True Grit

twhidd · December 22, 2010, 07:15 PM

I saw the Coen brothers' remake of True Grit today. Pretty good movie. There's a glaring mistake that kind of bothers me though. John Wayne wore the patch over his left eye. Jeff Bridges wears it over his right, which makes it difficult if not darn near impossible to aim a rifle when shouldering it right handed. I know it's just Hollywood, but I think someone should have caught that.

Zhillsauditor · December 22, 2010, 07:49 PM

I read the book, but I cannot remember the issue being addressed. I haven't seen the movie yet, but the trailer showing Bridges firing a rifle (1866 winnie I think), shows him firing right handed but aiming with is left eye.

I've a problem that way myself, and have given in to using my less dominant, deteriorating right eye, as I cannot teach myself to shoot left handed. I came to shooting late in life, and am useless with my left arm.

Hawg · December 22, 2010, 08:50 PM

Adds a touch of realism doncha think?

rem1858 · December 22, 2010, 08:56 PM

Reminds me of a guy I used to work with.

We went shooting guns and rifles one weekend and he was a very good shot with both.

I noticed he was right handed but sighted with his left eye.
Asked him about it and that is when he told me that he had a glass eye.
Never knew it until he told me

Clarence

sewerman · December 23, 2010, 08:37 AM

wife & I caught the new grit movie yesterday too.

then watched the john wayne version on cable that evening.

man! what a world of difference!

producers today go to greater effort to portray correct historical clothing & language than the movies of yesteryear. more money is dedicated to offering the audience a historically correct film creating realism & a learning experience instead of just a story line filled in with cast & off the shelf non-researched clothing, equipment, & diction. ...and i would like to think most people, even those not appreciative of history do enjoy the effort.

the older version was nothing more then a longer weekly T.V. western program.

BTW i'm left eye dominate too. i read in a gun magazine that somewhere closeto 40 % or more right handed folks are left eye dominate!

sewerman

twhidd · December 23, 2010, 10:21 AM

I'm also left eye dominant. But when I shoot rifles or shotguns I am forced to close my left eye and aim with my right. I can't seem to focus on the sights otherwise.

Foto Joe · December 23, 2010, 10:54 AM

My youngest daughter (26) is:

Left handed - shoots right handed - is left eye dominent.

Watching her shoot a lever gun kinda makes me dizzy, but she hits what she's pointing it at!!

starbuck125 · December 23, 2010, 11:41 AM

my sons the same way, right handed, shoots left handed, closes left eye, he also hits what he aims at generally. i'm lucky enough to be able to shoot either way though.

kymarkh · December 23, 2010, 11:47 AM

I'm looking forward to seeing the movie.

I had a friend who was cross-dominant and it did not affect his trap shooting one bit. He never let me forget it either!

wheelyfun · December 23, 2010, 10:12 PM

Just returned from seeing the movie, and also watched the John Wayne version last night.

The Coen brothers version follows the novel (written by Charles Portis) more closely than the 1969 version.

This movie is full of great weapons; single action army revolvers, Colt Dragoon, Sharps rifle, Henry rifle, and various lever action and shotguns.

This movie is great, see it if you can!

**JohnKSa** · December 23, 2010, 10:58 PM

I saw or read an interview in which it was mentioned that John Wayne had the prop folks make him up an eyepatch that didn't actually obstruct his vision. Although it appeared to be black it was nearly transparent from the inside. So he could actually see out of both eyes for the movie.

I noticed one commercial clip from the current movie which appeared to show Jeff Bridges sighting a pistol with his left eye. I wonder if the eyepatch they gave him is actually functional?

eastbank · December 24, 2010, 06:43 AM

i am left eye dominant but was right handed, i taught myself to shoot totaly left handed at a young age. but i still do every thing else right handed. it was hard for me but it was worth it. eastbank.

wittzo · December 24, 2010, 04:55 PM

One of those method actor things, I reckon. Jeff Bridges will probably slap himself when he finds out.

