IMDb RATING
7.6/10
4.5K
YOUR RATING
An English valet brought to the American west assimilates into the American way of life.An English valet brought to the American west assimilates into the American way of life.An English valet brought to the American west assimilates into the American way of life.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 3 wins & 1 nomination total
Charles Ruggles
- Egbert Floud
- (as Charlie Ruggles)
Zasu Pitts
- Prunella Judson
- (as ZaSu Pitts)
Ernie Adams
- Dishwasher
- (uncredited)
Rafael Alcayde
- Clothing Salesman
- (uncredited)
Augusta Anderson
- Mrs. Wallaby
- (uncredited)
Alyce Ardell
- Lisette - French Maid
- (uncredited)
Harry Bernard
- Harry - Bartender #2
- (uncredited)
Harry Bowen
- Photographer
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaEdward Dmytryk, the film's editor, said that Charles Laughton became so emotional during the scene in the saloon where he recites the Gettysburg Address that it took director Leo McCarey 1½ days to complete shooting it. According to Dmytryk, the preview audiences found Laughton's closeups in the scene embarrassing and tittered through the speech. When substitute shots of Laughton from behind were inserted, the audience found the reaction shots of the other people reacting to him very moving, and the second preview was extremely successful.
- GoofsWhen Effie tells Ruggles to take her husband to the art museums, she shows him a book that he uses to record his impressions of the art he's viewed. When the camera angle changes, the book has changed from her hands to her husband's hands without any pause in her lines.
- Quotes
Earl of Burnstead, aka George: I say, do you believe in love at first sight?
Nell Kenner: No. Do you?
Earl of Burnstead, aka George: No. That's why I'd like to stay for a while, if I may.
- Crazy creditsOpening credits are shown over various silhouettes of a butler.
- ConnectionsFeatured in 100 Years of Comedy (1997)
- SoundtracksBy the Light of the Silvery Moon
(uncredited)
Music by Gus Edwards
Lyrics by Edward Madden
Played during the opening credits
Also sung by Leila Hyams and others
Featured review
Heartwarming and Sentimental Comedy of the 1930's
"Ruggles of Red Gap" is the kind of comedy film that is rarely made by Hollywood anymore: a film with the emphasis on characterization without the cheap and obvious jokes of today's films. The plot is a good one. The services of a third-generation English Butler (Charles Laughton) are won in a poker game to an American couple (a very funny Charlie Ruggles and Mary Boland) who reside in Red Gap, Washington. Ruggles' former employer, Lord Burnstead (a fine Roland Young) reluctantly gives him up to the couple but assures him that he will come back for him as soon as possible. Once in America, however, Ruggles gets a newfound sense of freedom and after being inadvertantly fired by the uncouth American couple, decides to open up his own restaurant with the help of a widow (Zasu Pitts) who he has much affection for. The movie was nominated for Best Picture and the performances are outstanding, particularly Charles Laughton as the butler/servant who sees freedoms and opportunities in America that he never would have had if he remained in England. The standout scene in the movie is when Laughton is in a local Red Gap bar and someone mentions Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. When no one in the bar can seem to remember what Lincoln said, Laughton (the Englishman)recites the speech in its entirety with enough emotion and dramatic flair to bring tears to one's eyes. The underlying theme of the movie is basically about Anglo American relations and the common ground and friendship between both nations. This is a "must see" for anyone still interested in how great Hollywood was in its heyday, and particularly how wonderful and original the comedies were in that early and Golden Age of film-making.
helpful•312
- Chuck-185
- May 20, 2002
- How long is Ruggles of Red Gap?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime1 hour 30 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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