Copyright 6 September 1935 by 20th Century-Fox Film Corp. New York opening at the Radio City Music Hall: 19 September 1935. 7,350 feet. 81 minutes.
COMMENT: Presumably all the faults in the screenplay derive from the original novel in which the long hand of coincidence animates just about every turn of the plot, including the thrilling climax in which no less than five real steamboats engage in a truly spectacular race.
Fortunately, director Ford paces the action with such celerity, the audience has little time to ponder the implausibility of such a remarkable array of devious plot turns in which just about all the characters, except Hobart Bosworth, are periodically involved.
When not yielding center stage to the steamboats themselves, all eyes of course are focused on Will Rogers. This was his last film, rushed into release just a month or so after his death on 15 August 1935, when the private plane piloted by his friend, Wiley Post, crashed near Point Barrow, Alaska.
Rogers is great. So is the captivating Anne Shirley (never mind that she is far too refined for a swamp girl), while Eugene Palette heroically manages to bring credibility to a sheriff whose duty to his office is, to say the least, rather off-hand.
By way of contrast, John McGuire's dull hero signally lacks charisma, while colorful Berton Churchill tries far too hard; but, fortunately, despite their super-importance, their actual roles are small. It's primarily Rogers' movie. Only the movie's unstinting production values – led of course by the steamboats themselves – outclass him.
AVAILABLE on an excellent 20th Century Fox DVD.
COMMENT: Presumably all the faults in the screenplay derive from the original novel in which the long hand of coincidence animates just about every turn of the plot, including the thrilling climax in which no less than five real steamboats engage in a truly spectacular race.
Fortunately, director Ford paces the action with such celerity, the audience has little time to ponder the implausibility of such a remarkable array of devious plot turns in which just about all the characters, except Hobart Bosworth, are periodically involved.
When not yielding center stage to the steamboats themselves, all eyes of course are focused on Will Rogers. This was his last film, rushed into release just a month or so after his death on 15 August 1935, when the private plane piloted by his friend, Wiley Post, crashed near Point Barrow, Alaska.
Rogers is great. So is the captivating Anne Shirley (never mind that she is far too refined for a swamp girl), while Eugene Palette heroically manages to bring credibility to a sheriff whose duty to his office is, to say the least, rather off-hand.
By way of contrast, John McGuire's dull hero signally lacks charisma, while colorful Berton Churchill tries far too hard; but, fortunately, despite their super-importance, their actual roles are small. It's primarily Rogers' movie. Only the movie's unstinting production values – led of course by the steamboats themselves – outclass him.
AVAILABLE on an excellent 20th Century Fox DVD.