Ruggles of Red Gap - Gettysburg Address

Ruggles of Red Gap (1935)
Charles Laughton's recitation of the Gettysburg Address.
An English valet brought to the American west assimilates into the American way of life.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Charles
• Laughton
• Gettysburg
• Address

[godvad]

Hypocritical crap. Totally US stereotype stuff trying to teach the rest of us about values.

[MediaMayhem]

Lincoln's Address is "Hypocritical crap"?

It is one of the most transcending speeches from a political leader with enduring meaning for all to learn from. And from a critical time in U.S. history. But with your stereotypical thinking, your PC and your techy skills maybe you're all the wiser. Now get back to your menial tasks, plebeian.

[godvad]

My issue is not with Lincoln or Gettysburg Address but with the portrayal here and your post. The English valet is accepted because he embraces American values (or rather what Americans would like to think are American values). England abolished slavery before US. The movie is 20 years ahead of Rosa Parks. Just read your own dam description.

[MediaMayhem]

Your self-righteousness has overcome you.

It is about what one aspires to... that essence. not some sort of perfection which is unattainable.

Seems that the issue you're having with this portrayal resides not so much within the context of this great movie and its meaning but rather within yourself.

[MediaMayhem]

It's as if when everything doesn't fall into place, currently or historically, in a politically-correct fashion, nothing can be right and the hyper-critical knee-jerk reactionary types jump up and down. Leave the utopian mindset wherever you left your iPod, because the world does not function neatly and programmatically.

[meshachre]

This movie was an EXCELLENT movie with superior acting -- quite refreshing from the so-called acting today. The comedy had me laughing til the end. I understand that attempts to remake this movie proved extremely difficult (due to lack of talent). Your candor can take you only so far before you begin to sound like a miserable disgruntled foreigner who may have been deported. The Rosa Parks era is not over in the USA, even with the election of our esteemed President.

[troyswoodside]

Are you sure about Slim Pickens? He would have been about 16 years old in 1935...

[Telstar62a]

Loved this film; I had no idea that Laughton could do comedy so well, but thinking about some of his others (Private Life of Henry VIII, Witness for the Prosecution) I shouldn't've been surprised. Here he goes from the most English of valets to being treated as an equal in the US West, and eventually grows to kind of like the idea. Charlie Ruggles and Zasu Pitts are great in it too. As many an American has learned, "leave it to a foreigner to teach you about your own country".

[JRobbySh]

@fasbc : I have never heard a better reading of the speech. Lincoln himself could not have done it that well, but as a prose poem its beauty is unsurpassed.

[JRobbySh]

@godvad : Do you know NOTHING about the English class system? Read Fieldings “Tom Jones,” Heck, look at “Dpwnton Abbey.”

[mvies77]

A wonderful film and the greatest character actor of the 20th century. Can't just enjoy a film anymore without foreigners and hate America types excoriating us for past ills or political opinions. Go to Congress and talk to them. Beyond that, history is gone. Slavery is over. I am not at fault for it. Enjoy the movie.

[fasbc]

A great scene in a terrific film. Charles Laughton wanted to do the scene and the speech in one take and he did so. He was so drained afterwards that they had to give him the next day off. It amazes me how many knuckleheads there are that comment like idiots on such a good thing as this film.

[tranquilitybase]

Study the battle of Gettysburg, visit the battlefield and come back and watch this. Moving.

[troyswoodside]

Are you sure about Slim Pickens? He would have been about 16 years old in 1935...

[ITILII]

@godvad If anything, the Englishman is teaching Americans about the history of one of the greatest speeches ever delivered, by anyone, anywhere, at any time

[ciroalb3]

no one noticed Slim Pickens at 1:19?