The Story of Will Rogers (1952) User Reviews

Not a great movie, but an honest one

[richard-1787 · 6/10 · 15 January 2017]

When they discuss the great movies of director Michael Curtiz, they start with Casablanca, which may well be the greatest American movie - for which he earned a well-deserved Oscar - and go on to such screen gems as The Adventures of Robin Hood, Captain Blood, The Sea Hawk, Yankee Doodle Dandy (which is a slow movie with a great performance by its star), Life with Father, and a host of others. I doubt anyone would think to mention this movie.

And The Story of Will Rogers is not a great movie. It does not move with the relentless drive of Casablanca or Robin Hood, it does not sparkle like Life with Father. Seventeen years after his untimely death in 1935, it tells the story of the then still well-remembered American humorist, Will Rogers. Since everyone still knew his story then, the movie did not have to tell it; rather, it picked the moments that it wanted to stand out.

That isn't Rogers' years in the Ziegfeld Follies, which made him a household word, or his appearance in movies, even through, for a short while, he was the biggest box office attraction in talkies.

Rather, it concentrates on Rogers' support of General William (Billy) Mitchell and his efforts to get Congress to put money into air power at a time when the U.S. was pulling back into isolationism. World War II and the terrifying German blitzkrieg would eventually show that Mitchell and Rogers were right.

It also concentrates, in the last part, on Rogers' fund raising for the poor during the depths of the Depression. That, too, is an aspect of Rogers' career that is probably forgotten today.

This movie won't keep you glued to your seat. But it does serve to remind us, now that there are few among us who remember seeing and hearing Rogers, what warm-hearted pleasure he brought to Americans when so many of us needed a smile so badly. His sense of humor may seem corny today - it was corny back then, too - but there is a lack of nastiness or derision to it that I often miss today.

All He Knew Was What He Read In the Papers

[bkoganbing · 8/10 · 23 November 2010]

If The Story Of Will Rogers did not exactly stick close to the facts it certainly captured the spirit of the man who in his time was America's beloved entertainer. Will Rogers was in fact more than an entertainer, he was a shrewd and trenchant observer of the political and social scene. We could use a dose of his wisdom today.

Will Rogers, Jr., who as a dutiful son was the custodian of his father's legacy plays the role of his father and you'll swear it was the real Will. Of course one can see the real Will Rogers in any number of fine films he made for Fox. The film is based on his widow's memoirs and she is played by Jane Wyman so the Rogers family had a tight control on this one.

It was quite true that Rogers took a long time to find himself, he was something of a rebellious kid who did not take to school. Clem Rogers, his father is played by Carl Benton Reid and he was a power in the Cherokee Indian councils. All Will wanted to do was be a cowboy, but he had a knack for saying some real funny things off the cuff and eventually parlayed that into a vaudeville act and after that the Ziegfeld Follies and movies. And of course a newspaper column that a collection of will be a really shrewd observation of his times.

One thing that was a glaring error, Will Rogers was never put in nomination for president even as a favorite son. Governor William H. Murray of Oklahoma was in fact a presidential hopeful in 1932 and he would have been surprised at that turn of events.

Not to say that he wouldn't have made a good president. There is an underside to the Rogers legacy. The dark mirror image of Will Rogers who never met a man he didn't like is portrayed quite ably on the screen by Andy Griffith in A Face In The Crowd. Lonesome Rhodes would have said he never met a man he couldn't take.

One of the things that Rogers said that was quoted in this film was that this was the greatest country in the world, but taxes are the privilege you pay for living in it. I wish a lot more people would remember that today.

The Story Of Will Rogers and the films of Will Rogers provide an enduring legacy to a man who was a national treasure in his day and now.

Solid biopic, and more realistic than most

[vincentlynch-moonoi · 7/10 · 17 August 2016]

While I'm sure there was a bit of sanitizing in this biopic of Will Rogers, this is one of the better biopics of the era. It's fairly big budget, and if you want to know who Will Rogers was and what he stood for, you couldn't do much better than watch this film. I liked that part of the early and late parts of the film were photographed at the Will Rogers Shrine Of The Sun, just a few miles from my home in Colorado Springs.

Some might say there was no sanitizing, but Will's father died long before indicated in the film. That's one obvious example.

Will Rogers, Jr. does very well playing his father, though obviously he had a limited film career. I was surprised to learn on the web that as an old man he committed suicide. Jane Wyman does very nicely as his wife; I really enjoyed her performance.

Carl Benton Reid plays Will's father, although as I indicated earlier, he died in 1911, long before most of the events in this film. The wonderful James Gleason is around as Will's agent. Slim Pickens is here as a best friend. And one of my old favorites -- Noah Beery, Jr. -- is here as pilot Wiley Post. Character actress Mary Wickes has a small part. And the great Eddie Cantor plays himself...in black-face.