I used to be stigmatic in one eye and myopic in the other. Now, my eyes are starting to switch on me. I use a cpap machine and I sleep on the left side of the bed, so I hold my books on that side and my left eye is the one I use to read with, because the mask blocks my right eye.

Now I keep wanting to aim with my left eye and close my right eye even when I'm using a scope. Hopefully a lamp in the middle of the bed will fix it.

wogpotter · December 24, 2010, 05:09 PM

Did they get the surroundings better than the original?

Having spent some time in the Ozarks between Fort Smith & the Oklahoma border I can say I never saw snow capped majestic peaks in the entire time I was there.

My buddy, who lives in the area rented the John Wayne version & the first question his wife asked him was "Which Ozarks did they film this in & why haven't you ever taken me to them"?

bedbugbilly · December 24, 2010, 05:58 PM

I'm right handed and was right eye dominant until I started having some vision prombems - now I don't have much central vision in my right eye so I have to shoot rifle left handed. You learn to adapt. I still aim pistol in a right hand stance but aim with left eye - as I said, you adapt.

In regards to which eye had the patch over it in the "old" True Grit and the "new" . . . . cheer up! He could have had a patch over both eyes and I'm sure Hollywood would have worked that out as well!

Was glad to hear all of your comments on the new movie. I've seen the ads for it and am looking forward to seeing it. Let's face it . . . WE NEED MORE GOOD WESTERNS!!!!!

43FLcracker · December 26, 2010, 01:06 PM

What were the two guns Cogburn kept holstered on the horn of his saddle?

twhidd · December 26, 2010, 02:06 PM

They were Navy Colts. He briefly mentioned his "Navy sixes" at one point in the movie.

Hardcase · December 26, 2010, 02:36 PM

Beyond the historical accuracy, it was a crackin' good movie. We saw it last night. My wife had to keep up a running translation of "Western" to "American" for my sister, who just never go the hang of westerns, despite being born and raised in Idaho.

She still wants to know why Dick had such a tight hatband.

Hawg · December 26, 2010, 07:32 PM

No disrespect for the Duke but I thought it was much better than the original. My only complaint is the grammar and pronunciation was too good.

Hardcase · December 26, 2010, 08:12 PM

I thought so, too, Hawg, but reading letters from my forebears going back to around 1810 make me wonder. They were beautifully written, not just in penmanship, but grammar. The spelling tended to be pretty atrocious, but the language was really quite prosaic. These were folks who had a grade school education, if they were lucky, but they were all fairly well read - if nothing else, they had all read the family Bible cover to cover.

I also have a recording that my great uncle made of my great grandmother in the early 1970's. She was born in 1880 and spoke quite eloquently about her life as a child in Idaho City.

So I'm not sure about the language.

psycho nut · December 26, 2010, 08:37 PM

I really liked the movie.

And knowing a word and being able to spell it are totally different. Don't be so quick to assume that they all spoke like idiots.

Hawg · December 26, 2010, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Don't be so quick to assume that they all spoke like idiots.

Oh I don't but with as many uneducated people as there were I didn't expect the whole cast to sound like English teachers.

Model-P · December 26, 2010, 10:11 PM

Grammar has gotten worse, not better.

How often do you hear poor grammar such as in these examples in any given day?!

Incorrect / Correct

Where are you at? / Where are you?
Here's the keys. / Here are the keys.
Talking good English. / Speaking English well.
It's me. / It is I.
Me and Clara went to the store. / Clara and I went to the store.
Who did you give the present to? / To whom did you give the present?
No one hates garlic as much as me (which means, "No one hates garlic as much as they hate me."). / No one hates garlic as much as I.
He has a red sweater like me. / He has a red sweater like I (do).
What are you kicking me for? / Why are you kicking me?

