Once in the highly fordian red gap itself, the movie stalls a bit on a mistaken. Charles ruggles had one of the longest careers in hollywood, lasting more than 60 years and encompassing more than 100 films. The best is yet to come, though, as the warm town of red gap and its ingrained lincolnite independence charm the foreigner, inspiring ruggles to dream of openingyou simply cant improve on. Ruggles of red gap by harry leon wilson full text free. The film stars edward everett horton, ernest torrence, lois wilson, fritzi ridgeway, charles stanton ogle, louise dresser, anna lehr and william austin. It was first made into a silent film in 1918 and again in 1923 the latter with edward everett horton as ruggles.
The first film version was in 1918 with taylor holmes in the lead, and its 1923 remake saw persnickety edward everett horton as marmaduke. Ruggles of red gap 1935 film synopsis and discussion. Charles laughton had delivered the gettysburgh address in his 1935 movie ruggles of red gap, a comedy in which he played an english butler whod been transported to the wild west. Ruggles of red gap zasu pitts got one of her best comic roles and a rare chance to snag the leading mans heart in the 1935 western comedy, ruggles of red gap. Video archive for the film ruggles of red gap, which has a domestic theatrical release in the year of 1935. He was memorably paired with mary boland in a series of comedies in the early 1930s, and was one of the standouts in the allstar comedy if i had a million 1932, as a. Eventually we must talk of everything if there is enough time and space and printers ink. A man wanted his home redecorated, so he took his landlord to see ruggles of red gap. Previous part 3 next part 5 as we sipped our tea in companionable silence, i.
This is a digitized version of an article from the timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Ruggles of red gap is an underseen film that i probably wouldnt have seen for some time had i not watched this video. Ruggles of red gap sets up its central conceit at a leisurely pace, installing the title character in his old west, nouveau riche setting with plenty of time for warmhearted jabs at the recalcitrant socialite egbert played to perfection by the coincidentally named charlie. Even though the original play only ran for 33 performances on broadway, it spawned two silent movies and then this 1935 talkie starring charles laughton. Orson welles war of the worlds radio broadcast 1938 complete broadcast. Of course, being zasu, she wasnt about to go into a final clinch with clark gable, but what leading man charles laughton may have lacked in looks, he more than made up for in talent. Ruggles of red gap is one of leo mccareys greatest masterpieces, a witty and trenchant commedia dellarte, based on a 1915 play by harry leon wilson. Ruggles of red gap by harry leon wilson part 4 out of 6. British film institute w ith one foot in the theatre and another in the cinema throughout his career, charles laughton. Also not in the novel but in the movie is the presence of ma pettingill, egbert flouds supportive mother in law. Ruggles of red gap is one of 14 movies pairing ruggles and boland together in the 1930s. Ruggles of red gapcharles laughton, charlie ruggles, roland young, mary boland, zasu pitts, maude eburne, lucien littlefield, leila hyams 1935. Ruggles of red gap 1935 is a charming movie, adapted from the 1915 novel by harry leon wilson which also became a popular broadway show.
Ruggles of red gap by photoplay editions \ wilson, harry leon and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Ruggles of red gap 1918 film ruggles of red gap is a lost 1918 american silent comedy film directed by lawrence c. Filmed adaptations include a 1923 silent starring edward everett horton, the 1935. Ruggles of red gap by leo mccarey charles laughton, mary. Free kindle book and epub digitized and proofread by project gutenberg. It stars the charismatic charles laughton as the wellmannered, eccentric english manservant marmaduke ruggles who is hilariously americanized in an american wild west town of red gap, washington.
Ruggles comes from a long line of men who have served the burnstead family for generations. Resettled in the wild west town of red gap, washington, ruggles proper bearing leads him to become mistaken for a british aristocrat and military hero, to the potential embarrassment of egberts. Windom and starring taylor holmes, a broadway stage actor. Media in category ruggles of red gap 1935 film this category contains only the following file. It almost became, however, when work on another film threatened to pull ruggles from ruggles of red gap. Lincolns gettysburg address charles laughton youtube. Upon returning from europe to untamed red gap in the state of washington we meet the rest of the cast including maude eburne as earthy ma pettingill, lovely precode starlet leila hyams as the somewhat castigated nell kenner. Ruggles of red gap by harry leon wilson free ebook. Nominated for best picture in 1935, this is a charming comedy of manners and a traditional easterntenderfootgoeswest storymore a comedy of manners than a western, though. The laughton film, directed in a calm, restrained style by leo mccarey, is just about irresistible, even with its big scenelaughton, an english valet in the old west. He proceeded with many successes in films of very diverse types, making about five a year, including ruggles of red gap 1923, with edward everett horton, ernest torrence, merton of the movies 1924 with glenn hunter, viola dana, beggar on horseback 1925 with horton, esther ralston, the pony express 1925 with wallace beery, betty. Ruggles of red gap has a quick pace, comedic focus and talented casting. The movie also stars mary boland, charlie ruggles, zasu pitts, roland young and leila hyams. Charles laughton as a famed gentlemans gentleman in.