There's not much to criticize here. This film was perfect for the family-oriented 1950s, but it still gives one pause to think about the values prescribed here. A good film and, for the most part, fairly historically accurate.

This is a very good movie

[yahn1953 · 12 July 2008]

I agree with the previous commenter about how good this movie is and would love to see it available on video. This movie was made in 1952 and starred Will Rogers Jr. It showed Will Rogers Jr, as his father, doing some performance on Broadway as well as some of the fund-raisers he did during the depression and more of the movies he made in Hollywood. However this website is showing a picture of a movie made in 1961, narrated by Bob Hope, and it is NOT the same movie that they are describing. The one narrated by Bob Hope, is available on video (dvd), and although it is a good biographical movie of Will Rogers, it is NOT the one starring Will Rogers Jr, or any of the other stars listed on this web site. They need to remove that picture as it can cause some confusion for some people.

"He don't need a horse..., he just talked himself into a new career!"

[classicsoncall · 7/10 · 20 December 2016]

I've only seen one movie with the 'real' Will Rogers in it, that one being "Judge Priest". I bring it up because Will Rogers Jr. portraying his Dad has the most uncanny resemblance a son could have for a father.

It occurred to me that the present times could use someone of Will Rogers' temperament and ability to separate the wheat from the chaff of our current political discourse. The story presented a man who could make people laugh and think at the same time, a rare ability all the more remarkable because Rogers' brand of humor managed to stave off personal criticism. I hate to think how he'd be treated today; ideologues have no sense of humor.

One of the few legitimate silent film stars to successfully transition to talking pictures, perhaps Will Rogers' greatest contribution to America was his homespun appeal and the wit and wisdom he applied to every day observations. And he could do it without using language that would turn audiences blue the way some modern comedians do.

I didn't know what to make of that scene when Rogers' name was placed in nomination for the Presidency as a favorite son, but a couple of other reviewers here saved me the time of looking it up. As I sit here a little over a month since the 2016 Presidential election, I'm left to ponder whether a non-politician could ever be elected President. Doesn't seem like that would ever happen, does it?

We Need Someone Like Him Now - The Story of Will Rogers

[arthur_tafero · 7/10 · 13 December 2021]

Yes, the story of Will Rogers is a bit hokey, and that rhymes with Oakie, which Will was. It is amazing that both America's greatest athlete and America's greatest humanitarian both came from the same state of Oklahoma. Jim Thorpe and Will Rogers are giants of American History. If only there could be someone in our country like Will Rogers in 2022. We sure do need someone like him; a person who brought people together, rather than pointing fingers of blame. A true Taoist, center of the wheel, and fine human being; Will Rogers.

biopic of legendary name

[SnoopyStyle · 6/10 · 22 September 2021]

It's early 20th century. Humble cowboy Will Rogers (Will Rogers Jr.) returns to Oologah, Oklahoma. Betty (Jane Wyman) takes little notice of another cowboy's arrival but soon the two become a couple. Eventually, he becomes one of the most popular American humorist and home-spun political commentator.

This is an autobiography of Will Rogers as told by his widow. Will Rogers is well before my time. He comes from another era. I don't know any specifics from his work but I do understand his general tone. It's a call to the old west and America's promise. He's a nice little guy and the little guy can be great in America. This movie taps into that. He's the regular Joe. I have no nostalgia for the man or the era. I do find this movie to give a sense of both. One thing I didn't know is that so much of his work is topical and political. There isn't much drama with this movie but it does what it's supposed to do.

Hollywood's Cowboy

[telegonus · 9/10 · 23 September 2002]

Both Michael Curtiz and his longtime employer, Warner Brothers, showed a flair for biographies, and this one has been somewhat underrated. The story is the familiar one of the rise of a young man from obscurity to worldwide fame, and there are really no surprises here. Audiences at the time the movie came out (1952) probably knew much about Rogers' life anyway, though he is nowadays an almost forgotten figure. This movie is solid entertainment, nicely photographed in color, and Will Rogers, Jr. gives an excellent, engaging performance as his father. It is basically a series of cliches, which, once once accepts the premise, one can thoroughly delight in, as I did, as the skill with which such material is handled constitutes the pleasure of watching such a predictable movie as this.

Rogers was a huge star in vaudeville on Broadway and in the movies. He was also a newspaper columnist and radio commentator, and hugely popular in his day. His homespun humor has dated badly, but the rough and tumble world he came out of is fascinating to see recreated on screen. There are nice ironies in the movie, among them, Rogers' move from the "real west" (Oklahoma) to the "false west" (Hollywood). I also like the casting of the refined, almost patrician actor, Carl Benton Reid, as Rogers' father. The arrival of barnstorming aviator who lands literally in Rogers' backyard, is stunningly filmed, and one can't help get a lump in one's throat as soon as one learns his name: Wiley Post.

