Cockfighter (1974)

Southern action drama film about cockfighting.

Director:

Monte Hellman

Writers:

Charles Willeford (novel), Charles Willeford (screenplay)

Stars:

Warren Oates, Richard B. Shull, Harry Dean Stanton

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
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

Storyline

Frank Mansfield has wanted to win the Cockfighter of the Year medal for ages. Frank never speaks. After shooting his mouth off one too many times then losing a champion rooster in a casual hotel room cockfight, he swore never to speak again until he's won that award... He makes a bet with old crony Jack to be settled at the upcoming meet. Frank puts his car and his trailer on the line; he loses. Jack gets the trailer, and Frank's part-time girlfriend who goes with it. Frank's long-time girlfriend Mary Elizabeth wants him to get serious and settle down. But Frank has to raise some money for a new cock - $500 - then he can form a partnership with fellow cocksman Omar Baradansky and make another try for that medal...

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Plot Keywords:

medal | cockfighting | rooster | money | champion | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

R

Details

Official Sites:

Official site [jp]

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

August 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

Born to Kill

Filming Locations:

Juliette, Georgia, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Artists Entertainment Complex, New World Pictures, Rio Pinto Productions Inc.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

83 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

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."

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Connections

Featured in Dusk to Dawn Drive-In Trash-o-Rama Show Vol. 8 (2002)

User Reviews

Bring Me the Head of a Dead Game Cock ...

Monte Hellman and Sam Peckinpah recognized the particular genius of Warren Oates, and it saddens me to think that younger film goers know little about Oates, and even less about Hellman. Makes a good companion piece for "Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia." Although both films have similar plot devices, the performances by Oates are bravely unique, and moving in their fearless creativity.

The DVD includes a documentary about Oates that is a welcome companion to the feature. Esteemed critic David Thomson points out that Oates was not afraid to play dumb (unlike his occasional co-star Jack Nicholson, who always has to show the audience his underlying intelligence as a safeguard). And the commentary track, although low in volume, is worth leaning close and listening to 'back stage' stories about the production. In particular: Roger Corman's angry reaction to the final scene written for the final draft of the script.

This final scene of the movie is poetic and ambiguous, nothing you'd expect from a so-called exploitation picture. Maybe that's why Corman didn't approve. "Cockfighter" is at least half documentary, with real people in supporting roles, and filming real contests in cockpits in Georgia. Because Oates was so authentic, it would be easy to forget that this is a well-crafted performance from one of the most under-rated film actors who ever lived.