Ruggles of Red Gap (1935)

An English valet brought to the American west assimilates into the American way of life.

Director:

Leo McCarey

Writers:

Harry Leon Wilson (novel), Humphrey Pearson (adaptation),

Stars:

Charles Laughton, Mary Boland, Charles Ruggles

Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 2 wins.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Charles Laughton	...	Ruggles
Mary Boland	...	Effie Floud
Charles Ruggles	...	Egbert Floud (as Charlie Ruggles)
Zasu Pitts	...	Mrs. Judson (as ZaSu Pitts)
Roland Young	...	Earl of Burnstead
Leila Hyams	...	Nell Kenner
Maude Eburne	...	'Ma' Pettingill
Lucien Littlefield	...	Charles Belknap-Jackson
Leota Lorraine	...	Mrs. Belknap-Jackson
James Burke	...	Jeff Tuttle
Dell Henderson	...	Sam
Clarence Wilson	...	Jake Henshaw

Storyline

While visiting Paris in 1908, upper class Lord Burnstead loses his butler playing poker. Egbert and Effie Floud bring Ruggles back to Red Gap, Washington. Effie wants to take advantage of Ruggles' upper class background to influence Egbert's hick lifestyle. However, Egbert is more interested in partying and he takes Ruggles to the local 'beer bust'. When word gets out that "Colonel Ruggles is staying with his close friends" in the local paper, the butler becomes a town celebrity. After befriending Mrs. Judson, a widow who he impresses with his culinary skills, Ruggles decides to strike out on his own and open a restaurant. His transition from servant to independent man will depend on its success.

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Plot Keywords:

restaurant | english | gettysburg address | widow | valet | 

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Taglines:

SH-H-H-H! TONIGHT'S YOUR NIGHT TO HOWL! And howl you will at this funniest of all comedies...

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

8 March 1935 (USA)

Also Known As:

Det begyndte i Paris

Filming Locations:

Paramount Ranch - 2813 Cornell Road, Agoura, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Paramount Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Noiseless Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of over 700 Paramount Productions, filmed between 1929 and 1949, which were sold to MCA/Universal in 1958 for television distribution, and have been owned and controlled by Universal ever since.

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Quotes

[Ruggles and Prunella are looking at the rough and cluttered store space that Ruggles will use for his restaurant]
Prunella Judson: It's a mess isn't it?
Ruggles: It's wonderful.
Prunella Judson: Well, I don't see anything wonderful about it.
Ruggles: You don't?
Prunella Judson: No.
Ruggles: You don't? My father was a gentleman's gentleman... and his father before him. And from that heritage of service miraculously there comes a man. A person of importance, however small. A man whose decisions and whose future are in his own hands.
Prunella Judson: It's wonderful, isn't it?

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Connections

Referenced in Tomorrow, Yesterday, and Today (2010)

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Soundtracks

"Nights of Gladness"
(uncredited)
Music by Charles Ancliffe

User Reviews

Stoic British dignity versus the rambunctious Old West

This certainly is a hilarious study of opposites -- staid British decorum transplanted to America's rough and tumble Old West. Laughton's excursion into comedy is along the buffoonery line at times (said with all due respect, of course) and anyone can see his true talent lies in drama. I'd say the real scene stealer is Charles Ruggles as Egbert who displays a wry wit all his own as he endures his wife's determined efforts to remodel him. His choice of words are so amusing: "Hey cab, give us one with a horse on it," and, to his wife when dining, "Effie, what you need is some of this imprisoned laughter of the pleasant maids of France." Also, it brought back memories to hear the old song, "By the Light of the Silver Moon" sung by Nell in the movie. A very comical film that's enjoyed more each time you see it.