Etc., etc.

sewerman · December 28, 2010, 05:53 PM

model-p,

excellent point made on the grammar subject.

i believe hollywood is solely responsible for promoting folks from the 18th century as illiterates.

the school system of the 1800s, though short in years for many pupils, focused on the fundamentals of education......something our 20th-21st century school systems seem to have forgotten.

S.M.

MLeake · December 28, 2010, 05:58 PM

... then the common lexicon had three times the number of words in Shakespeare's day as compared to modern English.

Commoners attending one of the plays at Stratford were actually expected to be able to follow the language, as well as the storylines.

So the question is, has the language become more streamlined and efficient, or just more boring?

To keep the thread on the subject of guns, though, I was actually surprised that Mattie fired even one successful shot, given that they never showed her reloading her cylinder after being immersed in the river. I would not think that would work so well with a cap and ball revolver....

December 22, 2010, 07:15 PM	#1
twhidd Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2005 Location: Athens, Georgia Posts: 823	True Grit I saw the Coen brothers' remake of True Grit today. Pretty good movie. There's a glaring mistake that kind of bothers me though. John Wayne wore the patch over his left eye. Jeff Bridges wears it over his right, which makes it difficult if not darn near impossible to aim a rifle when shouldering it right handed. I know it's just Hollywood, but I think someone should have caught that. __________________ Todd NRA Life Member

December 22, 2010, 08:56 PM	#4
rem1858 Member Join Date: December 12, 2010 Location: Surrounded by pines in Wi. Posts: 97	Reminds me of a guy I used to work with. We went shooting guns and rifles one weekend and he was a very good shot with both. I noticed he was right handed but sighted with his left eye. Asked him about it and that is when he told me that he had a glass eye. Never knew it until he told me Clarence __________________ B.E. Master indoor and out Distinguished Revolver Badge #99

December 23, 2010, 08:37 AM	#5
sewerman Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2005 Location: hurricane alley, florida Posts: 304	wife & I caught the new grit movie yesterday too. then watched the john wayne version on cable that evening. man! what a world of difference! producers today go to greater effort to portray correct historical clothing & language than the movies of yesteryear. more money is dedicated to offering the audience a historically correct film creating realism & a learning experience instead of just a story line filled in with cast & off the shelf non-researched clothing, equipment, & diction. ...and i would like to think most people, even those not appreciative of history do enjoy the effort. the older version was nothing more then a longer weekly T.V. western program. BTW i'm left eye dominate too. i read in a gun magazine that somewhere closeto 40 % or more right handed folks are left eye dominate! sewerman __________________ "When the government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government there is tyranny!" Thomas Jefferson "They that can give up an essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety!" Benjamin franklin The Armed Citizen PREVENTS tyranny!

December 23, 2010, 10:21 AM	#6
twhidd Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2005 Location: Athens, Georgia Posts: 823	I'm also left eye dominant. But when I shoot rifles or shotguns I am forced to close my left eye and aim with my right. I can't seem to focus on the sights otherwise. __________________ Todd NRA Life Member

December 23, 2010, 10:54 AM	#7
Foto Joe Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2010 Location: Cody, Wyoming Posts: 111	My youngest daughter (26) is: Left handed - shoots right handed - is left eye dominent. Watching her shoot a lever gun kinda makes me dizzy, but she hits what she's pointing it at!! __________________ Foto Joe

December 22, 2010, 07:49 PM	#2
Zhillsauditor Senior Member Join Date: October 19, 2008 Posts: 635	I read the book, but I cannot remember the issue being addressed. I haven't seen the movie yet, but the trailer showing Bridges firing a rifle (1866 winnie I think), shows him firing right handed but aiming with is left eye. I've a problem that way myself, and have given in to using my less dominant, deteriorating right eye, as I cannot teach myself to shoot left handed. I came to shooting late in life, and am useless with my left arm.

December 22, 2010, 08:50 PM	#3
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	Adds a touch of realism doncha think?

