universal Studios located at 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City was used to capture the scenes. A make-believe set was constructed on the backlot of Universal Studio, portraying the backdrop of Six Points Texas for the film. 

Now, allow me to briefly discuss the plot of Rooster Cogburn so that you can get a fair idea about the basic premise of this entertaining film. Meanwhile, you can check out One Punch Man, Berserk and Grave of the Fireflies as well.

Plot Of Rooster Cogburn | What’s It About

As Rooster Cogburn stands as a sequel to the Oscar-winning film, True Grit, the story of this film continues from the ending of the first movie. At the very beginning of the film, we are acquainted with the character of Rooster, an aging American marshall, who is still sharp between the years.

As the story progresses further, Rooster comes across a lady, who complains to him about her father’s murder. But as the lead actor was already following the trail of an outlaw, he refuses to take on the homicidal case. However, the female lead eventually convinces the marshall to find out the real killer of her father. Watch Rooster Cogburn to witness how the aging marshall solves the murder mystery.

Final Words

Ok friends, so now that you’ve reached the end, I hope you’ve established a basic idea about this film, and finally know where was Rooster Cogburn filmed. To read similar entertaining articles you can check out other amazing articles on Viebly. Do let us know if you enjoyed the read in the comments section below.