Cockfighter

(1974) dir Monte Hellman w/Warren Oates, Richard B. Shull, Harry Dean Stanton, Ed Begley Jr., Laurie Bird, Troy Donahue, Robert Earl Jones, Patricia Pearcy [83 min; 35mm]

Cult film director Monte Hellman (Two-Lane Blacktop) goes deep into the Southern demi-monde of cockfighting to craft this portrait of a man (Oates) who has vowed not to speak until he wins the ‘Cockfighter of the Year’ award. A surprisingly lyrical film, COCKFIGHTER benefits from Oates’ charismatic presence and the cinematography of Néstor Almendros (Badlands, Days of Heaven).