December 23, 2010, 11:41 AM	#8
starbuck125 Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 2009 Location: kentucky Posts: 140	my sons the same way, right handed, shoots left handed, closes left eye, he also hits what he aims at generally. i'm lucky enough to be able to shoot either way though.

December 23, 2010, 11:47 AM	#9
kymarkh Senior Member Join Date: February 6, 2008 Posts: 181	I'm looking forward to seeing the movie. I had a friend who was cross-dominant and it did not affect his trap shooting one bit. He never let me forget it either!

December 23, 2010, 10:12 PM	#10
wheelyfun Senior Member Join Date: December 23, 2010 Location: Vermont Posts: 241	Just returned from seeing the movie, and also watched the John Wayne version last night. The Coen brothers version follows the novel (written by Charles Portis) more closely than the 1969 version. This movie is full of great weapons; single action army revolvers, Colt Dragoon, Sharps rifle, Henry rifle, and various lever action and shotguns. This movie is great, see it if you can!

December 23, 2010, 10:58 PM	#11
JohnKSa Staff Join Date: February 12, 2001 Location: DFW Area Posts: 24,975	I saw or read an interview in which it was mentioned that John Wayne had the prop folks make him up an eyepatch that didn't actually obstruct his vision. Although it appeared to be black it was nearly transparent from the inside. So he could actually see out of both eyes for the movie. I noticed one commercial clip from the current movie which appeared to show Jeff Bridges sighting a pistol with his left eye. I wonder if the eyepatch they gave him is actually functional? __________________ Do you know about the TEXAS State Rifle Association?

December 24, 2010, 06:43 AM	#12
eastbank Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2008 Location: pa. Posts: 2,450	i am left eye dominant but was right handed, i taught myself to shoot totaly left handed at a young age. but i still do every thing else right handed. it was hard for me but it was worth it. eastbank.

December 24, 2010, 04:55 PM	#13
wittzo Member Join Date: February 10, 2010 Posts: 95	One of those method actor things, I reckon. Jeff Bridges will probably slap himself when he finds out. I used to be stigmatic in one eye and myopic in the other. Now, my eyes are starting to switch on me. I use a cpap machine and I sleep on the left side of the bed, so I hold my books on that side and my left eye is the one I use to read with, because the mask blocks my right eye. Now I keep wanting to aim with my left eye and close my right eye even when I'm using a scope. Hopefully a lamp in the middle of the bed will fix it.

December 24, 2010, 05:09 PM	#14
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	Did they get the surroundings better than the original? Having spent some time in the Ozarks between Fort Smith & the Oklahoma border I can say I never saw snow capped majestic peaks in the entire time I was there. My buddy, who lives in the area rented the John Wayne version & the first question his wife asked him was "Which Ozarks did they film this in & why haven't you ever taken me to them"? __________________ Allan Quatermain: “Automatic rifles. Who in God's name has automatic rifles”? Elderly Hunter: “That's dashed unsporting. Probably Belgium.”

December 24, 2010, 05:58 PM	#15
bedbugbilly Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Posts: 3,287	I'm right handed and was right eye dominant until I started having some vision prombems - now I don't have much central vision in my right eye so I have to shoot rifle left handed. You learn to adapt. I still aim pistol in a right hand stance but aim with left eye - as I said, you adapt. In regards to which eye had the patch over it in the "old" True Grit and the "new" . . . . cheer up! He could have had a patch over both eyes and I'm sure Hollywood would have worked that out as well! Was glad to hear all of your comments on the new movie. I've seen the ads for it and am looking forward to seeing it. Let's face it . . . WE NEED MORE GOOD WESTERNS!!!!! __________________ If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63

December 26, 2010, 01:06 PM	#16
43FLcracker Member Join Date: August 22, 2010 Location: Melbourne FL Posts: 80	What were the two guns Cogburn kept holstered on the horn of his saddle? __________________ Gator country livin'

