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Title: Cockfighter
By: Monte Hellman
Released by: Released on DVD by Anchor Bay
Released on: 1974 & DVD: 1/31/01
Rating (out of 10): 9
Date: 01/26/2002

Warren Oates, Richard B. Shull, Harry Dean Stanton, Ed Begley Jr, Laurie Bird, Troy Donahue, Warren Finnerty, Robert Earl Jones, Millie Perkins, Steve Railsback, Charles Willeford and Tom Sprat

Cockfighter: No, Not Peter North Porn Star -- It's a Gem Few Have Heard Of

No, Cockfighter is neither a porno-film nor is it filled with ultra gory chicken fights bloodily ripping each other to pieces. WAIT... wait it's still a good film !!!!

It's a unique cult film character study that is set in the world of the illegal but still very popular underground sport of cockfighting.

Most haven't heard of this 1974 film that was too art-house to be embraced as the pure exploitation film it was foolishly marketed as
and it was still too violent, controversial and unique to find a big appreciative audience. The closest thing some of you might have seen to this movie is the film Amores Perros (aka Loves a Bitch 2000) where one third of the film is set in the world of dog-fighting.

Cockfighter stars one of the most interesting actors to ever grace the silver screen -- Warren Oates under the direction of the under-appreciated and under-utilized Monte (Two-Lane Blacktop)Hellman. The film was co-produced by none other than Roger (Little Shop of Horrors, Masque of Red Death, The Terror) Corman.

Cockfighter was not a project Monte Hellman was itching to do, but rather one which Roger Corman gave him, believing it would be a good film for them to do together since it would potentially take a controversial subject that Hellman could add some class to,while delivering plenty of marketable violence and nudity.

As Hellman and Willeford fought over the script and another writer
was brought in to write some additional scenes, Corman grew impatient and demanded the film get started. What they delivered was a quirky little masterpiece which is waiting for you to discover.

Anchor Bay blessedly has made it pretty easy for you to obtain this gem since they released it (a bit too quietly) last January (2001).

Cockfighter is based on a novel written by the late great Charles Willeford who also co-wrote the screenplay and plays an important supporting role in the film. Willeford's books have been the basis for a few other good quirky films like Miami Blues and the recent The Woman-Chaser.

Cockfighter is set in an underground world where fighting cocks are bred, trained, and pitted against each other for spectators and gamblers to enjoy. Our guide to this world is Frank Mansfield(Warren Oates)-- a man who has devoted his life to being the best cockfighter on the circuit. We will learn a great deal about this underground sport as Frank demonstrates he is willing to risk everything and anything in pursuit of his goal-- a medal. In fact because Frank was too cocky (he drank and bragged too much) a few years ago, he ruined his chance at winning his coveted cockfighter of the year medal and took a vow of silence. He would not talk again until he won the Cockfighter of the Year medal. It's an ironic vow of silence because fighting cocks rarely make noise as they fight to the death in the pit.

As the film begins, we watch as Frank loses a cockfight to his old adversary Jack (Harry Dean Stanton) which costs Frank his motor home trailer and current girlfriend Laurie Bird (previously seen in Two-Lane Blacktop) .

Returning to his hometown, Frank re-acquaints himself with his old girlfriend, Mary Elizabeth (Patricia Pearcy). Mary Elizabeth would prefer marrying Frank than another suitor but doesn't consider cockfighting a real profession and needs Frank to give it up. Our mute hero isn't about to give up his obsession and hooks up with a new partner, Omar(played to perfection by Richard B. Shull), a new attitude and some new fighting cocks to try again to win his medal.

Frank's adventures are unique and for most the world of this sport is not one you're likely to be familiar with, nor one you've even seen on film before (or ever again).

The violent sport is illegal and cruel to animals and this film doesn't flinch in showing the sport for what it is (but only the last fight in the film is particularly bloody). Animals were killed in the making of the movie, but just because they were animals destined to be killed anyway in actual cockfights won't make this film any easier to watch for the truly squeamish. The film was made on location and the crowd extras were made up of the actual fans and participants of this so-called sport. Also in the film are Troy Donahue, Millie Perkins, Robert Earl Jones (Father of James Earl Jones), Ed Begley Jr., and Steve (Helter Skelter,The Stunt Man)Railsback.

Although Oates plays a man who is silent through 99% of the film, he delivers one of his finest performances and also does the voice-over narration. The film is worth seeing just to bear witness to Oates' stunning performance. It's also a beautifully paced character study very much worth seeing. Despite the low budget, cinematographer Nestor Almandros creates several memorable shots while accommodating Hellman's style which uses many master shots and long takes. Nestor's lighting design accommodated Hellman's style. Some rules are broken to great effect such as when a lake background is too hot (bright)and serves as the perfect background for a love scene between Frank and Mary Elizabeth. The film has such a strong documentary verite style we can usually forget we are watching a fictional film with actors. In fact there are so many non-actors in the film, Hellman considers more than half the film a documentary anyway.

Director Monte Hellman's career started with Corman on 1959's Beast from the Haunted Cave. Hellman made two odd low-budget westerns with Jack Nicholson in the late 1960's, Ride the Whirlwind and the existentially fascinating; The Shooting. The Shooting also marked the first time Hellman worked with Oates. Two directors; Sam Peckinpah and Monte Hellman utilized Oates best. He made The Shooting, Two-Lane Blacktop, Cockfighter and China 9 Liberty 37 with Oates. They worked well together and one of their finest collaborations is Cockfighter.
DVD EXTRA FEATURES:

Anchor Bay has delivered 1970's movie lovers a real gift with this DVD. Besides finding an excellent print of the film and doing a very good digital re-mastering of it, they have also produced a superb feature length commentary for the film (see below).

There is also a worthwhile 55-minute documentary by Tom Thurman that reviews the life of the film's star called: Warren Oates: Across the Border. It's not definitive by any means, but there are some interesting clips from Oates' films and some revealing interviews with a few former co-stars. Oates is curiously not shown in any interview clips. If you don't know much about Oates this is a good place to start, and if you do, there are still a few treats to be found.

COMMENTARY TRACK:

This is one of the better commentary tracks I've enjoyed. Dennis Bartok leads a discussion and keeps things moving with questions regarding the filming and reactions to it. The film's production assistant and longtime friend Steven Gaydos joins Hellman in a lively conversation full of wonderful details about low budget film-making and working with people like Corman, Oates, Harry Dean Stanton, Troy Donahue and others. The conversation is spirited, friendly and very honest and down-to-earth. No one is doing schtick or being un-naturally upbeat and positive. Film schools should put this commentary track on their recommended lists.

BOTTOM LINE

Cockfighter is a gem of a film you're probably never heard of. It's one of best films of the 1970's features one of Warren Oates finest performances and has been rescued from near obscurity by Anchor Bay. The film looks very good on DVD and comes with several worthwhile extras. Rent it, buy it, and tell your friends to get a copy of a great film they probably haven't heard a thing about. This isn't for everyone and the subject matter is disturbing, but those who enjoy unique, quirky independent films need to have this one.


© Copyright CultureDose.com 01/26/2002

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