“An
entertaining 1937
film, Ruggles Of
Red Gap is a brilliant comedy western
set in 1908 about an Earl’s
butler who is
lost in a poker game to a rich American
couple and to his horror ends up in a
cowboy town in Washington State...”
PROVING THAT COMEDY FILMS CAN travel effectively down the years, the 1937
movie Ruggles Of Red Gap with the great Charles Laughton in one of his
most iconic roles is hugely funny, highly entertaining and a wonderful period
gem.
Described as Leo McCarey's definitive screen version of Harry Leon Wilson's
bestseller of the same name, Ruggles Of Red Gap is a wryly humorous tapestry
of the America West at the turn of the 20th Century.
“Hugely
funny,
highly entertaining and
a wonderful
period gem...”
Ruggles
Of Red Gap begins in Paris, France (as opposed to Paris, Texas!), with the
frightfully British George, Earl of Burnstead (Roland Young) losing his until-now
indispensable and terribly proper valet Marmaduke Ruggles (Charles Laughton)
in a poker game to wealthy but loud and untamed American Egbert Floud (Charlie
Ruggles).
Egbert's wife Effie (Mary Boland) comes from a wealthy family — her mother,
known to everyone as Ma Pettingill (Maude Eburne) has struck oil on her land
— and Effie is determined to turn Egbert into a gentleman. She is delighted
to have Ruggles to take back to their home in Red Gap, in Washington State,
to do just that.
For some obscure reason, Egbert calls the impeccably-mannered Ruggles "Bill"
and the Earl of Burnstead just "Earl". Quelle surprise! Ruggles manages
to persuade Egbert to dress like a gentleman and behave almost well until he
bumps into his old friend Jeff Tuttle (James Burke).
With fears of finding the Wild West teeming with Indians on the warpath and
trigger-happy cowboys, Ruggles is relieved to find that Red Gap is not at all
like he imagined. He slowly begins to settle down, making alliances, facing
enemies, and finding the key to his own independence and future happiness with
a romantic twist.
Dealing with Effie's snobbish sister and brother-in-law, Mr and Mrs Charles
Bellknap Jackson (Lucien Littlefield and Leota Lorraine), proves no mean task
for Ruggles. He is introduced by Egbert to Red Gap society as "The Colonel",
which leads to a misunderstanding that could jeopardise his future.
Now welcome wherever he goes, he joins in a Beerbust at the home of singer Nell
Kenner (Leila Hyams) and meets newspaper man Jack Henshaw (Clarence Wilson)
and the talented cook Mrs Judson (ZaSu Pitts).
In the land of opportunity where all men are equal, Ruggles is accepted as a
man of standing; but with the arrival of George, will he be able to fulfil the
dream he now has in his new country?
In a riotous clash between the old world and the new, McClarey's legendary comic
instincts combine with his customary tender respect to make what is said to
be one of the most glorious and enduring comedies of classical Hollywood. A
fantastic film; a comedy of manners and finely-observed.
Ruggles Of Red Gap also features Dell Henderson as Sam. Adolph Zukor
presents Ruggles Of Red Gap by Harry Leon Wilson; Produced by Arthur
Hornblow Jr; Screenplay by Walter DeLeon and Harlan Thompson; Adapted by Humphrey
Pearson; Photographed by Alfred Gilks ASC; and Directed by Leo McCarey.
• The
Masters of Cinema series is proud to present the UK home viewing premiere of
Leo McCarey's "best picture", Oscar-nominated film Ruggles Of Red Gap —
released, for the first time anywhere in the world on Blu-ray, on 28 May 2012.
Dual format edition (Blu-ray and DVD) RRP: £20.42 | Running time: 91 Minutes.
Special Features: Beautiful new high-definition master, officially licensed
from Universal Pictures | Optional English Subtitles for the Deaf and Hearing
Impaired | Optional Music and Effects Track | Ruggles On The Radio: Three adaptations
made for Radio Broadcast, all featuring Charles Laughton and Charlie Ruggles
in a reprisal of their famous roles | Laughton reciting Lincoln's Gettysburg
Address, originally released as a 78rpm record in 1937 | Booklet featuring rare
archival imagery, and more.
"Ruggles Of Red Gap… hugely funny, highly entertaining and a wonderful
period gem" — Maggie Woods, MotorBar
"A brilliant, hilarious and fondly satirical look at Anglo-American relations
and culture gaps, faultlessly directed by Leo McCarey with Lawton in masterly
form" — Radio Times
"This is the archetypal film they don't make any more" — Time Out Film
Guide
“An
entertaining 1937
film, Ruggles Of