December 26, 2010, 02:06 PM	#17
twhidd Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2005 Location: Athens, Georgia Posts: 823	They were Navy Colts. He briefly mentioned his "Navy sixes" at one point in the movie. __________________ Todd NRA Life Member

December 26, 2010, 02:36 PM	#18
Hardcase Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2009 Location: Sunny Southern Idaho Posts: 1,909	Beyond the historical accuracy, it was a crackin' good movie. We saw it last night. My wife had to keep up a running translation of "Western" to "American" for my sister, who just never go the hang of westerns, despite being born and raised in Idaho. She still wants to know why Dick had such a tight hatband. __________________ Well we don't rent pigs and I figure it's better to say it right out front because a man that does like to rent pigs is... he's hard to stop - Gus McCrae

December 26, 2010, 07:32 PM	#19
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,188	No disrespect for the Duke but I thought it was much better than the original. My only complaint is the grammar and pronunciation was too good.

December 26, 2010, 08:12 PM	#20
Hardcase Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2009 Location: Sunny Southern Idaho Posts: 1,909	I thought so, too, Hawg, but reading letters from my forebears going back to around 1810 make me wonder. They were beautifully written, not just in penmanship, but grammar. The spelling tended to be pretty atrocious, but the language was really quite prosaic. These were folks who had a grade school education, if they were lucky, but they were all fairly well read - if nothing else, they had all read the family Bible cover to cover. I also have a recording that my great uncle made of my great grandmother in the early 1970's. She was born in 1880 and spoke quite eloquently about her life as a child in Idaho City. So I'm not sure about the language. __________________ Well we don't rent pigs and I figure it's better to say it right out front because a man that does like to rent pigs is... he's hard to stop - Gus McCrae

December 26, 2010, 08:37 PM	#21
psycho nut Senior Member Join Date: June 3, 2005 Location: Nebraska Posts: 480	I really liked the movie. And knowing a word and being able to spell it are totally different. Don't be so quick to assume that they all spoke like idiots. __________________ I can't spel.

December 26, 2010, 10:11 PM	#23
Model-P Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2009 Posts: 727	Grammar has gotten worse, not better. How often do you hear poor grammar such as in these examples in any given day?! Incorrect / Correct Where are you at? / Where are you? Here's the keys. / Here are the keys. Talking good English. / Speaking English well. It's me. / It is I. Me and Clara went to the store. / Clara and I went to the store. Who did you give the present to? / To whom did you give the present? No one hates garlic as much as me (which means, "No one hates garlic as much as they hate me."). / No one hates garlic as much as I. He has a red sweater like me. / He has a red sweater like I (do). What are you kicking me for? / Why are you kicking me? Etc., etc. Last edited by Model-P; December 26, 2010 at 10:30 PM.

December 28, 2010, 05:53 PM	#24
sewerman Senior Member Join Date: December 30, 2005 Location: hurricane alley, florida Posts: 304	model-p, excellent point made on the grammar subject. i believe hollywood is solely responsible for promoting folks from the 18th century as illiterates. the school system of the 1800s, though short in years for many pupils, focused on the fundamentals of education......something our 20th-21st century school systems seem to have forgotten. S.M. __________________ "When the government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government there is tyranny!" Thomas Jefferson "They that can give up an essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety!" Benjamin franklin The Armed Citizen PREVENTS tyranny!

December 28, 2010, 05:58 PM	#25
MLeake Senior Member Join Date: November 15, 2007 Location: Outside KC, MO Posts: 10,128	If one of my English professors in college was correct... ... then the common lexicon had three times the number of words in Shakespeare's day as compared to modern English. Commoners attending one of the plays at Stratford were actually expected to be able to follow the language, as well as the storylines. So the question is, has the language become more streamlined and efficient, or just more boring? To keep the thread on the subject of guns, though, I was actually surprised that Mattie fired even one successful shot, given that they never showed her reloading her cylinder after being immersed in the river. I would not think that would work so well with a cap and ball revolver....