Cockfighter (1974)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Monte Hellman

Writers:

Charles Willeford (novel)
Charles Willeford (screenplay)

Release Date:

August 1974 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

He came into town with his cock in hand, and what he did with it was illegal in 49 states.

Plot:

Southern action drama film about cockfighting.

Plot Keywords:

Medal | Money | Champion | Rooster | Cockfighting

Cast

Warren Oates	...	Frank Mansfield
Richard B. Shull	...	Omar Baradansky
Harry Dean Stanton	...	Jack Burke
Ed Begley Jr.	...	Tom Peeples
Laurie Bird	...	Dody White Burke
Troy Donahue	...	Randall Mansfield
Warren Finnerty	...	Sanders
Robert Earl Jones	...	Buford
Patricia Pearcy	...	Mary Elizabeth
Millie Perkins	...	Frances Mansfield
Steve Railsback	...	Junior
Tom Spratley	...	Mister Peeples
Charles Willeford	...	Ed Middleton
Pete Munro	...	Packard
Kermit Echols	...	Fred Reed

Also Known As:

Born to Kill
Gamblin' Man
Wild Drifter

Runtime:

83 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Australia:M | Norway:16 | Spain:18 | UK:(Banned) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Juliette, Georgia, USA

Company:

Artists Entertainment Complex

Trivia:

While trying to come up with an ad campaign to this seemingly unmarketable film, American International's advertising committee came up with this humorous fake tagline: "He came into town with his cock in hand, and what he did with it was illegal in 49 states."

Movie Connections:

Referenced in Final Exam (1981)

One of those great films made before stars mattered

"Cockfighter" is not an easy movie. It doesn't have one of those carbon-copy scripts that you can write like cheap romance novels. It doesn't have characters that cater to what the stars think will make them look good. There is no spoon-feeding here.

Just re-released for sale on tape (and DVD), this film is now available again for those who like to watch a movie that honestly takes you someplace that few of us have ever been. Warren Oates plays a character who lives by a moral code much like the people in the pulp westerns and detective stories -- a man's honor is shown by his actions, and his willingness to see his convictions through to whatever end may come. After letting his pride destroy his chance of winning a high honor amongst cockfighters, he takes a vow of silence that will last until he earns that honor.

While the scenes of actual cockfights can be distressing, they are essential to showing the viewer the main character's struggle as well as his obsession. When the character's love interest is added to the equation, the story takes on an epic quality formerly reserved for tales of a knight trying to win the love of his lady and the respect of his peers.

Perhaps that may be giving the film too much credit, but I don't think so. While there are plenty of exploitational elements to draw a wide audience, the actual meat of the film is a man seeking redemption and honor.

Find this movie. Watch it. Enjoy it. And see if it doesn't stick in your mind a heck of a lot longer than the average contemporary "Hollywood" movie.