Grindhouse Double Feature: Cockfighter (1974) / Mad Dog Morgan (1976)

Cockfighter (1974, Color): Cockfighter Frank Mansfield never speaks. He prefers to have his birds do the talking for him by ripping apart the competition. Frank's life however, plummets into a downward spiral when he loses his prized cock, trailer and girlfriend to fellow trainer Jack Burke. Frank is now on a relentless mission to regain his pride and reputation by becoming "Cockfighter of the Year."

Cockfighter, based on Charles Willeford's novel of the same name, features several scenes of actual, brutal cockfights organized solely for the film, resulting in its being banned in the UK and Scotland. Intended as an exploitation film by low-budget producer Roger Corman, the film is a surprisingly powerful, existential portrait of a man seeking redemption, thanks to the brilliant direction of Monte Hellman (The Shooting, Two Lane Blacktop) and superb performances by Warren Oates and a great supporting cast.

Stars Warren Oates, Harry Dean Stanton, Millie Perkins, Troy Donahue; Directed by Monte Hellman.

Mad Dog Morgan (1976, Color): For 'Mad Dog' Morgan, revenge was the only reason to live. Driven to thievery by hard times amid Australia's gold rush, Morgan is captured and sentenced to twelve years hard labor. Despite brutal emotional and physical abuse, Morgan endures his imprisonment and is released into the outback as a"bushranger". Seeking revenge on those men in power who were responsible for his life-gone-wrong, Morgan runs roughshod over the countryside - becoming a hero to the downtrodden.

Based on historical events during the Australian gold rush, Mad Dog Morgan is a theatrical recounting of the life of John Fuller, an ill-tempered, alcoholic outlaw who terrorized settlers and gunned-down at least three men before being shot in the back and killed on April 8, 1865.

Starring Dennis Hopper, Jack Thompson, David Gulpilil, Michael Pate; Directed by Philippe Mora.

COCKFIGHTER: Warren Oates stars as Frank Mansfield, a small-town Georgia man who gets caught up in the illegal game of cockfighting and finds that his losses far outweigh his winnings. Cocky and belligerent, Frank loses his chance at winning the Cockfighter Of The Year medal to Jack Burke (Harry Dean Stanton) the night before a big tournament, when he challenges Burke to an off-the-record cockfight. Two years later, Frank is still struggling to win the award. To prove his seriousness, he has vowed never to speak again until he claims the medal. This puts an obvious strain on his relationship with Mary Elizabeth (Patricia Pearcy), who is contemplating marriage with another man. Frank truly believes that if Mary Elizabeth sees him in the ring, doing what he does best, she will embrace and accept who he is, and will agree to marry him. As the most important tournament nears, Frank continues to focus solely on his rooster, believing that it holds his only chance at redemption. Frequent Monte Hellman collaborator Oates barely speaks in the film, but his presence is nonetheless electrifying, making COCKFIGHTER a deeply moving drama.

MAD DOG MORGAN: Daniel Morgan (Dennis Hopper) slaves away his life as an Australian gold miner. He has an early education in haves and have-nots after he witnesses a gang of racist thugs burn down the Chinese camp near his workplace. Later, Morgan is imprisoned and beaten. He leaves jail only to follow his true vocation as a plains robber and, eventually, receives the nickname "Mad Dog" for his eccentric ways. His dubious celebrity shows signs of fading, though, when a weathered investigator and a mob pick up his crime-ridden trail.