Hi, I'm Will Rogers

[JLRMovieReviews · 10/10 · 8 September 2011]

Will Rogers, Jr. stars as his own father Will Rogers in what many critics say is one of the best of movie biographies ever. Will, Jr. even asked that nothing be added to over-dramatize or embellish the storyline of the movie. He wanted his father to speak for himself. That's what they said on TCM. If you love film biographies, or like Jane Wyman, or if you have never heard of Will Rogers and want to know more about him, then you're in for a treat. Costarring James Gleason, Slim Pickens, Mary Wickes and Eddie Cantor as himself, this film has more heart and respect for its subject matter in one minute, than a lot of other movie biographies have in the whole film, especially musical biographies. This film shows how one man made a difference in the lives of others by being himself and that he is still being loved and remembered today.

He Never Met A Man He Didn't Like

[GManfred · 1 June 2011]

This one is now out on DVD in the Warner Archives Collection. I saw this picture when it first came out - I was 11 at the time and I wanted to see if it held up in the ensuing 58 years, and I'm pleased to report it is just as entertaining and absorbing the second time around.

Such is not always the case. I did the same thing with "The High And The Mighty", and was disappointed at how trite and stagey the picture seemed when I saw it recently. But "Will Rogers" holds up, probably because it is a biography of a very famous American from the early part of the last century. Then as now, I was fascinated by what a dead ringer for his dad Will Rogers, Jr. was. I also think the movie benefited from a superior direction job.

Can I make one criticism? I didn't think Jane Wyman fit the part of a girlfriend/ wife from Oologah, Okla. She was too sophisticated, like a society chick from Riverside Drive who wouldn't bother with a bumpkin from Oologah. But that's just me.

In any case, this is worth buying and watching. I don't think it will be on TV any time soon as there are two scenes of Eddie Cantor and Al Jolson performing in blackface. Can't upset the PC crowd, you know.

A great movie

[roego · 10/10 · 11 May 2015]

I remember seeing this in Australia and I had just made my teens. Managed to see it a few times. I thought, then and still do now,it was entertaining and had a message. Of course how wonderful for a son to play his Dad ,and Jane Wyman a wonderful actress. The world has lost something when movies like this are seldom made. I will have to and search Amazon and bite the bullet and pay the freight for an old copy. Very hard to get now.I think the family keeps it hidden away. And the folksy, home spun little stories he spun were all gems in themselves. Home truths. Delightful barbs when he was talking about politicians and others in the spotlight. Said gently but painfully sharp. We need a will Rogers today.

The highest standard in film biography

[SHAWFAN · 10/10 · 4 December 2011]

It was a most uncanny and moving experience to see Will Rogers Jr. portraying his dad on the screen and looking just like him. This was unusual but not unique in film history: Eddie Foy Jr portrayed his father Eddie Foy Sr in Yankee Doodle Dandy with James Cagney as George M. Cohan(1942);and Andre Melies portrayed his father, the pioneer filmmaker Georges Melies, in Le Grand Melies (1952).

I was greatly moved by the whole experience of seeing this incomparable movie. The touching and sensitive way in which the filmmakers left out Rogers' and Post's death in their airplane crash raised the film to an even higher level of emotionally appropriate story telling. The Billy Mitchell episode was also trenchant and documentarily appropriate as was all the other skillful weaving in of contemporary events. The interspersing of life on the ranch with contrasting episodes from the wide world of Rogers' travels and his reaction to the depression-era's tragic altering of people's lives was beautifully portrayed.

Besides the fine acting by all concerned the sets and costumes were absolutely exquisite in recreating their eras in the story. Victor Young's adaptations of contemporary pop and folk songs of the time were skillful. Seeing Eddie Cantor himself acting and singing in this 1952 movie was very special to someone like me who actually heard him constantly on the radio during that same time period. The Al Jolson and Marilyn Miller clips were archive footage I presume, but where they dug up such high quality Technicolor episodes to put into this film is beyond me. Perhaps these were 1952 impersonations. However there was one serious flaw in this otherwise brilliant and affecting movie, namely the time line of the musical and historical excerpts and episodes. The movie had Rogers wandering around for two years and finally winding up at the St. Louis Fair of 1904 where he proposes to Betty. However, previously in the movie he had first met Betty in Oloogah about the time Oklahoma was to become a state in 1907. As part of the background time setting for this episode at the Rogers' home much was made of the song "Hello My Baby, Hello My Honey, Hello My Ragtime Girl" which wasn't written till 1909 as well as "Home on the Range" which wasn't written till 1912. So this musical and historical confusion goes along with the "nomination" of Rogers in 1932 at the Democratic convention, likewise fictional. Despite all that, a great and beautiful movie.

