Ruggles of Red Gap (1935)

100% of critics liked it
(12 reviews)
94% of users liked it
(348 ratings)

Previously filmed in 1918 and 1923, Harry Leon Wilson's novel achieved movie classic status when it was remade by Leo McCarey in 1935. The story opens in Paris, circa 1908. Ruggles, beautifully underplayed by Charles Laughton, is the ultra-obedient manservant to the bibulous Earl of Burnstead… More Previously filmed in 1918 and 1923, Harry Leon Wilson's novel achieved movie classic status when it was remade by Leo McCarey in 1935. The story opens in Paris, circa 1908. Ruggles, beautifully underplayed by Charles Laughton, is the ultra-obedient manservant to the bibulous Earl of Burnstead (Roland Young). During one of the Earl's nocturnal forays, nouveau riche American cattle baron Egbert Floud (Charles Ruggles) wins Ruggles in a poker game. Terrified at the prospect of being bundled off to the Wild West, Ruggles' resolve is weakened somewhat when he and the raucous but ingratiating Egbert spend a wild night on the town. (The besotted butler's periodic exclamations of "Whoopee!" are priceless.) Back in the frontier "boom town" of Red Gap, a misunderstanding obliges Egbert's social-climbing wife Effie (Mary Boland) to pass off Ruggles as an aristocratic British army officer, immediately arousing the suspicions of priggish social arbiter Charles Belknap-Jackson (Lucien Littlefield). The longer he spends in America, the more Ruggles grows to like the concept of democracy and self-determination. Of the film's many highlights, two are standouts: the scene in which Ruggles silences a rowdy saloon crowd with his recitation of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, and the droll, semi-improvised vignette in which dancehall girl Nell Kenner (Leila Hyams) teaches the Earl of Burnstead how to play the drums. Ruggles of Red Gap was filmed for a fourth time in 1950 as the Bob Hope-Lucille Ball musical Fancy Pants. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 32 min.
Directed By: Leo McCarey
Written By: Harry Leon Wilson, Humphrey Pearson, Walter DeLeon, Harlan Thompson
Genres: Drama, Romance, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1935 Wide
Studio: MCA Universal Home Video

Critic Reviews

Nick Pinkerton, Village Voice
Fitting such a democratic film, there's no bad part here...
Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out New York
With the egalitarian warmth of Jean Renoir (himself a huge fan of the film), director McCarey spoofs stereotypes while investing them with knowing asides.
Joseph Jon Lanthier, Slant Magazine
Leo McCarey's masterpiece is a schizo, slack-jawed, preemptive rejoinder to Frank Capra's saintly sober "everyman."
Gabe Leibowitz, Film and Felt
Alternately charming and deeply touching.
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
The film's main asset is the strong comical performance of Charles Laughton as the straitlaced and very proper English butler Marmaduke Ruggles.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Charles Laughton gives a splendid performance as a servant who quickly adopts the American Way of Life in Leo McCarey's savvy political comedy of 1935, a banner year for the Brit thespian in which he was also nominated for Mutiny on the Bounty.
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Sheer perfection from Leo McCarey and a dream cast.
Bob Bloom, Journal and Courier (Lafayette, IN)
Laughton in one of his finest roles.
Michael W. Phillips, Jr., Goatdog's Movies
What I can't understand is why this film ... isn't beloved as one of the all-time great comedies.

Read all 9 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Stella D

it makes me happy that there are still hidden gems of cinema to be turned up and i probably won't live long enough to find them all. until a few months ago i'd never even heard of this movie and i'm a laughton fan! it's an absolutely delightful comedy western… More
it makes me happy that there are still hidden gems of cinema to be turned up and i probably won't live long enough to find them all. until a few months ago i'd never even heard of this movie and i'm a laughton fan! it's an absolutely delightful comedy western about a proper english gentleman's gentleman whose master loses him in a poker game--to some nouveau-riche americans. soon ruggles is on his way to the wild west where the concept of a manservant is not quite obvious to everyone. at first aghast, ruggles soon adapts to life in a society where everyone is 'equal'. a great 'fish out of water' comedy and subversive commentary on american vs european values with a wonderful, nearly silent performance by laughton, who does most of his acting with facial expressions alone! let's hope this gets a dvd release soon; it certainly deserves one

Cast

            Charles Laughton as Marmaduke Ruggles

            Mary Boland as Effie Floud

            Charlie Ruggles as Egbert Floud

            Zasu Pitts as Mrs. Judson

            Roland Young as Earl of Burnstead

            Maude Eburne as Ma Pettingill

            Leila Hyams as Nell Kenner

            Lucien Littlefield as Charles Belknap-Jackson

            Leota Lorraine as Mrs. Belknap-Jackson

            James Burke as Jeff Tuttle

            Clarence H. Wilson as Jake Henshaw

            Augusta Anderson as Mrs. Wallaby

            Brenda Sue Fowler as Judy Ballard

            Sarah Edwards as Mrs. Myron Carey

            Ernie S. Adams as Dishwasher

            Alice Ardell as Lisette

            Harry Bernard as Bartender

            Harry Bowen as Photographer

            George Burton as Buck Squires

            Charles "Heinie" Conklin as Waiter

            Charles Fallon as Waiter in Paris Cafe

            Willie Fung as Chinese Servant

            Dell Henderson as Sam

            Armand Kaliz as Clothing Salesman

            Lee Kohlmar as Red Gap Jailer

            Edward J. Le Saint as Patron

            Jack Norton as Barfly

            Albert Petit as Waiter at Carousel

            Victor Potel as Curly

            Frank Rice as Hank

            Henry Roquemore as Frank Patron

            Rolfe Sedan as Barber

            Rafael Storm as Clothing Salesman

            Libby Taylor as Servant

            William Welsh as Eddie

            Frank O'Connor as Station Agent

            Genaro Spagnoli as Frank the Cabman

            Jim Welch as Man in Saloon

            Charles Ruggles
            
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