Ambassador Bill (1931)

An American ambassador arrives in a small country that is being convulsed by political intrigue and civil unrest. He befriends the young boy who is to be the country's king, to ensure that ... See full summary »

Director:

Sam Taylor

Writer:

Guy Bolton (story)

Stars:

Will Rogers, Marguerite Churchill, Greta Nissen

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Will Rogers	...	Bill Harper
Marguerite Churchill	...	Queen Vanya
Greta Nissen	...	Countess Ilka
Tad Alexander	...	King Paul
Ray Milland	...	King Lothar
Gustav von Seyffertitz	...	Prince de Polikoff (as Gustav Von Seyffertitz)
Arnold Korff	...	The General
Ferdinand Munier	...	Senator Pillsbury
Edwin Maxwell	...	Monte

Storyline

An American ambassador arrives in a small country that is being convulsed by political intrigue and civil unrest. He befriends the young boy who is to be the country's king, to ensure that the boy is prepared to take on the role and also to see that he lives long enough to assume the crown.

---

Plot Keywords:

ambassador | airplane | reception | frame up | rope trick | 

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Certificate:

Passed

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 November 1931 (USA)

Also Known As:

Dollar Bill

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fox Film Corporation

Technical Specs

Runtime:

70 min 69 min (FMC Library Print) 70 min (copyright length)

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

User Reviews

Interesting, but dated Will Rogers film

Although Ambassador Bill depends a wee bit too much on the folksy charm of Will Rogers it's still a good introduction to the person who may well have been America's most beloved entertainer. The film also gets a few interesting, but dated barbs at a few topics of the time.

Twenty years later Irving Berlin went over some of the same material in Call Me Madam about an Oklahoma heiress who became a European ambassador. Rogers is an Oklahoma cattle baron who's been appointed an ambassador to the mythical Balkan kingdom of Sylvania. It's being ruled by a boy king Tad Alexander with his mother Marguerite Churchill as regent. In charge of the regency is Gustav Von Seyfertiz and he's our Snidely Whiplash villain.

A little bedroom escapade forced the abdication of the former king Ray Milland and he's coming back to reclaim family and kingdom.

While Milland plots counterrevolution, Rogers teaches the young king about such plebeian pursuits as baseball. He also gets him a cowboy suit and teaches him the art of rope tricks. All this is not making Von Seyfertitz happy as he sees his control slipping.

Providing a convenient target for some of Rogers's amusing barbs is Ferdinand Munier playing a flannel-mouth Senator on an inspection tour. He's a wonderful performer essentially being Rogers's straight man.

It's not the best the work of Will Rogers, but it still is amusing providing you have a knowledge of the world it was made in.