Ruggles of Red Gap (1935) Film Review - Charles Laughton

Plot Summary - Thirties comedy which begins in Paris, 1908, where an English valet named Ruggles (Charles Laughton) is won in a game of draw power by an American cowboy millionaire from a wild west town called Red Gap, Washington. Leaving his job as valet to a Lord (Roland Young), Ruggles begins his job working for Egbert and Effie Floud (Charles Ruggles and Mary Boland), the wife full of ambitions to turn her hootin' and hollerin' bumpkin hubby (who has a fondness for cowboy hats and tacky checked suits) into a gentleman. Ruggles gives him a makeover - new suit, spats, and a mustache trim, Egbert's soon looking like a swell - but just on the outside. Egbert and Ruggles hit a Paris sidewalk cafe, Egbert switches between calling him "Bill" or "Colonel" and insists Ruggles sit down and join him for a drink. Ruggles is the ultimate gentleman's gentleman and prefers to keep proper master and servant rank. But Egbert don't go for that kind of stuff and continues to treat his manservant like a pal. Soon they all head for Red Gap where the town mistakes Ruggles as a real colonel and family friend, and all the attention goes to Ruggles head. He feels important and decides he wants more from life than just being a servant - so he decides to open a restaurant in Red Gap. And meanwhile he befriends a town widow (Zasu Pitts) while attending a "beer bust" with his employer and she works in service too, could be a nice little romance for our Ruggles!

Review - This is a cute comedy with lots of nice performances. Roland Young is quite amusing as the Lord, Charles Ruggles kind of hoot in this cowboy role (Egbert and Effie come across as sort of the Beverly Hillbillies), and Charles Laughton plays a great English manservant (I like the expressions he gets on his face as the stiff servant while all is chaos around him!). And don't forget, as Ruggles says "Spats make the difference between a man well turned out and a man merely dressed". Good fun. Rating - 8.5/10 stars

Professional Sweetheart (1933) Film Review - Ginger Rogers

Plot Summary - Ginger Rogers plays Glory Eden, "America's Purity Girl", popular NYC radio singer forced into pretending she's sweet, innocent, and pure by the radio sponsors (promoting their wash cloth "The Ippsie Wippsie") as they guide her behavior, diet, and dress much to her distress - - she secretly wants to go to nightclubs in Harlem, drink champagne, and wear slinky, see-through lingerie. The power men at the station are after her to sign a new contract, containing such clauses as "no smoking, no drinking, not to attend nightclubs, not to be seen alone with any man"! Glory declares she wants a sweetheart, which gives the powers-that-be an idea for publicity - so they hook her up with a "dream man", found via her mass of fan letters. Dream man Jim (Norman Foster) is seen as sort of a Kentucky hayseed, but he's a real decent guy and handsome too - an on-air wedding is arranged for the two, who have barely met each other - they don't seem to mind either!

Review - This is a cute film, entertaining enough for it's short length and boosted by a coming into stardom, young Ginger Rogers. The film is helped along by a whole troop of top character actors of the day, many are favorites of mine - including Zasu Pitts as a reporter, Franklin Pangborn as Glory's dressmaker (what else?!), Frank McHugh (his laugh makes me laugh), Sterling Holloway, and Edgar Kennedy. 1933 mention of the word "television" is heard in this film. Rating - 7.5/10 stars