Ruggles of Red Gap (1935)

[alden]

I had chance to see this Leo McCarey classic film starring Charles Laughton in Paris this weekend. Its very much worth the time to track down and see. The story summary is as follows:

"An English gentleman living in Paris loses his stuffy manservant, Ruggles, in a poker game with an unmannered cowboy and his wife. Ruggles accompanies his new employers to the tiny, wild town of Red Gap, Washington. Rich, rowdy Egbert Floud introduces Ruggles as "Colonel" Ruggles, and the town ladies are quite taken by the sophisticated servant in disguise as he enamors them with fictitious stories of battles gone by. Ruggles proves his newfound patriotism in one of the best scenes of the film, his recitation of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address in the Silver Dollar Saloon. The dream of freedom leads him to open his own restaurant, where one of his first customers is the nobleman who has come to reclaim his former servant."

Laughton, who is on my top five actors list from the last century, recites the Gettysburg Address with emotion and style. Its truly impressive acting work by one of the very best. I saw the film in the company of a theatre filled with middle aged French people who are not terribly enamored of Americans especially of late. During Laughton's Gettysburg Adress, the room was supercharged with emotion, it was simply electric. The ambience in that theatre was something very hard to describe, a mixture of deep respect and longing. The "shock and awe" of Lincoln's words, on those who remember very well the tragedies of the past and America's onerous sacrifices made in the name of Liberty, was profound. Truly a splendid moment and one I will not soon forget.

On the lighter side, Ruggles takes his new Master shopping for clothes exchanging three piece check suits for jacquette and top hat. Its a very funny scene indeed.

A film not be missed.

Cheers

[Mark Seitelman]

Thanks for your report.

Nothing equals a great, old film before an audience. The communal experience is missed watching films at home on cable/VCR/DVD.

Was this part of a Leo McCarey film festival?

In an unrelated note my wife is reading a new book on Alfred Hitchcock called "It's Only a Movie." It opens with a discussion of his clothes and his attitudes toward his physique. I'll post a quote.

[alden]

Mark,

One of the great pleasures of Paris are the theatres who specialize in showing "vintage films."

There are many of them and they do have festivals all the time.

"Ruggles at Red Gap" wasn't part of a festival, just a re-release for a week.

Do you not have cinemas like this in NY? or in the US? It would be amazing to think you do not. The contributions of America to the partimony of world cinema especially in the 1930s, 40s and 50s is remarkable and should be preserved. Its been a bit downhill since those heady days, but a couple pics in the 60s are of interest.

Michael

[Guest]

Cinema D'Essai in Italy.

[Mark Seitelman]

"Revival houses" used to be popular in NYC. There used to be a few, such as the Elgin, the Regency, the St. Marks, and the Thalia. These were for profit, private theaters which only showed old films. Cable/VCR/DVD have driven them out of business.

Revivals are done from time to time at The Flim Forum. such as the anniversary of a film or the striking of a new print from the negative. Another event is when the original version is re-released. Occasionally, the Film Forum will have an event, such as Buster Keaton festival in which there is a different film each night over the course of two weeks. They also have a live pianist for silent films.

Other venues include the Musuem of Modern Art, The Museum of the Moving Image, and the Symphony Space.

However, alas there are no regular venues for revivals which we once had.

I heard that L.A. had a dedicated theater showing only silent films. I'll have to explore this on my next trip.