Excellent Movie I would like to see it offered on Video!

[tomperrin · 17 June 2002]

This is an excellent film with an outstanding cast, and a very authentic feel to the overall presentation. Will Rogers, Jr. becomes Will Rogers, Sr. This is a good story about an outstanding "American" personality, and it should definitely be made available on video for all "Americans" to see, especially during these trying times when patriotism, honesty and goodwill could use a shot-in-the-arm. Hopefully it will be make the step to video in the very near future.

A Man for All Seasons

[Zonieboy · 9/10 · 20 November 2010]

This is an amazing tale of a person who lived and made his claim to fame in the early decades of the 20th century. There were so many apt points he made about politics that are spot on about our current political world. We could sure use someone like him now to take a bite out of the polarization we have now about political issues. He maintained that we all care about each other and that as long as we have that the U.S. will never go down. We could definitely benefit from such ideas today. Great movie, great cast. Will Rogers Jr. portraying his dad. Jane Wyman as the love of his life. Great family and feel good movie. I viewed it on TCM, if you get the chance, don't miss it!

Surprisingly good.

[planktonrules · 9/10 · 14 September 2021]

Most biopics leave a lot to be desired...especially those made during the classic era in Hollywood. Too often the actual lives of these heroes have been changed in order to make them seem more cinematic....and lying and twisting the facts is pretty much par for the course. Some films don't even have much to do with the actual person they are portraying (such as "Night and Day" and "Words and Music").

In light of this, I was shocked that for the most part "The Story of Will Rogers" is mostly the actual life and career of the man! Now I am not saying it's perfect, as for example, Will's father had died long before and the film must have assumed the man was a zombie! But apart from that and a few small items, the film IS the life of Will Rogers.

To play the man, the studio did something unusual. First, they consulted with Rogers' widow (why they actually wanted to get the facts right is beyond me!). Second, they got Rogers' son, Will Jr., to play him. Now Will Jr. Didn't look exactly like his dad (I think he actually looked more like Chill Wills), but he was pretty close and captured the man pretty well.

Why do I think they got Rogers' life right? Well, I think two reason account for this. First, Rogers DID so many amazing things that there wasn't the same need to embellish it to 'spice it up'. Second, as Rogers was such a public figure, had they NOT stuck to the facts, folks would have noticed.

So, overall it's a very good film and an excellent overview of the actor/humorist's life. Well worth seeing.

Wit and skill with a rope

[jarrodmcdonald-1 · 1 December 2022]

In the postwar era, Americans were feeling nostalgic. There was a trend in Hollywood movies towards biopics about famous entertainers. Pictures were produced about Al Jolson, Rudolph Valentino, Buster Keaton, Eddie Cantor (who plays himself in this film), and Will Rogers. Mr. Rogers was a well-known personality on stage and radio, who transitioned successfully to movies. He became a bonafide star at Fox in the first half of the 1930s.

Rogers probably would have continued to delight audiences with his homespun humor, which always contained a touch of political satire...if he hadn't died in a plane crash at age 55. Rogers' rise to fame, his marriage and his tragic death are all depicted in this "A" budget effort from Warner Brothers.

Supposedly Bing Crosby had wanted to play the title role, but could not obtain a loan out from his home studio Paramount. The film's screenplay is based on a short story published in 1940 by Rogers' widow, who would die a short time later in 1944. Warners purchased the rights almost immediately but waited nearly ten years before assigning director Michael Curtiz the task of bringing it to the screen.

Rogers' own son, Will Rogers Jr., assumed the main role. He had been elected to Congress in the mid-40s but war service interfered with his political ambitions. However, he would run for office again and continued to dabble in political matters for most of his life. With his role in this film, Junior began a minor acting career, starring in westerns at Warner Brothers and Universal.

I have been trying to think of times when a lookalike son portrayed his famous father on screen. The only other example I can come up with is Desi Arnaz Jr. In a cameo as Desi Sr. In THE MAMBO KINGS (1992).

As an actor, Will Rogers Jr. Tries to give us an understanding of what made his father tick...though I would say his thespian skills are a bit lacking. It feels like Curtiz is just plugging him into scenes, guiding him in a paint-by-numbers type performance...while, costar Jane Wyman as the wife, does most of the real acting.

Support is provided by Slim Pickens, who usually turned up as comic relief in B westerns. We also have Eddie Cantor in blackface during the sequence where Rogers achieves popularity working for Ziegfeld on Broadway alongside Cantor and other notable celebs of the day.

As a comedy-drama about a humble man whose wit and skill with a rope endeared him to millions of fans, THE STORY OF WILL ROGERS succeeds. As a piece of hokum pretending to pass itself off as literal fact, it succeeds even more.