I stayed with cruze through several picturesruggles of red gap 1923, with eddy horton, merton of the movies 1924, and a number of othersuntil i left to write scripts for independent companies like harry cohns columbia. Ruggles of red gap is a 1935 comedy film directed by leo mccarey and starring charles. Charles laughtons portrayal of the timid ruggles represents a complete. Ruggles of red gap lacks the hard edge of born yesterday, but it uses its lighter tone to celebrate the idiosyncrasies of english and american life, resulting in a story that, while very much a paean to sober concepts such as liberty and egalitarianism, is perhaps even more of a love letter to the sillier aspects of the two cultures it depicts. There are currently two videos available for the film, of which one and only one is a trailer, as listed below. Harry leon wilsons novel ruggles of red gap was adapted for the broadway stage as a musical in 1915, the same year that it was published. Charles laughton, mary boland, charlie ruggles, zasu pitts. It was produced by veteran film company essanay studios. Andrew sarris posts from before dec 2008 can be found at. After traveling to the egberts home in red gap, washington, ruggles confronts. Ruggles of red gap is thirties film comedy that still makes you feel good. The giant scot was known to millions around the world for both his comedy and drama. Wilson novel or any of the stage and silent screen versions of ruggles before 1935.
Ruggles of red gap sets up its central conceit at a leisurely pace, installing the title character in his old west, nouveau riche setting with plenty of time for warmhearted jabs at the recalcitrant socialite egbert played to perfection by the coincidentally named charlie ruggles and his levelheaded wife, effie mary boland. Leo mccarey this mccarey classic stars charles laughton as a veddy proper english valet whos won in a poker game by a man from the wild west charlie ruggles, setting off a culture clash. Charles laughton stars in this hilarious tale of marmaduke ruggles, a stuffy british. Ruggles new home is red gap, washington, where he is introduced by egbert as colonel. A humorous adventure about a british valet out of his element in. As ruggles, the formal english valet set down in rough america, charles laughton turns the picture into comedy for what we proudly call the adult. Charles laughton as ruggles of red gap 1935 immortal.
To preserve these articles as they originally appeared, the times does. Ruggles of red gap is one of those movies that was acclaimed in its day, but unfortunately doesnt get as much credit as it deserves today. See the full list of ruggles of red gap cast and crew including actors, directors, producers and more. Ruggles of red gap 1935 letterboxd your life in film. An english valet brought to the american west assimilates into the american way of life. Charles laughton reciting the gettysburg address is an absolute mustsee moment. Sidney toler, best known for playing charlie chan, was signed to replace him, until delays on ruggles made the. I always love seeing favourite films of people in the industry, as that tells a lot about their style and character, and in the case of one of my favourites edward norton, i was quite keen on checking this out. Ruggles of red gap here is a great comedy novel by harry leon wilson made into a delightful feature picture. Ruggles is a staid valet employed by the earl of burnstead. The adaptation is literal in that it reproduces the effect of the original story with. Island of lost soulsruggles of red gap film the guardian. Charles laughton, charles ruggles, mary boland, zasu pitts, charlie ruggles, roland young.
Trailer for ruggles of red gap nominated for a best picture academy award, ruggles of red gap stars charles laughton as a stuffy british butler, marmaduke ruggles, who is traded in a poker game from an english duke roland young to a wealthy and rowdy american, egbert floud charlie ruggles. Ruggles, beautifully underplayed by charles laughton, is the ultraobedient manservant to the bibulous earl of burnstead roland young. Ernest torrence was one of the screens noted character actors. It was first made into a silent film in 1918 and again in 1923 the latter with edward everett horton as. Ruggles of red gap is a lost 1923 american western silent film directed by james cruze and written by anthony coldeway and walter woods, adapted from the. We used five tribes of indians, and oxen were broken to the yoke. He made his film debut in 1914 in the patchwork girl of oz 1914 and worked steadily after that. Movie mirrors index ruggles of red gap 1935 b 90en.
It was based on harry leon wilsons novel ruggles of red gap. Resettled in the wild west town of red gap, washington, ruggles proper bearing leads him. Director leo mccarey found just the right mix of comedic and heartfelt moments. Ma was a character in a separate wilson work but was brought over for this production and played delightfully by maude eburne. Ruggles of red gap 1923 1h 20min comedy, western 7 october 1923 usa an english valet brought to the american west assimilates into the american way of life. Overview of ruggles of red gap, 1923, directed by james cruze, with edward everett horton, ernest torrence, lois wilson, at turner classic movies.
Ruggles of red gap is a brilliantly inventive comedy film made in 1935, directed by leo mccarey and featuring a tourdeforce comedy masterclass from charles laughton. Previously filmed in 1918 and 1923, harry leon wilsons novel achieved movie classic status when it was remade by leo mccarey in 1935. Rarely revived and never on uk tv, leo mccareys 1935 version of ruggles of red gap was the third to reach the screen in just 17 years, but its hard to imagine the other versions topping it. Harry leon wilson may 1, 1867 june 28, 1939 was an american novelist and dramatist best known for his novels ruggles of red gap and merton of the movies. Adapted from the novel and play by harry leon wilson, a wife hopes an earls valet will give her husband culture, but in america the valet decides to become a selfmade man. This movie shows what can be done with comedy without profanity or filth so. Ruggles of red gap 1935, directed by leo mccarey movie. Ruggles of red gap is a lost 1923 american western silent film directed by james cruze and written by anthony coldeway and walter woods, adapted from the novel by harry leon wilson. Back in the early part of the 20th century, hollywood really liked ruggles of red gap. A musical adaptation called fancy pants was released in 1950, starring bob hope and lucille ball. The film was released on october 7, 1923, by paramount pictures.
696 433 1337 196 621 1403 807 575 745 574 945 877 687 72 1494 1170 362 1004 1448 134 1189 239 599 641 666 1184 32 1443 760 1296